Online dance classes during the Covid-19 pandemic: new challenges and teaching strategies for the ‘Dance & Parkinson’s at home’ project

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent social isolation can intensify some Parkinson’s disease (PD) motor and non-motor symptoms. To minimize the damage to the physical and mental health of people with PD, strategies to promote health in this population must be adapted to the new reality. Considering the negative impact of social isolation on the physical and mental health of people with PD, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and considering the importance of using online tools to safely promote complementary therapies to attenuate these issues, we developed an online dance project called ‘Dance & Parkinson’s at home’, inspired by the Samba and Forró Brazilian rhythms. First, from April to July 2020, the activities were offered in an asynchronous learning format (recorded dance classes inspired by the Samba and Forró Brazilian rhythms). Later, from August to December 2020, a blended learning experience was provided (asynchronous – recorded dance classes – and synchronous learning – live-streamed dance classes). This article describes the new challenges faced by the online ‘Dance & Parkinson’s at home’ project and teaching strategies developed to provide online dance classes for people with Parkinson’s disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.