Members of our Dance for Parkinson’s Performance Company meet regularly for a dance class with a difference. Together, they create and learn new choreography over several weeks, before sharing it with an audience.
We spoke with one of its members, Peter Vosper, about his journey into dance, and the benefits he enjoys from being part of our performance group.
Let’s start from the beginning. Had you danced before finding English National Ballet?
I’d never done any formal dancing before. The only dancing I’d done was as a younger person in a disco, and I enjoyed that! I enjoy moving to music, but I had never tried anything formal. I find following set steps quite difficult, as I’m thinking more on where my feet are going than actually listening to the music, which is a shame.
A lot of beginner dancers find that to be the case. At the start of your journey, did you find the Dance for Parkinson’s classes difficult? Did this change at all?
I’ve always regarded ballet as slightly elitist, and I previously had nothing to do with it at all. I’ve always been an active person, but I felt I was getting worse at the sports I regularly got involved with and could no longer join in at all because of injuries and Parkinson’s.
When I heard of Dance for Parkinson’s, I thought this may be an interesting opportunity to find out what’s going on. It was initially the SHAPER research project that I saw and signed up to be part of, as I was keen to do anything that might improve the circumstances for myself, and others who suffer from the condition.
When I first came to English National Ballet, I didn’t quite know what to expect. I was a little bit concerned that it would be too formal for me, a bit too upper crust. But I found it was actually very relaxed and nothing was expected of you – you did what you could do. I found the group that I danced with were like-minded people, very nice and easy to get involved with. Once I got over the self-consciousness, I really started to thoroughly enjoy it! After the research study was completed, I signed up for their regular weekly programme and have come back for every opportunity that’s been there, it is fantastic.
By now, you have been dancing with us for a few years and have decided to join our Dance for Parkinson’s Performance Company. Do the classes with the performance group differ from the regular Dance for Parkinson’s classes?
The main difference is the numbers of people involved. At the performance group it’s around 12 people, whilst the other classes involve up to 35 people.
The other difference is having a shared goal. At the end of the term, you’re aiming to have created a piece of choreography, to perform to an audience. It feels more personal because of that and because we work together as a group to create this. It tends to focus you a little bit more, and maybe even feel a little bit more pressure – not pressure that’s put on externally, but pressure you put on yourself. I quite like that.
Can you please explain a bit more on how you are part of the creative process?
There is a little bit of backwards and forwards between the dance artists, musicians and us, but the ideas are initiated by us as a group.
We may be divided into subgroups in the beginning, and then share what thoughts we come up with. Then with the guidance of artists, we start to come up with some movement that we repeat the following week and continue to build upon. Over the ten weeks, we are trying to get to something slightly more polished, and finally a finished piece.
Do you enjoy contributing creatively?
Yes, I do. At first, I thought I would be a little bit too self-conscious, but the more we did it, the more confident I became and the less concerned I was that people were passing judgement. I think that might deter some people from joining the group – the feeling that it’s a little bit too much pressure put on individuals. But that it’s not like that at all – it’s just great fun.
And how does it feel to perform?
I’m naturally a shy sort of person, so I did find the prospect of doing something new in front of quite a large audience a bit overwhelming. But once I got out, relaxed, and realised that we were all in the same boat… I felt we could do it. I could feel my sense of worth, and a sense of achievement. I just felt better with myself – more cheerful, more upbeat. I’m looking forward to something which wasn’t there before.
I felt as though at my age, all the activity that I’ve been involved in over the years was going to go. And what was left? Nothing. But now, this came along and suddenly I have something else I can enjoy and feel a sense of achievement at the end of. I get so many positives from coming here – that encourages me to stick with it.
Could you please elaborate on what these positives are?
Physically, I’ve begun to feel quite a lot older and a little bit depressed but coming out and mixing socially with other people that are going through the same thing as me and talking about that, is great. We could go to the dance studio and express ourselves and not be concerned that other people are watching. I enjoy meeting new people, and I enjoy the encouragement that comes from feeling a part of the company. That has so many positives.
You know, often I come in here in the morning and think ‘Oh, I can’t do this today’. But then I got warmed up, moving around, listening to the live music, and I would come away feeling tired, which is what you should do when you’re being active. I feel myself coming away feeling much more positive.
Is there anything else at all that you would like to say to anybody who’s considering joining but has some reservations?
I would say that if you’re feeling slightly depressed or down about having Parkinson’s, give this a go because it’s well worth it.
Nobody here is judgmental in any way. The help, the guidance and the support that you get from the artists and volunteers is first-class. You are made to feel comfortable straight away. You do what you feel you can do. But then, the more confident you become, and more aware that no one is passing judgement, the more expressive you become.
I just feel I’ve got so much from coming here, which is why I wanted to share it with other people. Give it a go.
The 5-week term begins on 9 November at the Mulryan Centre for Dance in East London. Classes are on Saturdays at 11am – 1pm.
The cost is £42.50 for the full term. For more information and to book, email dancehealth@ballet.org.uk