From an Irish pub to the desert: Innovative movement, music therapies are transforming Parkinson’s care

In 2010, Dr. Daniele Volpe, a Parkinson’s disease researcher, was on one of his annual visits to the West Clare village of Feakle in Ireland, playing traditional Irish music in a pub during a local festival. As he performed with the band, he noticed an elderly man enter the room, shaky and unsteady with a cane.

As a neurologist and medical director at St. John of God Hospital’s Parkinson’s Centre in Venice, Italy, Volpe recognized the symptoms immediately: the man had Parkinson’s disease. Moments later, however, the man dropped his cane and began dancing an Irish step dance with such fluidity and ease that Volpe was stunned.

That moment led Volpe to conduct studies showing that patients experienced significant improvements in mobility, gait, balance, and overall quality of life through Irish dance.

Now, internationally recognized and award-winning Irish dance teacher Michael Dillon is bringing that same therapy to the Coachella Valley. He leads Irish dance classes designed specifically for people living with Parkinson’s disease every Monday at 10 a.m. at Step By Step Dance Studio in Palm Springs. Dillon is among several individuals and organizations introducing creative ways to help Parkinson’s patients through movement, dance, and singing.

“We know that exercise is a critical component of Parkinson’s treatment,” said Eileen Lynch, executive director of the Parkinson’s Resource Organization. She explained that research overwhelmingly shows patients who exercise regularly experience a slower progression of symptoms. “Exercise has a neuroprotective benefit with Parkinson’s. It is as critical to the treatment process as taking your carbidopa-levodopa medication or pursuing speech therapy.”

According to Lynch, these classes are especially important now, as the number of Parkinson’s diagnoses continues to rise rapidly in the valley. She estimates that between 8,000 and 10,000 people in the Coachella Valley are living with the disease.

Parkinson’s is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative condition in the world, Lynch said, and the Coachella Valley is uniquely affected due to its aging population and environmental factors such as proximity to golf courses and pesticide use. “It’s almost like a monster in our midst,” she said.

Despite the growing number of patients, Lynch said there is a severe shortage of care, with just one movement disorder physician serving the entire area. Besides Dr. Jessica Shields, a neurosurgeon who specializes in Parkinson’s surgery, Dr. John Legge, director of movement disorders at Eisenhower’s Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Clinic, is the only neurologist in the valley providing comprehensive clinical care.

In addition to diagnosis and treatment, Legge said much of his time is spent educating patients and connecting them with community resources and exercise programs like Dillon’s. “I’m a big believer in community, faith, family, friends, exercise, and diet,” he said.

Dillon emphasized that beyond the scientific evidence—showing that the rhythm of Irish folk music can help cue movement and that the swinging motions of the dance are easier on gait—the program works because of connection. Being part of a group motivates participants and helps them feel less alone.

That message is personal for Dillon. Growing up gay in a tiny rural Irish town with 10 houses, five pubs, and a church, he never felt like he fit in—until he attended a dance class at age 5. “I remember walking into this old ballroom… and I remember my life changed, really, from black and white to color. It was a ‘Wizard of Oz’ moment.”

He went on to compete in Irish dancing from a young age and later led students to multiple world medals and a world championship in dance drama. In 2021, he was awarded Global Teacher of Excellence by Irish Dance Magazine. Now, he hopes to bring that same sense of belonging to the Parkinson’s community.

For those more drawn to combat sports or martial arts, Rock Steady Boxing – Desert Cities offers another option. Founded in 2006 by Scott C. Newman after his own diagnosis, the program uses boxing-inspired workouts to slow disease progression. The Palm Desert branch hosts classes Monday through Friday, led by certified trainers.

Head coach Chris Boni said his motivation is deeply personal: his father had Parkinson’s. “If he would have had this program, he would have had more fight left in him,” he said.

Fitness Edge in Palm Springs offers additional programs, including Pilates for Parkinson’s and Rewire Your Brain: Parkinson’s Edition, which features dual-task exercises that engage both brain and body simultaneously.

Another area often affected by Parkinson’s is vocal ability. The SongShine Foundation, a 501(c)(3) based in the Coachella Valley, provides music and drama-based vocal therapy through in-person and Zoom classes. The program, now nearly 20 years old, includes both basic vocal training and a creative drama and singing class called Singers and Players.

“We put on an actual musical in the spring… Some people who struggle to speak can actually sing really well,” said Administrative Director Amanda Hyder. “It becomes a support group and a little family.”

These are just a few of the many classes and resources available throughout the Coachella Valley to support Parkinson’s patients in slowing the progression of the disease. Lynch hopes residents understand that help is available—and that they don’t have to navigate their diagnosis alone.

“We have so much support to offer,” Lynch said. “But first, they need to know they are not alone, and that there are a lot of local resources to help them navigate this challenge.”

Details: For more information on Irish Dance classes, contact Dillon at [email protected] or 760-422-7335.