Tango could stave off the effects of Parkinson's disease

To dance is human; people of all ages and levels of motor ability express movements in response to music. Professional dancers exert a great deal of creativity and energy toward developing their skills and different styles of dance. How dancers move in beautiful and sometimes unexpected ways can delight, and the synchrony between dancers moving together can be entrancing. To us as a neuroscientist and biomechanist (Lena), and a rehabilitation scientist and dancer (Madeleine), understanding the complexities of motor skill in a ballet move, or the physical language of coordination in partner dance, is an inspiring and daunting challenge. Understanding how dancers move has important real-world implications, too. In our work, we're studying gait and balance in different populations, as well as how holding hands – such as in partner dance – can actually help people walk and balance better.