Like the expression of emotion, spontaneous mimicry is impaired by Parkinson’s disease, creating yet another barrier to social connection. Music and dance can help break through this barrier. One 2011 study, conducted in Freiburg, Germany, found that weekly dance classes modeled on the Dance for PD program softened facial masking and increased emot

We can even sniff out the likely quality of another person’s dance moves. In fact, those whose odour we like tend also to display bodily movements that we find attractive.

Western medicine, ranging from breath exercises (pranayama) and chanting to martial arts like qigong to drumming and group singing and dancing. All rely on interpersonal rhythms, visceral awareness, and vocal and facial communication, which help shift people out of fight/flight states, reorganize their perception of danger, and increase their capac