A NEW dance project aimed at helping people with Parkinson's is being rolled out in Dorset.

Pavilion Dance South West has received funding to finance the first year of a three-year project designed to make Parkinson’s Dance classes available to more people across the South West region.

The first year of the “Parkinson’s Regional Roll Out” project is being generously supported by the Inspired by 2012 Health & Wellbeing Legacy Fund, as well as Healthwatch Dorset, Sherbourne Arts Link, the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and donations received through crowdfunding.

One person in every 500 has Parkinson's - that's about 127,000 people in the UK.

It's a progressive neurological condition which currently has no cure.

The main symptoms are tremors, rigidity, difficulties with balance, co-ordination, posture and walking.

And while you would think these symptoms make dancing almost impossible Parkinson’s Dance allows people to address these symptoms in a fun, challenging but safe environment.

It is currently developing in the UK with a small number of classes, one of which is run at Pavilion Dance South West.

And now thanks to the funding received this model is being rolled out across the region with the first new class launching in Sherbourne.

Over the year PDSW will create two new classes, increasing to six over the three years of the full programme.

It will develop Pavilion Dance South West into a training hub for Parkinson’s Dance teachers and work with Southampton University to provide a solid framework to measure the impact dance has on the participants’ health and wellbeing.

Joyce Guest, chairman of Healthwatch Dorset said: “Long term health conditions, such as Parkinson’s, can have a devastating impact on people and their families.

"This project promotes health and wellbeing in a fun environment, helps create friendships and offers support to carers as well.”

Hannah Ley, learning and participation manager at Pavilion Dance South West, said: "With one person in every 500 diagnosed with the condition, we can see the need to increase the provision of Parkinson’s Dance in the region.

"We are very happy that the first-year project funding is allowing us to begin this work."