Using theory knitting to conceptualize social phenomena in the design and evaluation of dance programs for people living with Parkinson's disease

Morgan Senter; Amanda M Clifford; Orfhlaith Ni Bhriain

doi:10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2024.102430

Using theory knitting to conceptualize social phenomena in the design and evaluation of dance programs for people living with Parkinson's disease

Eval Program Plann. 2024 Apr 2:104:102430. doi: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2024.102430. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Morgan Senter¹, Amanda M Clifford², Orfhlaith Ni Bhriain³

Affiliations

¹ Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, University of Limerick, Co. Limerick, Ireland. Electronic address: Morgan.Senter@ul.ie.
² School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Co. Limerick, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Co. Limerick, Ireland; Ageing Research Centre, University of Limerick, Co. Limerick, Ireland.
³ Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, University of Limerick, Co. Limerick, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Co. Limerick, Ireland.

PMID: 38581972
DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2024.102430

Abstract

Dance programs for people living with Parkinson's disease (PwPD) offer participants an opportunity to exercise, engage in artistic self-expression, and form new relationships. While it is understood that the social dimension of dance programs for PwPD contributes to dancer satisfaction and program sustainability, the social mechanisms instrumental to program success are under-examined. Engaging with theory from wider disciplines, or "theory knitting" can help program designers and evaluators examine the mechanisms and contextual factors that make classes socially meaningful with greater detail and specificity. This study identified and examined three theoretical frameworks that program planners and evaluators could use to conceptualize social engagement in dance for PwPD contexts and inform practice. Each theory was assessed for fit using the T-CaST theory comparison and selection tool developed by Birken et al. (2018). As an example, we used anthropologist Victor Turner's (1970; 1977) theory of liminality and communitas to identify five key areas for fostering a sense of social connection in dance for PwPD contexts: (1) selecting a meaningful dance space (2) creating a joyous atmosphere (3) marking entrance into the liminal time and space with rituals (4) embodying liminality and anti-structure and (5) inverting power relations and embracing fluid roles.

Keywords: Dance; Parkinson’s disease; Program design; Social engagement; Theory; Theory-driven evaluation.