Adapted Tango Improves Mobility

PD participants and caregivers practice with volunteers in an Adapted Tango class in 2025.

Participants Enjoy Connecting with Volunteers

We’re thrilled to report that Tango Mercurio’s Adapted Tango Program met its goals for 2025 of providing the therapeutic benefits of partnered and improvised social dance to people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) through a safe, interesting, and fun adaptation of traditional Argentine tango.

A total of 13 PD participants and three caregivers attended one of two five-week pilot class series held from September to November 2025. Twenty-four trained volunteers provided one-on-one support for the classes, led by Program Manager S. Alexandra (“Alex”) Russell. Our post-series evaluation showed that mobility improved by about 8% on average among respondents, and most caregivers noticed not only an improvement in their partners but also in their own quality of life—"a boost in physical function and a sense of social support,” one described.

In response to the question “What was your favorite part of the program?,” almost all the participants cited the volunteers. “An amazing group of volunteers— helpful, positive, and understanding!” wrote one participant. Not surprisingly, the feeling was mutual: “Seeing how PD participants enjoy the program and make progress is very rewarding,” said one volunteer.

All the PD participants, caregivers, and volunteers agreed or strongly agreed that the program was well organized and that their expectations were met; and 97% of PD participants and caregivers and 100% of volunteers would recommend the program.

Thanks to generous donations and grants from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club Foundation, Program participants, and our ongoing GoFundMe campaign, we are in a position to expand our programming to five class series of six weeks each in 2026 (two in the Winter/Spring, one in the Summer, and two in the Fall). Series 1 for Beginners is now open for enrollment by PD participants and their caregivers. Classes will be held at La Cosecha on Wednesday mornings from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon starting February 4, 2026, followed by Series 2 for Advanced Beginners starting on March 25.

Please share the Adapted Tango Program, video, and enrollment form with any people you know with Parkinson’s disease or other movement disorders. Our GoFundMe fundraiser is ongoing to make sure we can continue this invaluable programming—huge thanks to those of you who’ve already contributed. Donations are appreciated, as the more resources we have, the more classes we can offer. Thank you for your support!

For any questions on enrolling in the training or classes, please email us.