A note from Angela Rippon – Dancing with Parkinson’s

As part of the launch for Let's Dance! 2026 on February 7th at the Old Bailey, we had a truly inspiring performance from English National Ballet's Parkinson 's dancers.

Dame Arlene Phillips had choreographed a unique routine for the dancers, inspired by the words of the song "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston and Callum Scott.

After the performance one of the dancers, Ian Temple, a founder member of the English National Ballet's performance company for a Dance with Parkinson's, wrote an incredible email, expressing exactly how he felt when dancing, and the way in which dance affects him physically, and emotionally. His story will soon be featured in the press.

It is one of the most powerful, emotional, and wholly compelling descriptions I have ever read which sums up exactly how dance can change the lives of those who live with this degenerative disease of Parkinson's. We are grateful to Parkinson's UK and the English National Ballet for partnering with us this year.

Ian's story:

I have been sitting with yesterday's extraordinary experience. And wanted to put it into words.

Ten of us. Ten people living every single day with Parkinson's. Standing on a stage performing a world premiere by the legendary Arlene Phillips. If someone had told me that a few years ago, I'm not sure I would have believed it.

When you live with PD, red letter days are rare. Truly rare. So much of life becomes about managing, coping, adjusting, enduring. But yesterday was not about enduring. It was about living.

As the music began, an enormous wave of adrenaline hit me. It was almost frightening in its intensity. My heart was in my mouth. For a split second I thought — can I do this? And then we were moving. Together. Committed. Present.

"I Wanna Dance with Somebody."

I have heard that song hundreds of times in my life. But never — never — has it felt so piercingly truthful. Because let's be honest. Living with Parkinson's can be lonely. Living alone with Parkinson's can be overwhelming. When the night falls, the loneliness does call. There are moments when the blues feel very close indeed.

And yet yesterday, standing beside you, I realised something profound. Dancing with people who understand — who know the daily negotiations with stiffness, fatigue, tremor, fear — is my way of chasing those blues away. It is my way of saying: I am still here

We communicated something bigger than choreography. We communicated truth. We communicated resilience. We communicated joy that has been fought for. And the response from the audience proved that it landed. So many people came to us and told us we had moved them to tears. And then, in the most beautiful and human way, we found ourselves in tears too.

What I felt in that moment was overwhelming. Pride. Relief. Achievement. A sense of honour. We had been entrusted by English National Ballet to represent their extraordinary programme. To represent thousands of people who dance with Parkinson's across the country. That is no small responsibility.

I cannot describe to you how rarely I feel proud of myself in the grips of Parkinson's. Yesterday, I did. Deeply. I felt special. And that feeling will stay with me.

To appear live on the BBC, sharing what we do with millions — that felt surreal. But if even one person with Parkinson's, sitting alone and feeling isolated, saw us and thought, "Maybe I could do that. Maybe I want to dance with somebody," and reached out to their local group — then our job is done!

Whether you'd like to join a dance session or even host your own event as a local organisation, there's something for everyone. You can discover sessions at our Moving More activity finder or through the official Let's Dance Website. 

If you'd like to get involved and want to know more you can also contact us at info@livelongerbetterinherts.co.uk