Dancer and choreographer Simone Sistarelli has an unusual way of helping people fight the symptoms of degenerative disease Parkinson's – popping and locking.
His free classes, the only ones of their kind in the world, take place in Wimbledon, south London. "We started in 2016 with just an idea and no funding. I had an idea of having people who suffer from Parkinson's taking popping classes to fight off their symptoms and regain control," says Sistarelli.
There were no classes like this in the world.
Find out more about the incredible Popping for Parkinson's classes in the video below:
Sistarelli's grandfather had Parkinson's, giving him a direct connection to the disease. He's raised £2,500 (€2,845) to allow classes to continue, and has now set a stretch target so that he can reach more people, take the concept on tour and develop research on the therapeutic relationship between popping and Parkinson's.
"It made sense artistically because one of the effects that Parkinson’s has is shaking, the tremors," explains Sistarelli of his reasons for starting the class. "I really wanted to see how that involuntary contraction and release of the muscles could turn into something positive."
He realised that the controlled action required by popping could help people who suffer from tremors and so began developing classes and routines along these lines. "With this hip-hop influenced dance, I could teach my students to channel their shaking. I wanted to try and change the negative – the tremor – into something positive, artistic and expressive."
An estimated 10 million people worldwide live with Parkinson's disease and its symptoms, which typically include tremors, slowness of movement, stiff limbs and trouble with balance.
"There were no classes like this in the world. There are dance classes for people with Parkinson's, but most of them are contemporary or ballet-based. Popping is just what I do best," Sistarelli says. "I wanted to do something meaningful for the community, just like hip-hop taught me."