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In 2024, the Tango Therapy Project (TTP) launched a one-of-a-kind Adapted Tango Pilot Program for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Our pilot year was joyful and rewarding, and so many participants asked, “How can I keep dancing?” In September 2025, we launched Year 2 programming and opened a waitlist for our 10-week Fall Series. Moving forward, we aim to broaden and deepen our impact by expanding our programming to older adults and individuals with other motor and neurologic conditions, beginning with a pilot for post-stroke individuals in Year 3.
Your donation of any amount ensures we can provide world-class TUITION-FREE adapted tango programs, rigorous volunteer training, and transportation assistance so no participant is excluded by cost or circumstance. Your support doesn’t just open a dance class—it opens possibilities for independence, health, and joy that are backed by science and proven by testimonials from our participants, including:
“l hope and pray I will be able to dance in the future again with you.”
Specifically, in 2026, we will:
- Provide three 10-week adapted tango series for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners, supported by trained volunteers.
- Partner with professional Argentine tango dancers and musicians, who will offer live performances at the final celebration of our adapted tango series.
- Host two 1-day volunteer training sessions to prepare community members to support and dance with participants in our adapted tango classes.
- Partner with Cloudline Physical Therapy to offer fall detection and prevention workshops in our volunteer training sessions.
- Offer “Intro to Tango Presentations” that feature tango history, live performances by professional dancers, and adapted tango at senior residences, community centers, medical facilities, and more to spread awareness of our programming.
- Build partnerships with host sites across Greater Philadelphia, to ensure that those who could most benefit from our programming can access it.
- Support neurologist board members Dr. Rebecca Ichord and Dr. Alexandra Pfister, who will develop education and training materials to expand our adapted tango programming to post-stroke individuals.
- Consult with world-renowned neuro-kinesiologist Dr. Madeleine Hackney and local physical therapists on our expansion to the post-stroke community.
- Host a 1-day training to prepare TTP instructors and volunteers for an adapted tango pilot series for post-stroke individuals.
- Offer a 6-week adapted tango pilot series for post-stroke individuals.
- Host a field trip to a local milonga (social tango event), opening pathways of connection between our participants and the local tango community.
- Pilot an introductory Argentine tango workshop for our volunteers.
- Conduct research and evaluation and create documentation of our programming.
- Maintain a living library of research on the therapeutic benefits of adapted tango.
- Cultivate relationships in the neurologic, movement disorder, clinical research, arts therapy, and senior communities.
- Celebrate the healing power of tango, dance, and human connection by sharing stories of this work.
DONATIONS of any amount support everything from administration, training, program development, programming, evaluation, and documentation. Thank you for your support, well wishes, and interest in our work. If you would like to stay apprised of TTP’s activities, please subscribe to our mailing list via our website, www.tangotherapyproject.org.
With warm wishes for Thanksgiving and the coming holidays from the The Tango Therapy Project:
Carolyn Merritt, Co-Executive Director
Jocelyn Russell Wallace, Co-Executive Director
Rebecca N. Ichord, MD, Board President
Amy Yang, Board Treasurer
Mary Carmel Etienne, Board Secretary
Alexandra Pfister, Board Member
Huaou Yan, Board Member
Laurie Humphreys, Board Member
Sage Leland, Volunteer & Administrative Assistant
More on TTP
The Tango Therapy Project was conceived with the mission to provide therapeutic benefit, improve quality of life, spark joy, and promote social connection through Argentine tango. Inspired by scientific research demonstrating tango’s benefits for people with Parkinson’s disease, as well as individuals with other motor and neurological conditions, we aim to share these benefits more widely by bringing adapted tango programs to people who might not otherwise experience this unique art form.
Parkinson’s Disease and Adapted Tango
The second most-common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s, PD impacts 10 million people globally and 90,000 more people each year in the U.S. While there is no known cure and medications may help combat symptoms, exercise is recognized as a vital therapeutic tool for people with PD, and in studies exploring the efficacy of various exercise regimens, adapted tango has performed as well as and sometimes better than other movement forms.
An improvised social dance based on hugging another person and walking, Argentine tango is accessible to people of all ages. Our adapted curriculum incorporates modifications designed for individuals with motor and neurological impairments. As a therapeutic tool, adapted tango is a moderate-intensity activity that offers practice in countless real-life skills, including many that prove challenging for people with PD. Just as important, adapted tango offers myriad quality of life benefits—including social engagement, community, safe physical contact—to participants and care partners. Adapted tango is a joyful, cost-effective means of supporting quality of life as we age, alongside the technological advancements and scientific discoveries that have made our longer lives possible.
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Tango Therapy Project
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