About

Biography

I am a Parkinson’s consultant, movement specialist, educator, and media professional working at the intersection of movement, health, and communication. I hold both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Performing Arts, and my professional life has been shaped by a long-standing commitment to integrating dance, movement, research, and storytelling to drive meaningful social impact. 

Before working with Parkinson’s, I built a career as a professional dancer, choreographer, and performing arts producer. I trained extensively in ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance, and have performed in productions across Europe. I have choreographed and produced dance shows in Italy and Malta, and directed several television productions, including a daily movement programme broadcast during the COVID period and the documentary One Day We Will Dance Again. I continue to teach ballet, jazz, and freestyle jazz and remain an active practitioner. This foundation in professional dance is inseparable from everything I do; it is what gives my approach to therapeutic movement its depth and artistry.

My work in Parkinson’s care grew from a desire to use my passion for dance to genuinely support people. I was introduced early on to Dance for PD in New York, an experience that immediately compelled me to explore how movement could be applied specifically and responsibly within Parkinson’s care. 

This professional direction was deeply reinforced by a personal connection. My aunt’s partner was living with Parkinson’s disease and witnessing the realities of the condition for both the individual and the caregiver, which shaped my understanding of what living with Parkinson’s truly entails. After his passing, my aunt walked a pilgrimage alone from Amsterdam to Rome and later wrote a book about this journey. Seeing the impact of caregiving and loss made it clear to me that any work in Parkinson’s must include and acknowledge the role of the caregiver. 

Step Up for Parkinson’s — building community through movement 

In 2015, I founded Step Up for Parkinson’s, a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life of people living with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers through free, movement-based programmes. What began as a small pilot project grew into a strong, closely connected community that supported hundreds of participants through weekly classes, performances, training programmes, and public engagement. 

For over ten years, all classes and programmes were offered free of charge, ensuring accessibility regardless of financial situation. Participants consistently reported improvements in confidence, mobility, social connection, and emotional well-being, benefits that extended beyond the studio and into daily life. 

Voices from the Step Up for Parkinson’s community 

I led and ran Step Up for Parkinson’s for over a decade, developing a structured methodology rooted in my academic research, training healthcare professionals and movement practitioners, and working closely with individuals and families affected by Parkinson’s. Under my leadership, the organisation received multiple honours, including formal recognition by the President of Malta and a private audience with Pope Francis. 

In 2023, together with my team, we established a Parkinson’s Centre where people living with Parkinson’s could receive specialised, person-centred care from healthcare providers trained by ParkinsonNet from the Netherlands. 

Alongside my work in Parkinson’s care, I have an extensive background in television and media. Before founding Step Up for Parkinson’s, I directed and produced several television programmes. During the COVID period, I developed and presented a daily television programme focused on accessible movement for older adults, bringing movement-based care directly into people’s homes at a time of isolation. 

I also directed the documentary One Day We Will Dance Again, which was broadcast twice on national television in Malta, further extending public awareness around movement, ageing, and resilience. 

Selected broadcast and documentary work 

Fundraising, education, and leadership 

In addition to my work with individuals and communities, I have trained over 50 people to become Dance for Parkinson’s teachers and delivered lectures at the University of Malta within Disability Studies programmes. This educational work focuses on movement methodology, embodied communication, and working responsibly with people living with Parkinson’s. 

Through strategic fundraising, persuasive communication, and original media production, I raised over €500,000 to support Step Up for Parkinson’s operations. This work was grounded in extensive experience with public speaking, pitching, and stakeholder engagement, developed through years of live television presenting and leadership roles. 

Today 

After many years of leading and developing Parkinson’s-focused work internationally, I am now based in Germany with my family. I am currently focused on supporting people living with Parkinson’s and their caregivers in Germany, the Netherlands, and beyond, offering consultation, movement-based support, and professional guidance grounded in more than a decade of specialised experience.