Bénéfices de la danse dans les pathologies développementales du cervelet

Developmental pathologies of the cerebellum, in particular congenital cerebellar ataxias, although rare, are the cause of often severe motor and cognitive difficulties for which there are few methods of remediation at present. Dance is a motivating and transgenerational artistic activity that involves the synchronization of the whole body with music and/or partners. In this chapter, we will begin with a brief introduction to why dance, due to its characteristics, offers particularly interesting perspectives from a therapeutic point of view. Before discussing the use of dance in the rehabilitation of neurological pathologies, we will address the particular context of congenital cerebellar ataxias, recalling the role of the cerebellum and the consequences of its impairment on the quality of life and social integration of patients and families. We will review the current possibilities of rehabilitation of children with congenital ataxia and we will highlight the absence of remedial techniques focusing on rhythm despite the rhythmic deficits induced by cerebellar damage and the important role of temporal and sensory-motor capacities during development. Finally, we will present the preliminary results of a first study conducted in our laboratory, in collaboration with the National Reference Center for Cerebellar Disorders of the University Hospital Center of Lille, which studied the benefits on motor and cognitive functions of a two-month intervention based on dance and rhythm in children with congenital cerebellar ataxia.