Why "Dance for PD"

Dance for PD® is a unique collaboration between the Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson Group, a chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation (USA). One driving force behind Dance for PD® is the power of dance to concentrate mind, body and emotion on movement. This integrated focus of the whole person on movement is useful to persons with Parkinsons Disease. Equally important is the inherent ability of dance to positively affect mood. In the class, persons with PD and their caregivers learn from professionally trained dancers. Dancers are movement experts who know all about stretching and strengthening muscles, about balance and rhythm. Most importantly, persons with PD learn how dancers use thought, imagination, eyes, ears and touch to control movement. Dance for PD classes combine elements of modern dance, ballet, tap, jazz, social dancing, and Mark Morris company repertoire. While dancing, whether in chairs, at a barre, or standing, class participants explore dance movements in a welcoming environment in which live music energizes, enriches and empowers.

The method has been presented at the International Congress for Parkinsons Disease and Related Disorders in Berlin (2005), the World Parkinson Congress in Washington, D.C. (2006) and at Neuroscience 2008 in Washington D.C. Articles about the class have appeared in USA Today, Neurology Now, The New York Times, and Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation among other publications. In addition to hosting a weekly class at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn, the Mark Morris Dance Group has offered Dance for PD® to communities in San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle, Urbana-Champaign, Toronto, London and Edinburgh. In 2007 and 2008 MMDG/BPG sponsored training workshops which have led to replication of Dance for PD® classes throughout the United States and in Toronto, Canada. 45 guests attended the teacher training weekend (March 28-29). In response to requests from both dancers and PD organizations, plans for future Dance for PD® training workshops are currently underway. For more information, contact David Leventhal, Program Coordinator, david@mmdg.org.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Parkinsons
• PD
• dance
• MMDG
• Brooklyn

[phelamd]

A wonderful concept. Can anyone tell me if such an opportunity is available in the Phoenix area for my husband who enjoys music and movement, but is fairly solitary? thank you, sally phelan (phelansally@hotmail.com)