SOUTHERN DANCEWORKS LAUNCHES DANCE FOR PARKINSON’S IN BIRMINGHAM

January 12, 2012, 1:00pm, Alabama Ballet Center for Dance

 

“Dancing helps reconnect me and my body.  We’re a team again.”

 

“My experiences with this class have played a major role in reclaiming my physicality and mobility from the relentless ravaging of Parkinson’s Disease.”

 

BIRMINGHAM – Southern Danceworks announces the launch of a new dance program in January called Dance for Parkinson’s. The Birmingham program will be based on the model first established as an outreach collaboration between the Mark Morris Dance Group in New York City and the Brooklyn Parkinson’s Group. Together they launched a hugely successful program, Dance for PD®, which is currently in over 40 cities worldwide, including Boston, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Tel Aviv, London, Auckland, N.Z., Seattle, Phoenix, Berkeley, and Toronto.

 

The classes integrate movement from contemporary, tap, jazz and ballet to strengthen legs, stretch limbs, aid in coordination, and engage mind and body as well as stimulate the imagination. Throughout class, there is never mention of disease or symptoms. Participants are empowered to use a variety of mental and physical strategies through a sequential structure to regain confidence, balance and control.

 

Two artists from Southern Danceworks, Teri Weksler and Mary Margaret Scalici, are excited to announce a special preview class of Dance for Parkinson’s on January 12, 2012, at 1:00 pm at the Alabama Ballet Center for Dance. David Leventhal from the Mark Morris Dance Center’s program will teach the class and lead a discussion following the class. There is no charge to participate in the class or observe.  

 

The visionary director of Brooklyn Parkinson’s Group, Olie Westheimer understood the powerful effects dance training can have on the mind and body. In Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation she wrote; “What well trained dancers know how to do very, very well, is control their movements with cognitive strategies and conscious use of all sensory input.”  Weksler, who was a founding member of the Mark Morris Dance Group, has been participating in the classes while in New York City. Along with Ms. Scalici, she attended a training workshop in Denver in preparation for establishing the program in Birmingham.

 

The program's teaching points have been condensed into the DVD entitled Why Dance for Parkinson's Disease? The ten reasons featured in the film include: 1) dance develops flexibility and instills confidence; 2) dance is a stimulating mental activity that connects mind to body; 3) dance breaks isolation; 4) dance invokes imagery in the service of graceful movement; 5) dance makes use of eyes, ears, and touch to assist in movement and balance; 6) dance increases awareness of where all parts of the body are in space; 7) dance tells stories; 8) dance sparks creativity; 9) the basis of dance is rhythm; and 10) the essence of dance is joy.

 

The class and discussion are open to anyone who is interested in or has a connection to Parkinson’s Disease, including medical professionals, patients, families and caregivers. If you are interested in receiving more information or participating in the class on January 12, please contact Rosemary Johnson at 205-602-3599 or email rosemary@alabamadancecouncil.org. Information packets and copies of the DVD Why Dance for Parkinson’s Disease? are available. To learn more about Dance for PD®, visit http://danceforparkinsons.org.

 

E-mail me when people leave their comments –

You need to be a member of AlabamaDance to add comments!

Join AlabamaDance