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DANCE FOR PD

Brooklyn Parkinson Group, together with Mark Morris Dance Group, a world renowned modern dance company based in Brooklyn, sponsor Dance for PD classes for persons with PD, caregivers and friends. We all dance, learn, and enjoy the class together. Dancers John, David, and Misty lead the class while William Wade accompanies on piano.

Why dance for Parkinson's Disease?

Why dance for PD? Five reasons are listed below. There are many more.

1. Dancing is joyful. Dancing to live music is especially joyful.

2. Dancing is excellent exercise. A dance class provides a complete workout. Dancing stretches, strengthens, and relaxes muscles.

3. Dancing is first and foremost, a mental activity. Dancing involves using the brain as well as the body to control movement. The brain gets a complete workout too.

4. Dancing makes use of the senses. Conscious use of vision, hearing and touch makes moving easier for persons with PD, just as it does for dancers.

5. Dancing is a social activity. In class we all dance, talk and laugh together; persons recently diagnosed, persons with a walker, in a wheelchair, attendants, caregivers, friends, dancers. Sometimes we sing along too.

Dance class video

If you would like to watch a video from one of our dance classes, please click on one of the links below.

For HIGH SPEED or LOW SPEED connection.

Teachers

Well trained dancers are movement experts whose knowledge is useful to persons with PD. They know all about stretching and strengthening muscles, and about balance and rhythm. Most importantly, dancers know how to use their thoughts, imagination, eyes, ears and touch to control their movements. While dancing, everyone in the class learns about these things. In turn, our instructors learn from the class: what sequences and rhythms work best; what ways of thinking and moving are most enjoyable and helpful for persons with PD; what's easy, what's difficult. Our "Dance for PD" classes are truly a collaborative effort.

JOHN HEGINBOTHAM, from Anchorage, Alaska, graduated from the Juilliard School in 1993. He has performed with artists including Susan Marshall and Company, John Jasperse, Ben Munisteri, and as a guest artist with Pilobolus Dance Theater. John's choreography is featured in the performances and "Emerge" music video of recording artists Fischerspooner. He joined the Mark Morris Dance Group in 1998.

DAVID LEVENTHAL, raised in Newton, Massachusetts, has danced with the Mark Morris Dance Group since 1997. Previously, he worked with José Mateo’s Ballet Theatre and the companies of Marcus Schulkind, Amy Spencer/Richard Colton, Ben Munisteri, and Zvi Gotheiner. He graduated from Brown University in 1995 with honors in English Literature.

MISTY OWENS, a graduate of the University of New Mexico is a former member of the Bill Evans Dance Company. Misty has performed and taught across the United States, Mexico, and Japan, representing the U.S. in the International College Dance Festival in Kobe, Japan. Currently she is performing with the Peggy Spina Tap Company. Misty teaches both student and adult classes at Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) in modern, tap, ballet, and creative movement and is choreographer and director of the Student Company at Mark Morris. A second year graduate student, Misty is a teacher in the Dance for PD classes, and is doing her master's degree thesis on the program BPG and MMDG have developed.

WILLIAM WADE graduated from University of Southern Florida in music composition. He has worked on many productions as a pianist, singer, and composer. Two of William's musicals are now in pre production for Broadway. He is also an accompanist for the Mark Morris Dance Group and is the accompanist for the Dance for PD classes.

Dance for PD scheduling information

When:	Weekly on Wednesdays, from 2:00 to 3:15 PM. Please note: Classes start September 10, 2008. No class Nov. 26, Dec. 24, and Dec. 31. In bad weather class may be cancelled. Call Wednesday mornings after 11 AM: 718 624 8400 or 718 522 0553
Where:	Mark Morris Dance Center 3 Lafayette Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11217 (between Flatbush and Ashland Avenue) Just off Flatbush down the block from Brooklyn Academy of Music.