Dance for people with Parkinsons + Dance teacher workshop

Belconnen Arts Centre are putting together a dance program for people with Parkinsons, and running a workshop for dance teachers afterwards:

1:00–2:00pm, Tuesday 13 August, with Q&A following

Interested in building your skills as a dance teacher? Curious about new ways of using dance in your community? Want to connect with some new groups in the ACT?

Join Belconnen Arts Centre for a FREE dance class for People with Parkinson’s on Tuesday 13 August, from 1:00–2:00pm, with a special Q& A for dance teachers following.

Dance for People with Parkinson’s began in New York City in 2001, in partnership with the Mark Morris Dance Company, and is now a new program running at Belconnen Arts Centre, specifically focused on providing fun, energising and engaging activities for this population. This session will be led by Erica Rose Jeffrey, a San Francisco-based dancer and choreographer.

What is Dance for Parkinson’s?

The program begun in New York in 2001 and is now a world-wide program. Dance for Parkinson’s successfully integrates a range of dance techniques specifically for people with Parkinson’s, no matter what stage their condition. The original idea came from the founder of the Brooklyn Parkinson’s support group, Olie Westheimer, who teamed up with the internationally acclaimed Mark Morris Dance Group. Further information is on their website: http://danceforparkinsons.org/about-the-program

Why dance for Parkinson’s?

Dance is particularly beneficial for people with Parkinson’s disease because:
Dance develops flexibility and instills confidence
Dance is first and foremost a stimulating mental activity that connects mind to body
Dance breaks isolation
Dance invokes imagery in the service of graceful movement

For more information, please visit http://www.belconnenartscentre.com.au/classes/danceforpeoplewithparkinsons.html