Movers Project Classes to give dance classes for those with Parkinson’s
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Heather vonReichbauer
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“Dancing isn’t something that springs to mind when people think about Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that affects muscle control, balance and coordination, among other things,” wrote David Leventhal, teacher/trainer of the Mark Morris Dance for PD program in an article, “Think Like a Dancer.”
“Dancing helps reconnect me and my body. Parkinson’s seems a debilitating disease – but dance can help. We’re a team again.”
People with Parkinson’s disease, their caregivers, spouses and partners take a weekly Dance for Parkinson’s class with other people as a way to ease the isolation, frustrations and impairments of the disease. For people with Parkinson’s, being a dancer for a few hours a week is powerful in helping participants regain physical confidence in their own bodies.
The class benefits go further than simply transporting participants from a world of chronic illness into one of artistic achievement. Beyond identifying themselves as dancers, participants have learned to think like dancers and, by doing so, they’ve developed the same strategies that professional dancers use to make sense of challenging movement.
Dance classes for individuals living with Parkinson’s use techniques from various dance genres, including ballet, modern, tap, jazz, musical theater and folk dance to engage their body and mind in a creative space.
“These classes create a safe, fun and expressive space for participants and caretakers,” noted Heather vonReichbauer, instructor for Movers Project Classes for individuals living with Parkinson’s. “Classes help address PD-specific concerns, such as balance, flexibility, coordination and gait. Participants and caregivers benefit from the socialization and community-building that the class offers.”
Individuals with concerns about mobility, coordination and flexibility are invited and welcomed into the class.
VonReichbauer is a choreographer, educator and arts administrator. She has served on the dance faculties of Houston Community College, Rice University, Greensboro College, Catawba College, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Louisburg College, serving as Dance director at both Louisburg and Rice.
As founder and director of Bones and Memory Dance, vonReichbauer has presented work in Barnstorm Dance Fest, Mind the Gap, Society of Performing Arts Performance Prelude Series, 254-Dance Fest and Houston Fringe Festival. Her work has been commissioned by Houston Choreographers x6, The Pilot Dance Project, FrentiCore Dance and Houston Community College. She recently completed her Introductory Teacher Training with David Leventhal of the Mark Morris Dance for PD program.
The general structure of classes begins seated and moves to traveling across the floor. The class is adaptable for anyone who wishes to remain seated or needs the support of the chair during the entire class. The instructor focuses on creating a safe, fun environment and empowers participants to participate in the way that is most safe for them.
Join vonReichbauer for a Free Trial Mover’s Project Class at the J, 5601 S. Braeswood Blvd., Tuesday, Oct. 5, from 11 a.m.-noon. To reserve your spot, email [email protected], call 713-551-7217 or go to erjcc.force.com/s/registration.
“Dancing helps reconnect me and my body. Parkinson’s seems a debilitating disease – but dance can help. We’re a team again.”
People with Parkinson’s disease, their caregivers, spouses and partners take a weekly Dance for Parkinson’s class with other people as a way to ease the isolation, frustrations and impairments of the disease. For people with Parkinson’s, being a dancer for a few hours a week is powerful in helping participants regain physical confidence in their own bodies.
The class benefits go further than simply transporting participants from a world of chronic illness into one of artistic achievement. Beyond identifying themselves as dancers, participants have learned to think like dancers and, by doing so, they’ve developed the same strategies that professional dancers use to make sense of challenging movement.
Dance classes for individuals living with Parkinson’s use techniques from various dance genres, including ballet, modern, tap, jazz, musical theater and folk dance to engage their body and mind in a creative space.
“These classes create a safe, fun and expressive space for participants and caretakers,” noted Heather vonReichbauer, instructor for Movers Project Classes for individuals living with Parkinson’s. “Classes help address PD-specific concerns, such as balance, flexibility, coordination and gait. Participants and caregivers benefit from the socialization and community-building that the class offers.”
Individuals with concerns about mobility, coordination and flexibility are invited and welcomed into the class.
VonReichbauer is a choreographer, educator and arts administrator. She has served on the dance faculties of Houston Community College, Rice University, Greensboro College, Catawba College, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Louisburg College, serving as Dance director at both Louisburg and Rice.
As founder and director of Bones and Memory Dance, vonReichbauer has presented work in Barnstorm Dance Fest, Mind the Gap, Society of Performing Arts Performance Prelude Series, 254-Dance Fest and Houston Fringe Festival. Her work has been commissioned by Houston Choreographers x6, The Pilot Dance Project, FrentiCore Dance and Houston Community College. She recently completed her Introductory Teacher Training with David Leventhal of the Mark Morris Dance for PD program.
The general structure of classes begins seated and moves to traveling across the floor. The class is adaptable for anyone who wishes to remain seated or needs the support of the chair during the entire class. The instructor focuses on creating a safe, fun environment and empowers participants to participate in the way that is most safe for them.
Join vonReichbauer for a Free Trial Mover’s Project Class at the J, 5601 S. Braeswood Blvd., Tuesday, Oct. 5, from 11 a.m.-noon. To reserve your spot, email [email protected], call 713-551-7217 or go to erjcc.force.com/s/registration.