About Dance for PD®
Dance is for Everyone!
Dancing has been scientifically shown to slow the progression of Parkinson’s and improve quality of life, along with mental and physical health overall. There is a body of scientific work that supports this.
This is good, of course, but even better is that Dance for PD classes are fun! Dancers tell us that while they are in class they leave Parkinson’s at the door and they experience the joy of dance and the social connections for their own sake.
Join us! All of our classes are free. Click on the button to find the list of classes. Two of them are offered on-line weekly (and there are more on-line classes offered through the Dance for PD international program). So if you want to try that first, please do.
Questions and Answers
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Everyone is welcome at our Dance for PD classes - no dance experience necessary. In fact, most of our dancers had never danced before their first class, too.
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Yes, absolutely! Classes are designed to include people of all abilities, and teachers are trained to work with those living with Parkinson’s at all points of progression of the disease.
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You may come alone. You may also bring a care partner, family member or friend if that makes you more comfortable. They will enjoy the class, too!
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All of our classes are open to walk-ins. Some of the classes recommend pre-registration, but it is not required.
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It's very normal to get tired - dance is a wonderful holistic experience that stimulates physical, cognitive, emotional and social skills, but it encourages you to use energy. Most people feel energized during the experience and may feel 'spent' after class - in a good way. However, our classes always have chairs available for resting, and our teachers and assistants are trained to support the needs of anyone in class at any time. You're always welcome to rest, enjoy the music and close your eyes. The class is structured to take fatigue into account - both in the length of class (usually 75 minutes), and in the progressive sequence and flow.
Research indicates that dancing builds endurance, so over time, you may find that you have more energy throughout your class experience.
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To respect the intimate, communal environment of the class, everyone in the room is asked to participate in the experience. We do not allow observers.
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More information is available at danceforparkinsons.org. Click here to access their Q&A.
“Going to class is the highlight of my week. I can leave my disease at the door and walk out feeling like myself again.”
~ Dance for PD class participant
“I was filled with great joy. I was able to take the whole class and walked out feeling accomplished.”
~ Dance for PD class participant