Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive nervous disorder that manifests as tremors, slowed movement, rigid muscles, impaired posture and balance, and other motor impairments. Although the disease can’t be cured, dance has been found to ameliorate symptoms.
In 2001 Ollie Westheimer, the founder of the Brooklyn Parkinson’s Group, asked the Mark Morris Dance Company to create a rigorous creative dance program for individuals with Parkinson’s. The request was based on the idea that trained dancers are experts whose knowledge of balance, sequencing, rhythm, and aesthetics is helpful in treating movement impairments associated with Parkinson’s.
Now Dance for PD is offered in 300 communities in 25 countries. Clinical studies show that dancing to music slows the progression of the disease – another example of dance knowledge being put to new uses.