A Sense of Belonging Among Ever-Changing Circumstances
I BEGAN TEACHING DANCE for PD ® in Oakland, in 2007. The classes are free and open to anyone who has Parkinson’s disease. Classes are taught with a live accompanist and structured like a typical dance class which offers a warm-up, center, across the floor, and ends with a dance combination. No prior dance experience is required. Unlike activities designed for therapeu- tic outcomes that bring patients into clinical settings, Dance for PD ® , a program from the Mark Morris Dance Group, brings dancers with Parkinson’s into the dance studio. There, they have an opportu- nity to explore dynamic qualities, reference spacial landmarks, and develop ensemble experiences through imagery and musicality. It is a dance program crafted specifically for this special population. Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disease which is idio- pathic and has no known cure. It affects the motor system which can manifest in stiffness, festination, bradykinesia, and/ or tremor. It might seem strange that dance classes are offered to those who suffer from a movement disorder. Dance for PD ® is now offered in 25 countries around the world and each Dance for PD ® program uniquely addresses the interests and specialties of the teacher and the region. In my own classes, I see how the tools and techniques that dancers use can be extremely helpful for those living with Parkinson’s disease. In particular, imagery and musicality are very effective. When I first started teaching, I would say, “Let’s turn to the right,” but quickly found that it could be challenging for some to
move their legs and shift their weight. Changing my tactic, I said, “Look at the butterfly and watch it flutter across the moon,” this imagery some- how unlocks the dancer within, and I see them turn with ease and grace. In 2009, I started the PEACE Proj- ect in order to provide opportunities for dancers with Parkinson’s to per- form with my intergenerational com- pany dNaga. It was a way for those
dancers who had been taking class to use their acquired dance skills and experience the thrill of being part of a production. I was also interested in learning more about the experience of having Parkinson’s disease and how one could find peace despite grappling with this continuously changing condi- tion. This inquiry led me on a narrative medicine journey that manifested in the creation of several dances as
well as a book, PEACE About Life: Dancing with Parkinson’s. As part of my artistic process, I col- lect interviews around a specific sub- ject. One such subject has been cen- tered on diagnosis. Many people, after being diagnosed, look back on their experience and realize that there were telltale signs of motor impairment that they may have noticed early on. Usually this pertained to impaired
BY CLAUDINE NAGANUMA, DIRECTOR OF dNAGA PHOTO BY MATT HABER
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In Dance | May 2014 | dancersgroup.org
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