Beyond Therapy: Real Life Stories From Patients and Care Partners After Arts-based Parkinson's Movement Programs

Learn about three movement programs for people living with Parkinson’s that evolved out of the performing arts and are generally delivered in non-clinical settings by performing artists rather than allied health professionals: "Dance for Parkinson’s Disease"; "Poised for Parkinson's" (an Alexander-technique-based cognitive embodiment group course); and an adapted Bharatnatyam Indian dance class for clients needing culturally familiar applications.

These approaches offer clients a welcomed opportunity to step away from being Parkinson’s patients in a therapeutic setting who are defined solely by your diagnosis and pathology. Instead of viewing your body and movements with apprehension, you can simply enjoy becoming a better dancer, or in the case of Alexander, learning how to bring poise, lightness, and pleasurable movement into your everyday life. Group classes offer an energizing and sociable experience that focuses on self-expression and bodily pleasure. Everyone gets a short workshop experience of all three modalities led by the presenters!