Olie Westheimer, founder and executive director of the Brooklyn Parkinson Group, dances with a student in a Dance for PD® class at the Mark Morris Dance Center. (Photo: Rosalie O'Connor)
The Parkinson’s Unity Walk has selected Olie Westheimer and David Leventhal as this year’s recipients of the Alan Bonander Humanitarian Award to recognize their work to develop Dance for PD® and to acknowledge the global impact of the program. Carol Walton, the Unity Walk’s Executive Director, will present the award at this year’s event on Saturday, April 27 in New York’s Central Park.
The Alan Bonander Humanitarian Award winner is nominated and voted on by a committee, and is awarded to an individual or individuals in recognition of their exemplary contribution to the Parkinson’s community. To read more about this year’s award, please click here.
The Unity Walk is the world’s largest grassroots event to raise Parkinson’s awareness and funds to find a cure. Since 1994, families, friends, caregivers and representatives from the Walk’s sponsors and seven major U.S. Parkinson’s foundations have gathered once a year in unity, with 100% of donations going directly to Parkinson’s disease research. While more than 10,000 people are expected to turn out for the event, many others raise funds from home and support the Walk without ever coming to Central Park. Click on the logo to the left for more information, or call 866-PUW-WALK (866-789-9255)
Dance for PD® in Madrid
David Leventhal teaches participants at a Dance for PD® community class in Madrid.
More than 20 madrileños and madrileñas with Parkinson's joined Dance for PD® founding teacher David Leventhal for a class at Madrid's Centro Danza Canal January 3 as part of the Mark Morris Dance Group's critically-acclaimed performances of Mozart Dances at the Teatro Real. This was the first master class offered in continental Europe. One community leader from a local Parkinson's group wrote about the class: "I loved it, and I found it a great project to rehabilitate part of the effects caused by the Parkinson's. I love dancing and music, and from my own experience. . . I see that when I start dancing my body reacts better." Plans to offer a training workshop for local dance artists are in development, and will most likely dovetail with MMDG's scheduled return to Spain in June 2014.
News briefs
Newly-published research on dance and Parkinson's: Regular readers of our Newsflashes have been following the English National Ballet/Roehampton University research project that used a mixed-methods approach to study a Dance for Parkinson's class in London. The project's findings have now been published. The full report created by ENB/RU is also available to our members (please see below).
Scientific perspectives: Israeli neurologist Dr. Rivka Inzelberg has written an article, soon to be published in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience, which explores the connection between dopamine, Parkinson's, and artistic tendencies has been observed for years. Read more
New video: Seattle Theatre Group (STG), in collaboration with Spectrum Dance Theater, Northwest Parkinson's Foundation, and Evergreen Hospital, offers Dance for Parkinson's classes in three locations around the city. STG has produced a short video that highlights the program's artists, participants, and approach. Watch STG's video
Scientific perspectives: New research on endorphins finds people have higher pain thresholds immediately after performing music or dancing. Read more
Conference: The Global Alliance for Arts & Health will hold its 24th annual international conference, Healing Communities through the Arts, April 11-12, 2013, in Washington, DC. This conference will focus on programs and initiatives that expand arts and health beyond healthcare settings and into communities. In the face of war, natural disasters, economic downfall, social marginalization, and public health concerns, arts and health programs, including those adapted from healthcare settings, promote community resilience by providing education, therapy, and an expressive outlet. More information here
Scientific perspectives: A team led by scientists from The Scripps Research Institute has pinpointed a key factor controlling damage to brain cells in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. The discovery could lead to new targets for Parkinson's that may be useful in preventing the actual condition. Read more
Featured new program: Dance for PD comes to Bloomington, IN. "It’s hard to say what life would be like without (the program), but it’s definitely helped because I think I have more of a sense of rhythm now. I don’t fall as much. ... This helps with that and lets you express yourself artistically in a way you wouldn’t be able to otherwise.” Read more
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New Members' Blog Post
What do you say to a student who tells you your class is just too easy? David shares his response to an unusual complaint. Log in here and go to the Blog.
English National Ballet/Roehampton University full report now available
In this comprehensive report, Sara Houston and Ashley McGill examine the methods and data from ENB/RU's pioneering mixed-methods research project. Filled with thoughtful commentary and insightful feedback from participants themselves, the report makes for a fascinating read. We are grateful to both ENB and RU for making this report available to our members. Click here to log in and read the report, listed as our Featured Resource this month.
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Orders are streaming in for the Dance for PD® At Home DVD, to be released next week. U.S. members receive free shipping, and international members receive discounted shipping. To obtain your discount codes, please click here and log in with your member account information.
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