Dancing Through Parkinson's Keeps Moving On Zoom

CULVER CITY, CA — Leave it to Zoom, some dedication and quarantine for this group of dancers to keep moving despite the coronavirus pandemic. They're still dancing—alone—and together.

Invertigo Dance Theatre in Culver City developed online classes in late March when the stay-at-home order forced the group to start dancing at a distance. The group offers a class designed for people with Parkinson's disease—Dancing Through Parkinson's—and it's open for everyone to participate.

Although the dance group's in-person classes remain closed, dancers now join from Los Angeles, Texas and Massachusetts for the 45-minute class focused on improving range of movement.

The class is designed to improve the mind and body connection. Linda Berghoff, who lives with Parkinson's, helped develop and helped found the program.

They started with a pilot series on Vimeo taught by the group's teaching artists, K. Bradford, Community Engagement Manager of Invertigo Dance Theatre, told Patch.

"Our DTP classes are designed specifically to meet the needs of people with PD and other neurological conditions," Bradford said.

Anyone experiencing balance problems or working on improving health can join.

"The classes are beneficial to people with mobility or aging issues as well as care partners and family members," Bradford told Patch. "The curriculum is tailored to offer movement sequences that aid in strengthening coordination, stability, flexibility, mental clarity—some of the areas that people with PD most need support in maintaining. The brain-body connection is especially key for people with PD so we have brain teasers, exercises, and movement games designed specifically to engage the synapses that need bolstering."

The group does livestream video classes in August on Thursdays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and also offers themed dance classes on the website, including a tango class, which is good for people with Parkinson's.

"In September, we're holding an interactive virtual website launch event where we plan to feature our DTP dancers," Bradford told Patch.

Each class has a suggested donation. Stay tuned for the upcoming schedule for September and October.

"The suggested donation is $15 per class—we are happy to receive more or less," the group said. "We understand many people are stretched in different ways, some financially. If you can't donate it's ok, and please keep coming to DTP!! If you are able to donate, we greatly appreciate your generosity in supporting Invertigo's efforts to keep us all connected and dancing while we're apart."

Watch a documentary on Dancing Through Parkinson's:

Living On One: Micro-Documentary from Invertigo Dance Theatre on Vimeo.

Check out the first online class:

Spread Your Wings: Dancing Through Parkinson's Online Class #1 from Invertigo Dance Theatre on Vimeo.

Visit Invertigo Dance Theatre's website: https://www.invertigodance.org/

And learn more about Dancing Through Parkinson's online: https://www.invertigodance.org/dtp

Anyone with questions can email dancepd@invertigodance.org for more information.
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