Dance for PD Training offered in Adelaide

Ausdance SA will host a Dance for Parkinson’s Disease Teacher Training in Adelaide for dancers, dance teachers and movement practitioners on October 25–26. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, trainer Erica Rose Jeffrey, the Dance for Parkinson’s Australia Program Coordinator, will help dance teachers and movement practitioners adapt what they already know so that they can work effectively and comfortably with the Parkinson’s community.

Dance for PD is an internationally acclaimed dance program for people with Parkinson’s that was developed by New York’s Mark Morris Dance Company and Brooklyn Parkinson Group. In addition to training teachers, this two-day workshop will also expose everyday recreational dancers to Dance for PD Best Practices so that they might incorporate components of the program into their own movement and work.

Through specially-designed Dance for PD Training Modules, trainees will cover topics including safety and good exercise design and will learn about the program’s philosophy and teaching approaches. Participants will observe a demonstration class, talk with members of the local Parkinson’s community, and connect with other teachers interested in this work.

Parkinson’s SA is excited to partner with Ausdance SA and introduce Dance for PD into the state. Many members of Parkinson’s SA have already indicated their eagerness for customised dance classes which emphasise their abilities, not their restrictions. Because of this, Parkinson’s SA is seeking dance teachers who are passionate about promoting and developing dance in the Parkinson’s community to run pilot Dance for PD programs in Adelaide and beyond using their training from the workshop. To this end, Parkinson’s SA is offering a limited number of workshop scholarships for such attendees. Expressions of interest for scholarships should be directed to Paula-Jean Hayes at Parkinson’s SA on 8357 8909 or paula-jean@parkinsonssa.org.au.

For more information about this workshop or Dance for PD, contact Program Coordinator Erica Rose Jeffrey at ericarose@danceforparkinsonsaustralia.org or visit www.danceforparkinsonsaustralia.org or www.danceforpd.org.

Photo courtesy of Dance for PD.