Collaborating with Hancher Auditorium and The Joffrey Ballet, the Iowa City Senior Center hosted a free “Dancing with Parkinson’s” workshop for patrons Wednesday.
The Joffrey Ballet was founded in 1956, and according to their website, it is the first dance company to appear on American television and perform at the White House.
The event took place in the center’s assembly room and allowed attendees to listen to music, engage in dynamic movement, and interact with one another.
Attendees listened to music during the nature-themed workshop and went through guided motions while envisioning catching fish, leaves swaying in the wind, and going on a hike.
Ivy Anderson, a Joffery Ballet representative, said while dancing and motion cannot cure Parkinson’s disease, engaging in movement can create a positive mental and physical impact on those with the chronic disease.
Iowa Senior Center Program Specialist Angela Berns attended the event and said the center tries to offer programs for Parkinson’s when they can.
“To have somebody like the Joffrey Ballet, who has put a lot of time and energy and research into the effectiveness of dance, to offer that then to our members that do have Parkinson’s disease, it was just such a win,” she said.
Berns said the event was made possible thanks to the center’s relationship with Hancher Auditorium and that Hancher was able to get the event coordinated between the center and The Joffrey Ballet.
Miriam Ochs, Hancher’s programming and engagement coordinator, said the event was a result of Hancher’s longstanding history with The Joffrey Ballet.
“Arts are one of the great bridges of society,” Ochs said.
Ochs said Hancher’s programming engagement team focuses on bringing arts to the University of Iowa campus, the Iowa City community, and the eastern Iowa community.
Ochs also said The Joffrey Ballet has a “broad engagement apparatus,” which allowed both Hancher and the center to bring the workshop to Iowa City.
The workshop was led by Anderson from the “Dancing with Parkinson’s” program in Chicago.
“I started working for The Joffery about a year and a half ago,” Anderson said. “I grew up with disabled siblings, so I’ve been interested in cross training for different populations.”
Anderson led the group through seated warmups, a higher intensity upper body, and lower body warmups, before the group was able to put all the moves together.
“The most important thing is, while it is dance, it’s also creative movement,” Anderson said. “So it’s not super strict, it’s not choreography set to a specific count, it’s more of a concept, and you have a visual that you’re trying to do with your body.”
Anderson said both creative movement and community events like “Dancing with Parkinson’s” are important to people with Parkinson’s, as it can help with both the physical and mental aspects of fighting the disease.
According to Mayo Clinic, Parkinson’s is a chronic neurological disease that impairs movement.
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“I’ve seen how it can feel like you’re separated from people, because maybe you have a little bit of a different experience than them,” Anderson said. “So just being able to bridge the gap a little bit means a lot to me. It’s really just about building community and finding a sense of togetherness.”
Sisters Lois and Linda Macvey, who frequently attend events at the Iowa City Senior Center, participated in the event, following along with the movements and engaging with other attendees.
“We have been coming to more and more as we discover them,” Lois Macvey said. “I was eager to join when I turned 50. Honestly, it’s one of the best moves we’ve made.”
Linda Macvey, who is in memory care in Iowa City, was given medication that induced Parkinson’s type symptoms and is working to relearn certain motor skills, which led the sisters to the event.
“I just think it’s amazing how the imagery, the guided imagery, makes the movement so simple, it almost takes gravity away,” Lois Macvey said. “It’s just a lot of fun.”
