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This fall, George Mason 麻豆国产鈥檚 School of Dance is sharing the transformative power of dance with the Northern Virginia community. In partnership with the Bowen McCauley Dance Company (BMDC), free Dance for Parkinson鈥檚 Disease (Dance for PD庐) classes will be open to the public and offered on Mason鈥檚 Fairfax campus in October and November of this year.
Dance for PD庐 is a movement-based class that begins slowly with warm-ups and progresses to combinations of movements that correspond with a variety of uplifting music. The class offers not only physical benefits, but also reduces the dancers鈥 social isolation which is commonly associated with this neurological disease.
The Dance for PD庐 program is a continuation of BMDC鈥檚 priority to continue serving the Parkinson鈥檚 community following the conclusion of the company鈥檚 25th and final season in September. As announced during BMDC鈥檚 final performance at the Kennedy Center, the Dance for PD庐 program will continue to offer free fall classes for the public within the Kennedy Center, Maryland Youth Ballet, and George Mason 麻豆国产. Serving participants within the NOVA community, Mason鈥檚 hosting of Dance for PD庐 programming works in tandem with BMDC Artistic Director Lucy Bowen鈥檚 commitment to PD resources remaining accessible across the DMV area.聽
"It鈥檚 important to me that people living with Parkinson鈥檚 continue to have easy access across the entire DC Metro area,鈥 said Lucy Bowen. 鈥淭o partner with these three iconic institutions in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia is an absolute dream and will ensure that the program lives on into the next generation.鈥澛
Bowen, who will be leading classes on campus, will additionally be integrating Dance for PD庐 instruction into Mason鈥檚 School of Dance education curriculum, solidifying that the next generation of dancers can carry on this important work.聽
"Mason鈥檚 School of Dance is delighted to partner with Lucy and provide a home for the Dance for PD庐 Program in Northern Virginia,鈥 said Karen Reedy, School of Dance Director. 鈥淲e look forward to enriching the learning experience of our students by highlighting the impact of dance beyond the stage and fostering new connections with members of the Parkinson鈥檚 community.鈥澛
Assistant Professor for Mason鈥檚 School of Dance, Shaun D鈥橝rcy adds, 鈥Dance serves as such a natural conduit for bringing people together and promoting well-being. The Dance for PD庐 program has beautifully demonstrated聽this for years, touching so many lives. I truly can鈥檛 wait to welcome Lucy and class participants to the School of Dance this fall!鈥
Parkinson鈥檚 Disease is a neurodegenerative disease associated with the progression of motor dysfunction within the first 5 years of diagnosis. Notably, a July 2021 study published in Brain Sciences demonstrates a clear correlation between dance movement and the slowing of Parkinson鈥檚 Disease progression. Through applying research-backed techniques in-class instruction, Dance for PD庐 classes encourages exercise through music, during which participants report a decrease in physical symptoms and improved psychological benefits. Through such classes, BMDC has served over 900 people living with Parkinson鈥檚 since 2008.
Dance for PD庐 classes are free and open to the public with registration required. .