A dance program designed for people with Parkinson’s disease is now being offered at the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill. The program, part of a global initiative that reaches 28 countries and over 300 communities, provides participants and their caregivers with an opportunity to improve balance and other skills through movement.
The next session of Dance for PD is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, at the museum, located at 279 Montauk Highway.
Research shows that participants benefit on many levels, including improved balance, cognitive function, and social engagement.
Donna Kaz, a local choreographer and movement specialist, is leading the program. She became involved with Dance for PD after serving as a caregiver for her husband, who had Parkinson’s disease. Kaz said she witnessed the positive effects of exercise programs, like Rock Steady Boxing, on people with Parkinson’s.
In an interview with South Shore Press, Kaz explained that her husband's Parkinson’s diagnosis did not lead to isolation. Instead, they became involved with the Rock Steady Boxing program offered by the Stony Brook Southampton Hospital’s Center for Parkinson’s Disease.
Through that program, Kaz connected with Sarah Cohen, the center’s manager, who later helped launch Dance for PD in the area.
Kaz said, “So, I had that connection with her, and when he (her husband) passed, I thought, ‘You know, I would really like to do dance for people with Parkinson’s because I love to dance, and I love to teach.’”
Kaz trained at the Mark Morris Dance Group, a Brooklyn nonprofit, before launching the program in Suffolk County last fall.
“I absolutely love this program,” said Kaz, a Blue Point resident. She noted that people at all stages of Parkinson’s, including those in wheelchairs, can benefit from the dance program, which has reportedly shown to help slow the progression of the disease.
While the program helps with physical challenges like balance and gait, as well as cognitive skills, Kaz emphasized that it is not a therapy class.
“It’s a true dance class with live music,” she said, calling it a “treat” to have Steven Skoldberg at the piano.
The class begins with full-body warmups, followed by choreographed routines that participants perform across the floor.
“Moving to music is inspiring, and it makes you feel good,” Kaz said. “Because Parkinson’s tends to be a disease that isolates people, this is a way to bring this community together in a really artistic, creative, and fun way.”
Caregivers and family members are encouraged to participate, Kaz said. Their involvement also helps assist with mobility issues.
“It’s a positive thing to do when you’re facing something as daunting as Parkinson’s,” Kaz said. “Dance is one of the things that helps us overcome, and by the end of it, we all feel fantastic.”
In a separate interview, Cohen explained that the Center for Parkinson’s Disease, which launched seven years ago, focuses on wellness programs for the East End community.
“We started with two programs. We had Rock Steady Boxing in Sag Harbor with Epic Martial Arts and then we had an arts program developed with the Parrish Art Museum,” she said.
Since then, the center has expanded to offer about 10 programs.
“We have over 300 folk who have access to at least one of our programs here on the East End and over 1,000 people who are joining us online for different programs,” Cohen said.
Whether through dance or boxing, Cohen cited research supporting the benefits of exercise for people with Parkinson’s disease.
“We know from the research looking at living well with Parkinson's disease that those individuals who exercise regularly really do better than those who don't,” she said. “There is some research to suggest that long-term exercise commitment can decrease disability of the disease and might even delay the progression of the disease.”
Other programs available through the center include yoga, Qigong (a form of Chinese martial arts), and a nutritional cooking show.
The Dance for PD program began on Jan. 27 and will run for nine Mondays, excluding Presidents’ Day. Those interested should call Cohen at 631-644-6667.