Wow. Last weekend I was a student in the Dance for PD workshop that took place at the Jewish Family & Children's Service center in Waltham, Massachusetts.

This was a wonderfully focused, informative, energetic, uplifting guided experience, where I was both learning how to teach dance to folks with Parkinson's while being a student of dance at the same time. Taught by Dance for PD founding teachers Misty Owens and David Leventhal, I soaked up their words and movements. The weekend was structured along these lines:

Saturday
• Introductions
• Why Dance for PD – introduction
• Melissa Frumin, MD, neuropsychiatrist – *overview of Parkinson's Disease 
• Training Modules
• Lunch
• Training Modules
• Dance for PD DVD
• Anatomy of a Class

* more about Parkinson's Disease on my Neurons Firing blog.

Sunday
• Logistical & administrative considerations in offering a Dance for PD class
• Practicum
• Lunch
• Dance for PD community class & discussion
• Practicum continued
• Wrap up 

This video provides a sense of my experience in both the workshop and community class. That's David leading the class, with Misty, in blue, leading the group from the other side of the room.

We were provided with handouts, but it was the physical act of being there and learning how to teach dance, coupled with being part of an actual Dance for PD class, that provided the most learning and enjoyment for me. In addition to the handouts, which include pictures showing all movement components for a typical class, students have a one year free membership to the Dance for PD teacher site. Packed with tips, videos, musical play lists, links, research, and opportunity to join a listserv, the combination of the workshop and the site offer an in-depth range of support for teachers.

A typical dance class ranges from 60 to 90 minutes, followed by the equally important 30 minute sharing session, where people are invited to share about anything. Regarding the sharing portion, I believe it was David who said, "allow that part of their psyche to exercise too."

David and Misty provided several verbal nuggets that have stayed with me, including:

• Allow people to help themselves.
• Having people count gives them the exhale.
• Falling is rare during dancing; falls, when they do happen, are usually due to rushing.
• Everything is a building block.
• Joints are designed to move. If they stop moving, they can hurt.
• You are your own best choreographer. If anything goes byond your ROM (range of motion), feel free to adapt.
• Access every type of learner – inspire - ignite.
• A Dance for PD class is about variety, fun, listening and bringing the affection.

and my favorite,

Explore possibility instead of limitation.