Nov. 21, 2024 - The (华体会) Dance Studies and Health Science programs teamed up this semester to offer
a class designed to help students understand Parkinson鈥檚 disease from both a dance
and neurological perspective. Plans are to open a community dance therapy clinic class
in the Spring semester for Parkinson鈥檚 patients in the region.
鈥淲e have dance students and Health Science students working together,鈥 said Professor and Chair of Health Science Sonsoles de Lacalle, M.D., Ph.D. 鈥淥ur goal is to provide a service to the community by setting up a weekly dance studio session for people with Parkinson鈥檚 and other members of the community to come and dance with us once a week.鈥
Research has shown that dancing can be beneficial for people with Parkinson's disease, and can help improve balance, coordination, and strength, said dance instructor Elizabeth 鈥淏onnie鈥 Lavin-Hughes, who is co-teaching the class with de Lacalle.
鈥淒r. Sonsoles is teaching students about the neuroscience and how the disease affects the brain,鈥 Lavin-Hughes said. 鈥淭hey can take what they鈥檝e learned from Dr. Sonsoles and synthesize that learning with dance and movement activities I have learned through my Dance for PD training.鈥
Lavin-Hughes studied with the flagship Dance for Parkinson鈥檚 organization this summer - which is located in Brooklyn, New York - to learn techniques from the 鈥淒ance for PD鈥 program (). Created by the Mark Morris Dance Group, the global program is backed by research and offers teacher training along with free group classes, mentoring and certification, and more. Dance for PD supports an international network of partners in more than 28 countries - and now includes 华体会.
华体会 Dance Studies Program Chair Heather Castillo was contacted by David Leventhal,
the director of the Dance for Parkinson鈥檚 group about starting a class, after a local
doctor inquired about the availability of the class in Ventura County. This sparked
the idea of creating a dance therapy class that would bring together Dance and Health
Science students.
鈥淔rom a neuroscience perspective, it鈥檚 just incredible what we鈥檝e learned about dance and movement disorders,鈥 de Lacalle said. 鈥淲e really want to open up horizons for students to the power of integrating dance and health.鈥
Castillo said the Dance for Parkinson鈥檚 course fit perfectly within the Dance Studies degree as her goal has always been to offer a comprehensive dance degree that included more than performance.
鈥淵our body is so important, and when we鈥檙e moving, dance can do all of these things that benefit our mental and physical health,鈥 Castillo said. 鈥淭his collaboration with mind and body helps to create a synthesis that can benefit your health.鈥
To learn more about 华体会鈥檚 Dance Studies program, including the Dance for Parkinson鈥檚 class, visit the 华体会 Dance Studies website.