Miracle of Movement: Mark Morris Dance combats the effects of Parkinson’s

Patients with Parkinson’s are combating their disease with dance, thanks to weekly free Dance for PD classes with the Mark Morris Dance Group in Brooklyn. 

Research confirms that dance is highly beneficial for people suffering from Parkinson’s disease by slowing its progression. At the Mark Morris Dance Center, weekly classes are improving overall movement, walking ability, cognitive maintenance and tremor severity for people of all ages and at all stages of the disease. These classes, offered free three times a week, are not a heavy therapy session — they are learning choreography by legendary dance maker Mark Morris, enjoying the freedom of movement, the grace of music and are diving into their artistic expression with confidence, too.

The Mark Morris Dance Group has developed this specialized class and is training teachers all around the world to offer these classes to more patients. Currently, more than 10,000 participants have enjoyed Dance for PD, with free classes being offered in 28 countries. There are also free classes offered on zoom in addition to a digital library of over 300 classes, available 24/7, and even a dance-by-phone program for those who don’t have access to a computer.

Anyone interested in learning more is invited to visit the center and experience a class. Classes are offered three times a week: Monday, 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday, 2:15-3:15 p.m. Classes take place at the Mark Morris Dance Center, located at 3 Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn.

To see a video of the inspirational transformation in patients through dancing, view this video.

“The dancing part of this [program] isn’t a miracle and it’s not a treatment,” said Mark Morris, founder and Artistic Director of the Mark Morris Dance Group. “But I also see this amazing thing of the people who come into the building one way…