A Unique Dance Program for People with Parkinson Disease and Their Care-Partners
Bowen McCauley Dance is the only dance company in the Metropolitan-DC area to provide Dance for PD-free weekly dance classes for people with Parkinson Disease and their care-partners. Lucy Bowen McCauley, BMD’s Artistic Director and founder, is honored to bring dance to people with this disease. Besides the health benefits, dance takes the mind and spirit away from the thoughts of disease, the disability and social isolation.
“When I am in class my old body has left me and a new body has set in. It’s like a wind has washed all the evil of the disease out of my system.”
When participating in the dance program, people with the disease report a decrease in physical symptoms and improved psychological and emotional benefits. One participant taking the class simply stated, “I lose my symptoms when I’m there.”
Over 500,000 Americans are living with Parkinson Disease, and another 5,000 are diagnosed every year. This degenerative and progressive disease is marked by tremors, stiffness, loss of balance and coordination, and slowed movement.
In a study of patients with Parkinson Disease, researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that those patients who participated in dance classes showed significant improvement in balance and mobility over those who participated in non-dance exercise programs.
Click here to listen to “Your Brain’s Got Rhythem, And Syncs When You Think”, a piece on NPR’s All Things Considered featuring Lucy Bowen McCauley’s Silver Spring Dance for PD® class.
Click here to see a documentary featuring
the Dance for PD® program courtesy of Last Name Left Productions.
Due to the great success of the program, BMD now offers five classes throughout the region at no charge to participants. Currently, the free classes are offered in these locations:
| Maryland Youth Ballet | Vantage House | Kenmore Middle School |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesdays, 2:45-4:00 p.m. 926 Ellsworth Drive Silver Spring, Md. View Map |
Thursdays, 3:00-4:00 p.m. 5400 Vantage Point Road Columbia, Md. View Map |
Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. 200 S. Carlin Springs Road Arlington, Va. View Map |
| Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy | Hollin Hall Senior Center | Grand Oaks Assisted Living Residence |
|---|---|---|
| Fridays, 1:00-2:00 p.m. 203 South Cameron Street Winchester, Va. View Map Offered in 10-week sessions. Does not meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month. For more information, email dance@bmdc.org |
Wednesdays, 1:00-2:00 p.m. 1500 Shenandoah Road Alexandria, Va. View Map |
Thursdays, 3:00-4:00 p.m. 5901 MacArthur Blvd., NW Washington, DC View Map This class meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. |
| Washington DCJCC Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. 1529 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 New this year! |
