Sunday, June 28, 2009

Responses to Dancing with Parkinsons (Tor Star)



"Transformation - A celebration of movement"
End of Year Show - Baycrest June 18th, 2009 Tor Ont Canada

It is a pleasure to be a dance teacher with this team (lead by Sarah Robichaud, the 6 teachers, the students, our pianist, volunteers and the board)


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"Dancing with Parkinsons"
DIANE FLACKS

Choreographer Sarah Robichaud says teaching Parkinson’s patients has changed her life. “I have dancers who may come in using a walker and later on in the class will gracefully waltz across the floor. I am surprised and amazed every single class. Nothing short of miracles.” In spring 2007, Robichaud started working with CBC radio broadcaster Andy Barrie as a personal trainer to help him manage his Parkinson’s disease symptoms. She explains in an email why she expanded her efforts, starting Dancing with Parkinson’s classes: “In researching the disease, I learned that dance was a great therapy for PD sufferers. I decided that I could give back to the community by starting a dance program for those with PD.It was my mission to get (clients’) bodies moving, uplift their spirits and, most important, give them a sense of control and dignity back in their movement.”