REGINA - Dancing with Parkinson's has recently started in Regina, giving people with the disease a chance to loosen up and dance in a group.
Tessa Rae Kuz, an instructor with Dancing with Parkinson's, mentioned how these classes help people with the disease.
"It [the classes] really is a research-backed, science-backed program that has been working specifically with people who have Parkinson's disease in creating movement, creating multiple entry points to movement. So you'll see in the class we use a lot of story. We use a lot of imagery, we use a lot of different ways of entering into the movement so that people have many entry points into how they can access [there] motion."
When talking about imagination, Kuz will prompt the class about a certain scenario, like pretending they're taking off their jacket or asking a person to dance with them.
According to Kuz, by moving your body at random. It is "essential for building new neural pathways in the brain [that] is, you know, it's brought to light now [from the dances], and there's a whole bunch of research on how improvised movement, random movement is really good for actually growing the brain's capacity to act, think and behave in different ways."
exercise can improve many Parkinsons disease symptoms. Kuz recalled hearing stories of times where people from the classes go to "their neurologist [and they are] actually telling them, you know, 'I don't know what you're doing, but you [the patient] haven't gotten worse.' Which is pretty profound for a disease like Parkinson's that is supposed to get worse over time."
Kuz also touched on how the classes are a great way to get people out of isolation.
Kuz feels classes like Dancing with Parkinson's are needed in the city. She added, "there's definitely a need for [more] programming that is accessible, that is inclusive, that welcomes people of all ages and abilities, and we're just happy to be able to offer that [through the classes]."
Inspired to help others
Like many others, Kuz has a personal connection to Parkinson's. Her mother-in-law has the disease, and Kuz described it as "not always a joyful experience having to navigate PD, you know, you go through grief and loss."
At the time that Dancing with Parkinson’s was planning to come to Regina, Kuz had been dancing for a while now. She performed in many acts, including the Margie Gillis Legacy Project out in Montreal. She was also teaching dancing classes for children with disabilities.
One day, Kuz "encountered Dancing with Parkinson's through an advertisement in the Dance of Saskatchewan newsletter. They were looking for teachers who are Regina-based to start up classes, specifically for the Regina community. So I looked into that."
Kuz was able to get in touch with Sarah Robichaud, the founder of Dancing with Parkinson’s. Kuz remembers Robichaud telling her a personal story about why she decided to start the organization.
After becoming interested in learning about the organization, Kuz decided to attend the online classes Dancing with Parkinson's held over Zoom.
The online classes are held each day. When she joined the classes, Kuz saw over 100 people in them.
Once Kuz got a glimpse of how the classes work, she "fell in love" with the idea of being an instructor.
So, Kuz underwent training over the summer to understand the classes, including the philosophy and methods and ensure the dancers were safe.
The classes first started in Nov., with Kuz and one other instructor, Heather Cameron, rotating the sessions they lead.
There are also other volunteers who help out during the classes with tasks like making sure the dancers are okay, giving out food and more.
Kuz described the motivation for others to volunteer for the classes. "It [the classes are] extremely meaningful, and this work is extremely meaningful, but I mean, you see the smiles on the dancer's faces, and it just makes it all worthwhile."
Throughout the first few sessions, Kuz said the number of people attending has ranged from 20 to 30 individuals.
To ensure people want to continue attending the classes, Kuz wants to "hold a non-judgmental space for that to occur and you find that actually creativity really blossoms from just allowing people to arrive as they are and move as they are."
She added, "We're really creating a class structure and creating an environment in which you're celebrating what you can do, not focusing on what you can't do."
As for the classes, they are held at the Sandra Schmirler Sunrise Branch in Regina. The reason Dancing with Parkinson’s chose the location was because the Parkinson’s support group in Regina meets at the branch once a month. Kuz described the space they use for classes as "perfect."
Anyone interested in attending the classes can visit Under the class tab, there is a section for Regina where people can register.
The classes are free and are held on most Mondays at 3 p.m. for an hour. Kuz said the next session will be in the new year on Jan. 6.
