Open Class: Dance for people with Parkinson's Disease with Bridget and Dawna

Open Class with Dawna Dryhorub & Bridget Quinn Petzold

Dance, as an accompaniment to therapy, can alleviate symptoms of Parkinson's and thus contributes significantly to a higher quality of life for people with a movement disorder. The lecturers have been teaching courses for people with Parkinson's disease at tanzhaus nrw since 2016. They take turns teaching and offer elements from different dance styles, which are individually adapted to the participants and thus help to counteract the side effects of the illness, such as limitations in balance, flexibility and coordination. In a relaxed and caring environment, participants are encouraged to recapture their body feeling through dance. With the help of guided improvisations, they test and expand their movement possibilities.
Bridget and Dawna completed training courses for dancing with people with Parkinson's with David Leventhal, founder of DANCE for PD® in New York. On this basis and with their wealth of knowledge as experienced dancers and lecturers, they design a program that makes it easier for the participants to deal with the illness. The Freiburg-based American dancer and choreographer Monica Gillette is one of the pioneers who brought her wealth of experience in dance for people with Parkinson's to Germany. The courses offered at tanzhaus nrw significantly enrich the further development of this field. Important to note: The offer does not replace medical therapy. Previous experience is not necessary.

Registration not required, single ticket €10, payable on site.

Dawna Dryhorub

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When Dawna Dryhorub first started ballet dancing at age three, the decision was already taken: “I want to be a dancer!” She took additional classes in tap dance, jazz dance and folkloristic dance, subseqently pursuing her dance education at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre where she specialised in Graham and classical dance. She received an invitation to collaborate on a project in Düsseldorf during the mid-1990s and swiftly became an artist close to the “Werkstatt”, the precursor of tanzhaus nrw. The native Canadian remained in Germany and participated in various productions by, among others, Rodolpho Leoni and Samir Akika. She offered trainings at Folkwang Tanzstudio for many years and was a guest lecturer for classical dance at the Folkwang University of the Arts. 2020 will see Dawna concluding her Master’s degree in dance sciences from Bern University in 2020.

Bridget Quinn Petzold

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Bridget is a longtime member of the teaching staff of tanzhaus nrw, as well as a working choreographer for german theater. She is the movement and dance trainer for the acting students at the Schauspielstudio at Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus. She has recently choreographed such productions as "Cabaret" und "Zauberberg" for Düsseldorf, "Liebe, Mord und Adelspflichten" for Krefeld, and "Shockheaded Peter" for Thalia Theater Hamburg. She has more than 35 years dancing, teaching, and choreographing experience. Her workshops and classes are characterized as well-rounded, fun, high-energy, and challenging.