RSVP by December 17: Dance, Learn & Celebrate Our annual holiday celebration is set for Monday, December 22 from 11:00 AM–4:00 PM online or at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn. Join us for a joyful day featuring: If you haven't already, click here for more details and to RSVP by December 17. We can’t wait to celebrate with you, whether you’re a longtime
participant or new to our community. All are welcome! Now that winter weather has arrived, we're sharing our inclement weather policy:
Dance for PD programs will be canceled if New York City Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather. The class may also be canceled if extreme weather conditions make travel too
difficult. In the event of cancellation, a live or on-demand digital class will be made available to enjoy from the safety and comfort of home free of charge.
Cancellation information will be posted on our website home page by 9 AM on the day of the class: www.danceforpd.org. Information will also be left on the outgoing message of our registration/cancellation hotline: (718) 218-3373. As always, we encourage you to use your best judgment! Please join us for classes in person only when it is a safe and comfortable option for you. This week: December 15-21, 2025 In-person classes | New York CityWe currently offer in-person classes in Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Registration is open for classes taking place in our Fall 2025 and Winter/Spring 2026 sessions! Advanced registration is required to join in person at all NYC locations. Dance for PD Staten Island Dance for PD PRO (all standing class) Moving Brains, Dancing Souls Join us Thursday, December 18 from 3:15-4:45 PM at The Mark Morris Dance Center, located at 3 Lafayette Avenue in the Fort Greene area of Brooklyn, for a new bilingual class exploring movement and music from Spanish-speaking countries. Led in
Spanish and English by Gregory Youdan in collaboration with Dr. Jose Cabssa from Moving Brains Foundation, the session includes a brief health evaluation before a fun, energetic 90-minute dance-based workout. The event is offered free of
charge. For more information, visit movingbrainsfoundation.org or email movingbrainsneuro@gmail.com. Registration will open 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of each session. All classes/events are listed in Eastern Time (ET): Our live-streamed community classes are offered via Zoom. Click here to learn more about how to download the free application on your home computer, tablet, or smartphone. Program staff will be online and available to help troubleshoot technical difficulties 15 minutes before class start time. Each session includes an opening welcome and time for small group conversation after the class. Miss a class? Want to revisit a class? Dance for PD Members have special access to our digital class library of Dance for PD, Sing for PD, Pilates and Yoga classes originally offered on Zoom. Not a member or need to renew? Click here to join! In-person classes | NY Metro AreaIn-person Dance for PD-affiliated classes are offered throughout Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut. Click here to explore locations and contact information through our global map. For more than 20 years, support from community members like you has helped ensure our vital Dance for PD programming continues free of charge. When you make a donation, become a member, or include Dance for PD in your planned giving, your contribution makes a real difference in the lives of people with PD, their care partners, and loved ones—helping us continue to share the joys and benefits of dance throughout the year. Digital + Community ResourcesOpen Houses at The Bandeen Center Opening in 2026, The Bandeen Center, located at 133 East 58th Street (at Lexington Avenue) is the first-of-its-kind fitness and wellness facility especially for the Parkinson’s community in New York
City. With state-of-the-art studios for signature fitness classes designed to improve mobility and slow progression for people with PD, the Center also includes a cafe for meet-ups and support groups, varied programs for voice, music, and art, as well as lectures and events. Here, members can be empowered to live their fullest lives with Parkinson’s—in a community that supports them every step of the way. The Bandeen Center is offering a free Open House on Thursday, December 18 from 5:30-7 PM that will include a facility tour, a chance to meet staff, and light refreshments. Click here for more
information and to register or email Libby Jones to secure your spot! All guests will be gifted a Day Pass that can be used for future use at the Center. Performance Project opportunity Pamela Quinn—founder/teacher of PD Movement Lab and a person living with Parkinson’s—is creating a new dance work designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners. The piece, Red Threads, draws on Asian folklore about the invisible bonds that connect people throughout life. Using
red therabands and set to music by the acclaimed Kronos Quartet, the choreography explores these connections in ways that are sometimes eerie, sometimes joyful, and always deeply meaningful. The work will be performed at the World Parkinson’s Congress in Phoenix, AZ (May 2026) and the Mark Morris Dance Center Showcase (June 2026). Exploratory
rehearsals will run weekly on Fridays through December 19 at the Mark Morris Dance Center from 3:20-4:30 PM. All are welcome to join, try out movement ideas, and learn more before deciding whether to commit to the performance project in the new year. Alexander Technique for PD Cindi Kim, one of the practitioners at the Mark Morris Wellness Center, has been teaching Alexander Technique for over 12 years and is currently in intensive training for
adapting Alexander for the PD community. She is offering private, pay-what-you-can Alexander Technique lessons for the PD community at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn (suggested minimum of $50) through December 31. Research indicates that Alexander Technique may help people living with Parkinson's and care partners reduce depression and improve
steadiness, uprightness, coordination, and mobility, both in daily functioning and across activities. Click here to book your private lesson with Cindi. Dance for PD has partnered with Recare, an innovative home-based service supporting individuals living with Parkinson’s, dementia, and other neurodegenerative conditions to share the
joys and benefits of dance in customized in-home sessions. Ideal for individuals who are unable to attend group classes and who want one-on-one individualized instruction with specially trained teaching artists, each weekly session is tailored to the individual, blending dance with Recare’s unique creative engagement techniques to deliver an uplifting, meaningful experience. Click here to learn more about the Recare x Dance for PD® Package today!
Learn tap from Dance for PD founding teacher Misty Owens in this Tap for PD 6-class series now available on demand in the Dance for PD digital library. Members can click here to log in and access the series. Not a member? Join today. Member exclusive: Featured On Demand Classes of the Week Our Members' Digital Class Library, with more than 400 selections at your fingertips, features a different On Demand class each week. Just log in with your member credentials, visit the On Demand portal, and find the Featured Class channel to revisit a gem from our archives. We're offering great discounts on our At Home instructional videos, including free US shipping on our 5-DVD bundle and 20% off all Video On Demand products. Visit our Store to learn more! Our Video on Demand products provide instant access to HD-quality videos that you can view on your computer, tablet, and phone or download to your
device for offline access. Dance by phoneDesigned for persons more comfortable connecting by phone or those without computer access, Dance for PD is pleased to offer on-demand audio-described movement activities
by phone.
You can dance by phone anytime by calling our toll-free number (1-800-957-1046) and selecting from a menu of movement activities starting with Extension 20. Learn more about this new free resource by clicking here.
Sunday socialDance for PD is pleased to provide space in the digital world for members of our global community to connect for unstructured weekly group conversations on Sundays from 12-1 PM. Pop in at the top of
the hour to say hello! All topics of conversation are welcome, but here are ideas (courtesy of Arlene Scorzelli) to get you started:
▪ | What's the last book you read? What are you reading now? |
▪ | Do you have a favorite family recipe you'd be willing to share? |
▪ | What's your favorite movie and/or TV show? |
▪ | How do you handle loneliness? |
▪ | How do you make best use of your time alone? |
No registration required; click here to join via Zoom or login with these credentials:
Meeting ID: 971 5639 4867
Passcode: 567834
Connect at homeYou're invited to be a member of the Dance for PD Connect at Home team through Ryver, a free online platform that allows members to communicate in four ways: group chats, discussion forums,
private messages, or calls. This is also a wonderful resource to share news and events you think may interest others! Click here to learn more and get started! We are excited to include a page on our
website listing research opportunities available and relevant to our community members. While we do not vet each project, we do require that all listed opportunities have IRB approval, ensuring ethical and non-injurious study designs.
Click here to view opportunities - which currently include paid and unpaid surveys about a cognitive skills coaching program, Young Onset perspectives, and communication experiences -
and get involved in advancing the field of Parkinson's research. Thank you for your participation! BPG activities are co-coordinated by Judy Dean and Susan March. For more information regarding BPG community programming, contact Judy at judithdean@earthlink.net or (718) 643-1130. |
Helen Frankenthaler. Chairman of the Board. 1971. Acrylic and felt-tip pen on canvas, 6' 10 1/16" × 16' 2 5/16" (208.4 × 493.6 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Nina and Gordon Bunshaft Bequest. © 2025 Helen Frankenthaler/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York Look at, Discuss, and Make Art with MoMA The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) invites you to join a free, in-person, six-session program series for people with Parkinson's and their care partners. Learn about art and meet new people through interactive conversation and art making sessions. Participants will practice exercises for mindful looking,
observation, and sketching, as well as experiment with various art making techniques inspired by artworks in MoMA's collection. This course is tailored for people who are curious about art and new to art making. No prior experience necessary! Offered to a small group of adults who should plan to attend all sessions, alternating between a program featuring a gallery conversation and a program featuring a shorter gallery
conversation along with art making. The 6-session series will continue on the following Mondays from 2-3:30 PM: December 15 January 5 The current series is fully subscribed; click here to join the waitlist or email PrimeTime@moma.org with any questions. Writing about PD is an important way to explain what it is and how it feels like to live with it. There is a need for us to tell our own stories and we need to tell them not just to each other, but to everybody.
The Writing Circle provides a forum to support the writing process of people living with PD. The group meets monthly on the third Fridays of each month from 3:30-5 PM at The Mark Morris Dance Center.
The Downtown Brooklyn Speech and Hearing Clinic at LIU-Brooklyn is pleased to offer an in-person, voice and communication group for individuals with Parkinson’s (PD) on Thursdays at 1 PM.
This group is student-led and supervised by a licensed speech-language pathologist with expertise in working with individuals with PD. The program is specifically tailored for individuals with PD who have completed voice or speech therapy. It will also incorporate self-advocacy training, caregiver engagement, and education on alternative communication devices that participants may utilize.
Participants will have the opportunity for socialization and practice using their strong, dynamic voices by maintaining and extending the skills they have learned in therapy.
For more information, please contact Erin Bestreich, MS, CCC-SLP, at (347) 509-4974 or erin.bestreich@liu.edu.
Fitness for PDIn person or Online
Tuesdays from 9:45-11:15 AM
September 23-November 25, 2025
February 3-April 28, 2026
Join us at LIU Brooklyn for free exercise classes developed specifically for people with Parkinson’s. Led by Tracye Rawls-Martin and LIU students, participants build physical fitness and skills by challenging their abilities in a friendly, caring, and rigorous environment.
Advanced registration and medical clearance are required for all participants; for schedule details and to enroll, email Tracye.Rawls-Martin@liu.edu or call (718) 780-4081. Click here for more information.
Speech for PD Join Teachers College at Columbia University online for free intensive speech treatment for people with Parkinson’s. Led by Gemma Moya-Galé, Carol Normal, and TC graduate students, the focus
of these sessions is to enhance social participation by focusing on voice and breathing exercises that target intelligibility as well as on functional speaking and cognitive tasks. Participants will work in both big group and smaller subgroup formats, which offers many opportunities to practice in a fun, engaging, and interactive way from home.
To learn more and receive information for upcoming sessions email Gemma Moya-Galé at gm2446@tc.columbia.edu.
Online General Support Group*
First, third, and fifth Wednesdays of the month, 5:15-6:15
PM
In person General Support Group
Second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, 1-2 PM @ Mark Morris Dance Center
Join us to reconnect! People living with PD are invited to participate in our online and in-person community conversations to share challenges and best practices for staying health and engaged.
Click here or call (646) 876-9923 and enter meeting ID 818 0390 3715# to join the online meetings on first and third Wednesdays of each month. You can also tune in by entering the Zoom meeting
ID and passcode:
Meeting ID: 818 0390 3715
Passcode: 449910
*Online support group meetings will be offered via Zoom. Click here to learn
more about how to download the free application on your home computer, tablet, or smartphone. Technical support will be online and available to help troubleshoot difficulties 15 minutes before meeting start time
Care Partner Support Group
Heights and Hills is proud to offer in-person and online support groups for spouses, partners, or family members caring for a person living with Parkinson's weekly on Wednesdays. Sessions run from 12-2 PM on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn;
participants have the option to connect in person or remotely via Zoom.
For more information, contact Yulin Liu at (718) 596-8789 or yliu@heightsandhills.org. Peer 2 Peer Support Group
Informally started by participants in the Dance for PD PRO Manhattan class, this peer-led group was formed from an organic need to talk to others living with PD, share experiences, get ideas, and learn from one
another. Meetings take place in person on Thursdays from 6:30-7:30 PM at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, located at 334 Amsterdam Avenue at W. 76th Street. Click
here for more information or contact Whitney Champman at (646) 505-4383 or wchapman@mmjccm.org. The 6-week Intro Series at the Mark Morris Dance Center is a perfect opportunity to start from scratch or build upon beginner dance skills. Taught by our incredible faculty members, these classes allow students a safe environment to learn and master the fundamentals of particular styles.
The
next session begins the week of January 6 and includes Hip-Hop, Afro-Brazilian Orixá, Salsa, Contemporary, Intergenerational West-African, and Ballet. Spend your New Year at the Mark Morris Dance Center, and challenge yourself to learn a NEW style!
Click here for
more information and to register. If you plan to participate as a seated dancer or require additional accommodations to support your enjoyment, please email adultprograms@mmdg.org with your needs. Movement for Healthy Aging Join us for free weekly Move & Flow and Restorative Movement classes on Tuesdays and Fridays from 2:15-3:15 PM at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn.
Move & Flow is a structured dance experience exploring multiple dance styles
developed by the Mark Morris Dance Group for older people seeking a fun, creative approach to maintaining physical health, confidence, and a sense of well-being. Harnessing MMDG’s 20 years of research and development in creating accessible classes for people with movement challenges, Move & Flow sessions integrate dance technique, motor skill development, and social connection to create a uniquely enjoyable, musical and motivating exercise experience
that treats elders as artists and dancers. Click here to learn more and register for Move & Flow on Tuesdays from 2:15-3:15 PM. Designed for care partners of people with PD and any older adult, Restorative Movement
draws from a variety of somatic techniques including Gyrokinesis, Pilates, and Yoga to focus on breath, alignment, balance, core strength, flexibility, and expanding one’s kinesphere. Seated or standing, participants will explore movement in ways that feel natural and nourishing while releasing tension, building social connections, and sharing resources. Click here to learn more and register for Restorative Movement on Fridays from 2:15-3:15 PM! Persons living with PD are encouraged to join us for PD Movement
Lab which takes place simultaneously with this class. We want to hear from you! |
Your feedback and ideas in
support of our growth and continued success are welcome! Click here to share your experience about a specific class you've attended or call us at (800)
957-1046. Have you joined us for class in person at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn? If so, we want to hear about your experience! Click here to complete a 3-question survey. We thank you for your feedback! |
We look forward to seeing you! |
Dance for PD® gratefully acknowledges the major support of the following contributors to Dance for PD for Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025). Supporters at the $1,500 level and above are listed alphabetically. We extend our gratitude to the hundreds of additional Dance for PD members and donors who also provide vital support. American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc. Ginger Geoffrey and John Andelin Hon. Steven Berk and Jennifer Chandler Hauge Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of
Health Mrs. Candace and Dr. Vincent Gaudiani Kenneth Aidekman Family Foundation Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund Lily Auchincloss Foundation Estate of Kathryn (Nan) Wells
Little Manson Family and Stanley J. Wertheimer Fund Donors Susan Jacobson and David Moskovitz New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council The New York Community Trust Mary-Kathryn and Richard Roelofs Silicon Valley Community Foundation Paul Di Vito and John Silvia Bob Turner and Paula
Togawa Public support for Dance for PD is provided by New York City Council Member Crystal Hudson, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State
Legislature.
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©2024 Mark Morris Dance Group/Dance for PD® | Dance for PD® is a program of Mark Morris Dance
Group | 3 Lafayette Ave. | Brooklyn, NY 11217 |
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