Dancing has long been a medium that brings people from all walks of life together, allowing them to be themselves and connect with others through the power of movements. The same can be said for individuals affected by Parkinson’s Disease.
Parkinson’s is a degenerative brain disease that affects muscle control. Often, patients with the disease suffer from shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. While the condition isn’t totally curable, there are many treatments to manage its effects – and one of them is dance.
Knowing its life-altering impact not only on individuals but on their loved ones as well, renowned Filipino-Australian choreographer Novy Bereber has founded Bereber Sayaw PD in 2019, but was only recently launched in the Philippines. A first of its kind in the country, Bereber Sayaw PD is a therapy-based dance program that aims to help bring joy to persons living with Parkinson’s disease. Research shows that dance significantly improves mobility for people with Parkinson’s disease.
A dance community at its core, Bereber Sayaw PD’s doors are not only open to individuals with Parkinson’s Disease but also for families, partners, and caregivers of those afflicted with the disease who would like to experience the joy of dancing together. The act of coming together through dance, students with Parkinson’s Disease and even their families create a meaningful engagement, which in turn greatly contribute to the management of the disease.
“There’s a sense of joy and belonging that one feels when they’re dancing with likeminded individuals. At Bereber Sayaw PD, we want to show people that Parkinson’s disease may diminish mobility but not our human spirit. Through dance, they are seen and heard and that they can still thrive no matter what they are going through in life,” said Novy.
Moreover, through Bereber Sayaw PD, they’re getting a renewed sense of hope and joy, further strengthening the organization’s main campaign message, “May saya sa bawat galaw, may kasama sa bawat sayaw. Tuloy-tuloy, Bereber Sayaw PD.”
“For those living with Parkinson’s, this dance can be a symbol of empowerment, a way to reclaim freedom in their bodies and spirits,” said Nikky Nicandro, President / CEO of Brand Worx, the agency behind the advocacy campaign of Bereber Sayaw PD.
When attending classes, participants will get to experience chair-based dance program that uses the aesthetic and imaginative elements of dance to help stimulate the participant’s creativity, imagination, cognitive skills, and emotions in every Bereber Sayaw PD’s series of movements. A substantial amount of global clinical studies supports body movement or dance as a supportive care for Parkinson’s Disease.
Through these simple yet impactful movements, Bereber Sayaw PD hopes to inspire and motivate individuals that Parkinson’s Disease is not the end of life, but the beginning of a stronger, more graceful you.
Participants who wish to attend a class can do so through different schedules: via face-to-face classes every Wednesday from 11AM to 12NN at Museo Iloilo in Iloilo; and through online classes held via Zoom every Wednesday from 11AM to 12NN. They can also book one-on-one sessions where the participant can experience a more personalized class according to their preference. To book a class, visit https://sayawpd.com/classes/.
To know more and to support the movement, visit https://berebersayawpd.com/ or https://sayawpd.com/about/. Follow its social media pages, https://www.facebook.com/sayawpd and https://www.instagram.com/berebersayawpd/.
