Dance for PD®
Photo by Diane Dew
Register for our free, weekly Dance for PD® classes
(Please only fill out one time. Once we receive your registration form, you will receive a virtual zoom link)
VIRTUAL classes are held weekly on Thursdays 10:30–11:45 am PST
IN PERSON classes are held weekly on Saturdays 10:30–11:45 am PST
(starting in August 2024, our Friday classes will temporarily be on hold)
If you are new to Dance for PD®, please contact us here so we can connect with you for a brief orientation and welcome phone call. Please include the best way to reach you and preferable times.
Our classes are offered free of charge, and we rely on our generous supporters to maintain the class. If you would like to support the program, you can donate directly here, or find out more on our Donate page.
Special thank you to our funders who help us to offer all programming free of charge
our very special Individual Donors
History of Dance for PD®, Oakland
Photo by KT Mower
The Dance for Parkinson’s (Dance for PD®) program started in Brooklyn by members of the Mark Morris Dance Group in 2001, spearheaded by David Leventhal, John Heginbotham, and Misty Owens. In 2007, the dNaga program in Oakland was initiated by Claudine Naganuma, David Leventhal, and Herb Heinz as one of the first locations for the program to blossom. Free weekly classes are held year-round, and are taught by a team of teachers from Danspace led by Naganuma, who received her teaching certification in 2019. The classes combine elements of modern dance, ballet, improvisation, and dance composition. While dancing—whether in chairs, at the barre, or standing—classes are offered within a no-pressure social environment. Live music is provided by Roz Aronson, our very own pianist.
From 2007 to 2020, the program could not have existed without the partnership between PD Active and Danspace.
Many thanks to the original Oakland Dance for PD® dancers with Parkinson’s disease, who in 2008 organized to incorporate “PD Active” as a non-profit organization: Steve Graham, Herb Heinz, John Lenny, Jenifer Peale, and Larry Sirott. Thank you to all of the community leaders in those early years who helped to shape PD Active including, Anne Chandler, Tim Gordon, Marty Rabkin, and Julia Vestal.
In 2019, Naganuma received her certification and dNaga received its license to offer the Dance for PD® program. During COVID-19, dNaga’s Oakland Dance For PD® Program became independent from PD Active, and currently is fundraising to support the entire cost of the program which includes three free weekly classes.
“I just love it. The teachers are so amazing. I feel I’m treated very nice as an individual, and encouraged to be creative, which is not what I would normally do so I feel pushed to do my best.”
“I enjoy the energy, all the participants, and their level of engagement despite their difficulties with mobility. Perfect mind body integration. Excellent for mental health.”
“Having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, I was looking for ways to connect to a community and to add movement to my life. I was not disappointed. Claudine’s classes are dynamic, creative, fun and joyful. In these classes, we are dancers, not patients. I am not alone in saying that this class is the highlight of our week.”
“We get to learn modern dance movement history fused with physical therapy. All powered by eclectic music tracks and translation of word speech into dance movement talk.”
See an archive of past Dance for PD® and PEACE Project programs, activities, musings, and more here:
PEACE Project
Photo by Matt Haber
An extension of our Dance for PD® program, The PEACE Project offers opportunities to dancers with PD to perform with our intergenerational ensemble. Our project members are currently exploring the role of alphasynucleans, misfolding proteins and their impact on Parkinson’s disease. Through our work with people living with Parkinson’s disease, we hope to partner with doctors and scientists to find a cure. We want to support the communication between medical professionals and people living with Parkinson’s. Those living with Parkinson’s disease have the wisdom to share with others who are living with PD, as well as provide relevant information to the medical community.
dNaga is featured in Dave Iverson’s documentary Capturing Grace, beautifully highlighting the Dance for PD® Program and the Brooklyn Parkinson’s Group.