Dance for Parkinson's Scotland Tool Kit

Dance for Parkinson’s Scotland Tool Kit

Dance for Parkinson’s Scotland Tool Kit Welcome to the Dance for Parkinson’s Scotland Tool Kit. This series of tasks and images has been designed to support you with certain actions including reaching, initiating movement after freezing, and moving from a seated to standing position.

Read the following imagery and visualise yourself in each environment. Imagine you can see, hear and feel everything as if you were there. You can then draw on these images to help with everyday actions. With each task there are suggested music tracks which might help you carry out the movement.

Please ensure you only do what feels safe and comfortable for you.

PHOTO BY ANDY ROSS.

Reaching Suggested music tracks: The Nutcracker, Act 2 No 14 — Pas de deux Tchaikovsky This exercise can be done in both seated and standing positions.

1. Imagine a clear night. Not a cloud is in the sky. You see millions of stars shining brightly above your head like sparkling jewels.

2. Looking up to the sky you reach your arm effortlessly high to pick a star from the sky.

Your arm feels weightless as it floats into infinity.

3. Feeling the ease and fluidity of the movement you keep stretching your arms to the sparkling sky to pick many more stars.

4. Your arms are lifted by the rhythm of the music catching each star like you are catching notes in the sky. Dancing freely to the beat of the music.

5. Next time you struggle to reach for something high, remember this image of the starry sky and use it to help you.

Moving From a Seated to a Standing Position Suggested music tracks: Spanish Dance from The Nutcracker — Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky The Blue Danube — Richard Strauss Let’s Go Fly a Kite — Sherman and Sherman, Mary Poppins Original Cast Recording 1. Imagine you are holding onto the string of your kite as it flies up into the sky. Look up to it as the strong wind pulls it higher and higher.

2. Sitting forward in your seat you steady yourself against the pull of the kite with one foot in front of the other.

3. You rock forward and back like a rocking chair as the wind blows the kite playfully. The wind gets stronger your rocking gets bigger, you press your feet firmly into the floor.

4. The sound of the swaying music makes you feel like you a waltzing and dancing. Letting the music carry your body effortlessly and joyfully.

5. With one great big gust you are pulled out of your chair. You are standing tall, strong and proud maintaining the rocking action as you continue your journey wherever you want to go next.

Initiating movement after freezing.

Carnival Suggested music tracks: I Like It Like That — Pete Rodriguez 1. Look at the image of the carnival and listen to the energetic music 2. Imagine you are at a vibrant festival. You can hear the rhythmical beat of the salsa band all around you. See the colourful street decorations and lights, smell the food.

3. The music fills your ears and you can feel the percussive drum beat in your chest.

The music makes it impossible not to move your body. Your arms start to swing and your hips sway.

4. Your feet feel like they have a life of their own as they want to mirror the infectious rhythm. You start to stamp your feet marching out the beat of the drum.

5. Feel the heels then the toes striking the ground firmly into the floor with purpose and strength. Each foot strike exactly matching the beat of the drums. Your stamps get bigger and your knees lift higher as the music gets louder.

6. You start to march forward with your chest proud, leading the procession with pride, your head held high, striding out. You feel strong and energised as your body carries you forward with the crowds of people singing and dancing 7. Next time you freeze, take a moment to imagine this street carnival with the band moving along the street and your feet moving forward in time to the music.

PHOTO BY ANDY ROSS.

Initiating Movement After Freezing.

Alternative Version Suggested music tracks: The King and I — Shall We Dance — Rodgers and Hammerstein Waltz of the Flowers — The Nutcracker — Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky 1. Look at the image of the grand ballroom and listen to the music.

2. Imagine you are at a lavish ball. Hear the wonderful waltz being played. Watch the dancers as they sway in unison with each other and the music.

3. The music inspires you to join the dancing. Your whole body starts to sway side to side in time with the rhythm. Counting 1, 2, 3… 1, 2, 3…

4. You continue swaying, allowing your weight to transfer and the momentum to build so that you find yourself traveling forward like a skater on the ice.

5.

You glide forward with confidence onto the large open ball room to join the other dancers around the dance floor.

6. The music builds allowing your whole body, arms, legs, back and head to move as you would like. Joyously you express the music and enjoy the freedom as you waltz around the dance floor.

7. Next time you freeze, imagine this ballroom, hear the wonderful waltz in your head and see your feet moving in time to the music.

PHOTO BY ANDY ROSS.

Dance for Parkinson’s Scotland is a national programme supported and funded by: Dance Base, Scottish Ballet, The Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Baillie Gifford (Scottish Ballet Neurological Health partner) and Parkinson’s UK. Dance for Parkinson’s Scotland is proud to maintain a partnership with the Mark Morris Dance Group’s Dance for PD program to foster international best practice, research and professional exchange We are also thankful for the support we have received from the Bank of Scotland Foundation, The Rayne Foundation, RS Macdonald Charitable Trust, The Robertson Trust and Scottish Ballet patrons.

SCOTTISH BALLET IS A COMPANY REGISTERED IN SCOTLAND NO.SCO65497 | SCOTTISH CHARITY NO.SCO0803 REGISTERED SCIO SC049065 DANCE BASE LTD IS COMPANY REGISTERED IN SCOTLAND NO. SC145736 | CHARITY NO. SCO22512 COVER: PARTICIPANTS OF DANCE FOR PARKINSON’S SCOTLAND MEGACLASS 2019, PHOTO BY ANDY ROSS.