Parkinson’s Dance Community
Tap into your movement potential for healthier living and learn how dance may help you improve graceful movement, express yourself, and thrive! Dance is a stimulating cognitive activity that connects mind and body, sparks creativity, supports social connections, and offers a sense of belonging. Research shows that dancing is a fun and effective way to boost coordination, balance, strength, mobility, and flexibility in those with mild to moderate Parkinson’s. This free class offers progression from gentle movement in a chair, or wheelchair, to standing and moving gracefully across the floor for individuals with Parkinson’s and their family and caregivers.
Beginning October 9, 2024
Wednesdays, 12:00 - 1:00PM
Fisher Studio
ODC Dance Commons
351 Shotwell St
San Francisco, CA 94110
Carolyn Goor Hutchinson
Carolyn Goor Hutchinson danced professionally with the Pennsylvania Ballet, then moved to Broadway where she danced and sang in the 1980-1990s. After teaching Ballet and Theater Dance in New York for 8 years, she moved to San Francisco where she has taught dance to children, seniors and everyone in between. When Carolyn’s father-in-law was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, as a natural “mover,” she saw how important moving and dancing was for people with PD. Carolyn has been assisting at SF Ballet’s dance class for people with Parkinson’s for 5 years. Though her father in law passed away last year, Carolyn is still very involved in the class and the community. Carolyn is in the certification process through Mark Morris’s Dance for PD program, and has finished the introductory and advanced training workshops in Brooklyn. Carolyn has also taught movement classes for seniors for Community Living Campaign, and at ODC Dance School in SF.
Carolyn has been co-captain of SF Ballet’s fundraising team “Shake, Rattle and Pointe” raising money for the Parkinson’s Association’s “Moving Day” for the past five years, helping to raise thousands of dollars for the foundation and making the team a top donor!
Brandon “Private” Freeman
Brandon “Private” Freeman has been teaching Dance For Parkinson’s Disease since 2008. Trained by the founders of DFPD, former Mark Morris dancers David Leventhal and John Heginbotham, Private has taught classes at Berkeley Ballet Theater, Joe Goode Performance Group, and also does private lessons. In 2011, He started a DFPD class in Denver, Colorado, called Rhythm and Grace, with the support of Parkinson’s Association of the Rockies. He is proud that class still runs today at the Colorado Ballet studios! Private believes that dance and creative movement, along with live accompanying music, bring about positivity, joy, and empowerment for people living with Parkinson’s Disease.
Molly Katzman
Molly Katzman (they/them) has been dancing for most of their life and has been a teaching artist in the bay area for nearly 17 years. Molly took the introductory training workshop to become a Dance for PD instructor in March 2016 and has been teaching DFPD classes consistently since then. They also took the Dance for PD advanced training and professional development workshop in February of 2021 to enhance and inspire their teaching. Molly has the pleasure of teaching DFPD in Santa Cruz, Monterey and Stanford and is excited to be joining the San Francisco community. Molly deeply believes in the power of dance to heal, transform and create change and it has been a joy and an honor for them to be a part of the DFPD program.
Becca Dean
Becca Dean is a site responsive dance artist who has performed across 6 continents, in theaters, nightclubs, stadiums, on skyscrapers, cliffs and cranes. They have performed at Santiago a Mil International Theater Festival, Art and About Sydney and in the American Music Awards with P!NK. Becca has worked with Joe Goode Performance Group, Flyaway Productions, Fogbeast and Kathleen Hermesdorf. They are a company dancer with Sean Dorsey Dance and a long time company member and Associate Artistic Director with BANDALOOP. They facilitate mindful movement to veterans and people with Parkinson’s and engage in choreographic residencies in public high schools across the Bay Area. Becca holds a BFA in modern dance from the University of Utah and is a graduate of the Moving On Center School of Somatic Research. Their movement practice is informed by vertical dance, modern/contemporary dance, martial arts and movements for social justice. More on IG @goodnightsusan.
Accompanists
Ben Juodvalkis
Ben Juodvalkis composes original music for dance, film, theater, corporate events, and museum installations.
He has created scores for over 50 organizations and has had his music performed on four continents. Ben works from his studio in San Francisco as well as on location with his mobile custom built electronic instruments.
Ryan Hube
Ryan Hube was raised in the coastal towns of Pacifica and Moss Beach. After graduating with degrees in Biology and Electronic Music from UC Santa Cruz, he moved to San Francisco. Unable to find gainful employment in the sciences, he instead pivoted to the performing arts. For more than a decade, he has worked as a live accompanist for modern dance classes at UC Berkeley, Stanford, Mills College, ODC and University of San Francisco. Additionally, he has composed music and performed with local dance ensembles such as Bandaloop, the Joe Goode Performance Group, Project Agora and Little Seismic.