Dancing Salsa with Parkinson’s Disease

The idea of people with a physical impediment not being able to dance Salsa is currently outdated. For several years, there has been a new initiative in the Netherlands to teach Salsa to students having Parkinson’s disease. The results are ‘spectaculair’ according to Morry Krispijn, founder of Salsa Dance School SalsaVentura.

From May 7, 2010, the Salsa Dance Franchise SalsaVentura (The Netherlands) will start Salsa Dance Classes for people with Parkinson’s Disease or other physical mobility problems. The Special Salsa Dance Course will start from on May 7, 2010. Salsa Dance Instructor, Choreographer, Franchise Holder, Congress Organizer, and Salsa Innovator Morry Krispijn is taking on the difficult task of teaching these special Salsa Dance Classes to these persons with special needs. Morry is internationally renowned for his relaxed and clear manner of teaching. His didactical and analytical skills are far above average.

This initiative started in 2007 with Daniel Waterman getting the idea of having people with Parkinson’s disease to dance after reading the inspiring book ‘A Leg to Stand On’ written by Oliver Sacks, a world famous neurologist. Sacks writes about his own experience of falling down, breaking a leg, losing all feeling in it, and on the process of his recuperation after listening to his favorite music. Sacks consider the human body to be ‘a symphony in which all parts are connected by music.’

 His own personal experiences, interest, research and conclusions led Waterman to believe there had to be a way to boost other physical and mental abilities, which sick patients could use to compensate for the ones they lost. After he experimented by teaching his mother some Salsa Dance Steps (which went surprisingly well) Daniel decided to contact Morry and tell him about his findings and his plan. Morry was immediately enthusiastic after hearing Daniel’s idea to teach Salsa to Parkinson patients. They organized the first Parkinson Salsa Dance Class in the AFP exercise centre in the city of Katwijk a/d Rijn. All the participants enjoyed the class. John Voorman, a movement therapist at the centre, suggested Morry to teach Salsa at the annual meeting of Parkinson patients in Hillegom.  

In January 2008 SalsaVentura (The Hague) joined forces with Salsa Dance School Dos Bailadores (Leiden) and started teaching Salsa to a group of thirty Parkinson patients. Because of the initial success, Krispijn decided to start two Salsa Dance groups for Beginners and Advanced Salsa Dancers. Salsa dancing has many benefits for Parkinson patients such as a the betterment of their physical, psychological and social state.

The dance classes starting May 7 will take place in the beautiful ‘La Cantina’ Beach Pavilion. The students will discover the magic of Salsa Music and Dance in 8 weeks time. This course is for people who can walk without support. The classes are suitable for people with no dance experience, but people with lots of experience are welcome to experience challenging and fun classes given by Morry Krispijn. 

Salsa Dancing truly has no borders.