Dancing has been a powerful medium for connecting people, especially those with Parkinson’s Disease. This degenerative brain disease affects muscle control, causing shaking, stiffness, and balance issues. Dance can help manage these effects, and Filipino-Australian choreographer Novy Bereber founded Bereber Sayaw PD in 2019, a therapy-based dance program in the Philippines. Research shows that dance significantly improves mobility for Parkinson’s patients, making it a unique initiative in the country.
A dance community at its core, Bereber Sayaw PD’s doors are open not only to individuals with Parkinson’s Disease but also to families, partners, and caregivers of those afflicted with the disease who would like to experience the joy of dancing together. Coming together through dance, students with Parkinson’s Disease and even their families create a meaningful engagement, greatly contributing to managing the disease.
“There’s a sense of joy and belonging that one feels when they’re dancing with like-minded 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 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 experience a chair-based dance program that uses dance’s aesthetic and imaginative elements to help stimulate the participant’s creativity, imagination, cognitive skills, and emotions in every Bereber Sayaw PD series of movements. Many global clinical studies support body movement or dance as 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: face-to-face classes every Wednesday from 11 AM to 12NN at Museo Iloilo in Iloilo and online classes held via Zoom every Wednesday from 11 AM 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 learn more about and 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/.
