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WFU Lifelong Learning Series: ImPROV-MENT: An Improvisational Movement Class for Brain and Body Health
July 8, 2016 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
An event every week that begins at 10:00 AM on Tuesday and Friday, repeating until August 16, 2016
ImPROV-MENT: An Improvisational Movement Class
For Brain and Body Health
Christina Soriano
Tuesdays and Fridays 10 am – 11 am
Friday, July 8 – Tuesday August 16
Brookstown Campus
As we age, our balance sometimes feels compromised and the ability to multi-task can become a challenging. How can we move about in this busy world as confident and expressive movers, promoting good brain and body health? This unique movement class will challenge participants to spontaneously create (and sometimes, repeat) movement material based on a series of cues or prompts that are presented to the group. Often taking our cues from visual images, rhythmic sensibility, the breath, and music, various movement questions will be presented with the expectation that there are always several ways for each participant to respond. This class will encourage problem solving tactics through movement and at the same time, be a lot of fun!
In this movement course, participants will be introduced to exercises that:
-nurture a strong community environment
-promote great cardiovascular health
-support each person’s creative contributions as expressive movers and shakers
-encourage moving and reacting spontaneously in space
-share fall and recovery techniques in safe ways
-promote physical and cognitive decision making
-bring spontaneity back to our lives in meaningful ways
Each class will begin seated in chairs, and then continue to include standing and walking-based exercises. No previous dance experience is necessary. Participants with movement challenges are encouraged to take this class.
Christina Soriano is an Associate Professor of Dance at Wake Forest University. She teaches composition, improvisation, modern technique, dance, and film history. Working with the Parkinson Disease Foundation, she is involved in two scientific studies to examine how improvisational dance helps Parkinson patients with mobility and balance. She teaches weekly movement classes in Winston-Salem to people with Parkinson’s Disease and their carepartners. Her published work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals, including Frontiers in Neurology. More information on Christina’s work can be found at www.improvment.us.