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SARASOTA (WSNN) – Get ready to move your feet and dance for Parkinson’s! April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month and New College of Florida is hosting its 3rd annual Dance for Parkinson’s event next Thursday. This is through a collaboration with Sarasota Contemporary Dance and Parkinson Place. But this year, it’s going virtual.

COVID-19 is not stopping the Dance for Parkinson’s event from happening this year.

“We’re really excited to kind go full circle. We had to cancel last year because of the pandemic,” said Leymis Bolaños Wilmott,  the Artistic Director and Co-founder of Sarasota Contemporary Dance. “This year, we’re like, we’re going to do it, no matter what. And we’re doing it.”

New College dancers are kicking off the event with a virtual performance next Thursday. And while going online has its limitations, it also has its positives.

“We’re reaching people in Europe and Canada, so hopefully we’ll have more friends join in this time around,” said Bolaños Wilmott.

“COVID can’t limit dance,” said Rose Schimmel, a New College student dancer. “You can still enjoy it with other people, even if it’s through zoom. It does make you feel connected and I do think that’s the amazing thing about it.”

The Parkinson Place members and students rehearse through zoom. The dance moves are modified between the two groups of people, but they all dance together.

“They’re always so positive and they’re following along, and I just remember from January, they’ve always been so enthusiastic,” said Schimmel.

They’ve been rehearsing for more than a month to make this virtual performance come to life.

Schimmel says the world of dance is not just for professionals; it’s for everyone. 

“It can help people of all ages, all abilities, whether abled or disabled, neurotypical or typical or the neuro-diverse,” said Schimmel.

That’s the message, this group of New College dancers wants to share during Parkinson’s Awareness month in April. Lauri Livesey was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease 3 years ago. She says dancing helps her.

“I was never good at it,” said Livesey. “And whether you’re good at it, or not good at it, everyone improves and everyone is welcome. And I think the only way to improve function with this disease is to move.”

This virtual performance kicks off the Dance for Parkinson’s event series next Thursday, April first. And it’s going through April 17th. All the activities are free. The event information is here.