Since 2021, Jon Lehrer Dance Company has been taking its highly physical approach to movement and exploring its capacity to be accessible to communities and individuals living with Parkinson’s Disease. With guidance, mentorship, and partnership from Cynthia Pegado of Western NY, the company has learned through experience the ways that JLDC’s highly expressive style can be used as a tool for discovery and empowerment among this community.

JLDC brings an inclusive, supportive, and positive approach to all movement workshops for all participants, which has prepared the company for their work with Parkinson’s communities. Additionally, JLDC Associate Director Cristiana Cavallo has completed the Mark Morris Dance for Parkinson’s training, providing her with valuable knowledge and skills specific to people living with Parkinson’s Disease or caretakers to bring into JLDC workshops.

See just how we do this, and the impact we have, by watching the video below:

"The Lehrer dancers were helpful, open to listening to us, always positive in their conversations, excited to be there, inclusive,
and entertaining as well! Every one of them seemed to love teaching us. "
- Workshop Participant

"It felt especially meaningful how the Lehrer company interacted with us, the Artpark Bridges dancers. They never had a problem re-teaching or re-showing us how to do things with endless patience and words of encouragement. Their compassion and dedication were contagious. "
- Workshop Participant

Artpark Bridges & JLDC Parkinson's Dance Workshops & Performance

Photos by Jordan Oscar, courtesy of Artpark