Established a little over ten years ago, Invertigo Dance Theatre is known for high energy movement and the telling of full-evening stories told via the choreography by the company’s ultra-talented Founder and Artistic Director Laura Karlin. The latest full-length work by Karlin was titled Formulae & Fairy Tales investigated the life of Alan Turing, the English mathematician, and computer scientist who was very influential in the development of theoretical computer science. He was the inventor of the Turing machine and worked as a decoder during World War II. Karin looked at Turing genius and troubled life by casting it into “the technicolor and mythologized ideas of his favorite film, Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

Karlin is also a movement activist and nine years ago along with her company dance artists and others developed a powerful community program called Dancing Through Parkinson’s which brings joy and strength to many people living with the disease. Like everywhere across the globe, the company’s activities were interrupted by the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. And, like other dance companies and studios around the world, Invertigo Dance Theatre took a deep breath and began to organize to continue reaching out to this special group by creating weekly online classes that can be enjoyed in the safety of their homes.

Invertigo Dance Theatre - Laura Karlin leading a Dancing Through Parkinson's class - Courtesy of the company.

Invertigo Dance Theatre – Laura Karlin leading a Dancing Through Parkinson’s class – Courtesy of the company.

Having taken one of the first online classes, Jeanie McNamara, a longtime Dancing Through Parkinson’s participant is quoted in the company’s press release dated April 24, 2020. “This is phenomenal! What a wonderful, collaborative class, and what a gift to all of us who are working hard to continue moving without going anywhere. Thank you for all that you are doing so that we can continue to battle PD while trapped at home.

By moving these classes online Invertigo Dance Theatre is also providing work for its dance artists and educators. If you are interested in viewing the first online classes, you may do so by clicking here, and as they are happening, the classes are being posted online here.

Participants may receive the classes directly to their email by signing up for the DTP newsletter by emailing dancepd@invertigodance.org. Beginning May 7, the company will offer streaming classes live on Zoom on Thursdays at 1:30 pm Pacific with a recorded lesson available following. Additional details will be posted at invertigodance.org/dtp and sent via the weekly DTP newsletter.

Invertigo Dance Theatre - Corrina Kinnear leading a Dancing Through Parkinson's class - Courtesy of the company.

Invertigo Dance Theatre – Corrina Kinnear leading a Dancing Through Parkinson’s class – Courtesy of the company.

The company’s press release describes the Dancing Through Parkinson’s online classes this way: The DTP online classes are modeled after the in-person studio classes. No dance experience is required to take part in the online or live classes. Teachers Kelsey Ang, Linda Berghoff, Heidi Buehler, Jess Evans, Haylee Nichele, and Rachel Whiting—representing the five different studio classes—each lead a segment featuring their unique styles and music selections. DTP participants move at their own pace, and every section of the class is designed with seated modifications for those who need to remain seated or who would like to take a break from standing. Classes are open to everyone; family and caregivers are also encouraged to participate.

The Moving Through Parkinson’s classes reflect “the experience and progression of a professional dance class while incorporating methods tailored specifically to the needs of people with Parkinson’s Disease”. No dance experience is required to take these classes, participants can move at they own pace, and are open to everyone including others facing complications brought about by the normal process of aging or other who are coping with neurological challenges. If a participant requires to be seated, there are modifications including in the classes for this need. Family members and/or caretakers are also welcomed to participate in the classes.

To set up a Vimeo and/or Zoom link, please click HERE.  The classes are FREE, donations are accepted.

For more information on Invertigo Dance Theatre and the Dancing Through Parkinson’s online classes, please click HERE.

Readers may view the first online class HERE. Online classes are being posted to HERE.

Written and compiled by Jeff Slayton for LADC, April 24, 2020.

Featured image: Invertigo Dance Theatre – Corrina Kinnear leading a class for Dancing Through Parkinson’s – Courtesy of the company.