Aboutus
Columbus Dance for Parkinson’s is a total body dance exercise class that promotes increased mobility, artistry, friendship among participants, and an enhanced appreciation for local dance.
CLASS
DESCRIPTION
Moving together with purpose.
Columbus Dance for Parkinson's (CDP) is a dance exercise class specially designed for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's. Through carefully crafted movement, this class promotes increased strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance. CDP’s curriculum is unique to other exercise classes in that it encourages participants to take an active creative role during class. Between sweat and hard work, CDP participants experience joy and laughter with one another. Participants’ family members, friends, and caregivers are all welcome to attend class. No experience is necessary and both beginner and experienced dancers are welcome.
Program Founder
Miriam King founded CDP in 2015, after graduating with a B.A. from Hampshire College (Amherst, MA), with majors in Neuroscience and Dance. Miriam's training with the Mark Morris Dance Group, Dance for PD® program inspired her to launch CDP as an affiliate program in Columbus, OH.
While living in Columbus, Miriam continued performing as an actor/dancer with Shadowbox Live, as well as contributed to research at The Ohio State University M.E.N.D lab, under the guidance of Dr. Deborah Kegelymeyer, Dr. Anne Kloos, and Dr. Sandra Kostyk.
Miriam relocated to NYC to work as an instructor with the Dance for PD® program in Brooklyn, NY and continues to perform as a dancer with a Brazilian/Contemporary company, Silva Dance. Miriam is currently attending Columbia University, Teachers College as a Master's student in the Motor Learning & Control program. Miriam works in the Neurorehabilitation lab directed by Dr. Lori Quinn, and plans to continue to research the effects of Dance for Parkinson's disease, in hopes of identifying key components of Dance for Parkinson's classes that may provide optimal benefits to those living with Parkinson's.
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR and PROGRAM DIRECTOR
CHLOE NAPOLETANO
Chloe Napoletano is a Columbus, Ohio based performer, teacher, choreographer, art administrator, and community dance practitioner. Chloe received her BFA in dance from The Ohio State University. She has been teaching CDP since 2017.
In addition to teaching for CDP, Chloe is a lead teacher for In Motion: Movement Classes for Adults Over 50. She also teaches contemporary dance for Columbus State Community College and in the Children’s Division at BalletMet.
Chloe is the Advanced Team Coordinator and an Assistant Teacher for Momentum-Excellence, a dance outreach organization that uses dance, music, and performance to put children on a path towards leading successful lives. She also works for the Learning Department at The Columbus Museum of Art providing educational experiences for CMA visitors.
She has been collaborating and performing with SeaBus Dance Company since 2017. Chloe has performed with SeaBus at many venues including the Columbus Arts Festival and the Columbus Museum of Art. Chloe also co-choreographs, co-produces, and performs in original dance pieces with her artistic partner Hana Newfeld. Their work has been performed at The Wexner Center for the Arts and the OhioDance Festival Concert in Columbus, OH.