I've raised £500 to help fund an interactive exhibition that will showcase and promote the work of Dance for Parkinson's, Lewes.

Organised by Katharine le Roux

Story

Welcome to “Dance with Me”, a unique interactive film exhibition created by the Dance for Parkinson’s group in Lewes. This project is a celebration of movement, creativity, and community, showcasing the incredible work of our amazing dancers, and reaching out and supporting more people with Parkinson’s. We invite you to join us in bringing this vibrant, transformative experience to life by contributing to our crowdfunding campaign.

About us:

Our classes in Lewes are inclusive, inspiring and joyful, dedicated to improving the lives of people with Parkinson’s through the transformative power of dance. Our programme at Create Dance Parkinson's focuses on creativity, movement and social connection, offering the opportunity for people with Parkinson’s at all stages and abilities to engage with dance as a physical activity. Dance for Parkinson’s can improve cardiovascular stamina, motor skills, cognitive difficulties, walking performance, use of proprioception, coordination, flexibility, strength, balance and posture. It also addresses the social isolation that Parkinson’s can cause, offering improvements in the quality of life and overall wellbeing. We'd love for more people with Parkinson's to hear about and access our classes, experiencing the benefits of dance in alleviating symptoms and bringing greater freedom of movement.

Movement and exercise tailored for Parkinson’s sufferers is particularly valuable in these classes. As is meeting other people with the same condition (Class Participant)

The Project:

“Dance with Me” is an interactive installation combining dance and film at Artwave, Lewes 10-12 September 2024, exploring the Sussex landscape, bringing local places to life through movement. Members from the Dance for Parkinson’s group have each chosen local places that have meaning and significance for them: places that bring joy. “Dance with Me” takes the viewer on a journey through these places through film and choreography created by the group. We explore the meaning of “place” – particular locations filled with meaning and value – as opposed to “spaces” that are simply traversed through. The result is an interactive space where members of the public can join in and engage with the movement in front or behind the film screen, mirroring the movement of the dancers and the landscape, or simply pausing for a moment to watch, so also becoming engaged with their “place”.

Photos by Martina La Trobe Bateman, film artist for "Dance With Me"

Why we need your support:

Creating “Dance With Me” requires resources to cover the cost of projectors, exhibition fees and marketing. We have a large group of volunteers who are giving their time to help with the set up but we need your help in funding some of the running costs. Here’s a breakdown of where your money will go:

• Hire of a projector and screen £300

• Printing of flyers and posters for the event £50

• Artwave Exhibitor Fee £120

• Building materials for installation £30

Any excess money we raise will go directly towards the running of our weekly Dance for Parkinson’s Classes.

Giving through JustGiving is simple. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity.

Rewards

We have exciting rewards to thank you for your generosity:

£25 A personalised thank you email and your name on our supporter’s wall.

£50 A VIP ticket to the exhibition’s opening night

£100 A VIP ticket to the exhibition’s opening night and a cake baked by one of our talented volunteers

Impact:

Your contribution will not only help us bring this exhibition to life but also raise awareness about Parkinson’s and the power of dance in alleviating symptoms. “Dance with Me” will inspire and connect people from all walks of life, giving people a greater understanding and appreciation of the challenges and triumphs of those living with Parkinson’s and connecting people to their local environment.

Wonderful Class! Gorgeous dance. Everyone is smiling at the end! (Class Participant)

The stretching and exercise is much more fun with music (Class Participant)

Being cheerfully encouraged to dance and move in new ways is both physically and mentally very helpful (Class Participant)

Join us:

Help us to celebrate and support the amazing work of Dance for Parkinson’s, Lewes. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to our goal.