On Saturday afternoon, February 11, the time had come. With 120 people we are going to have a dance party at the Noorddam Center. Half of the participants have a non-congenital brain disorder, such as Parkinson's or MS. The party is open to all forms of mobility, because even if it is less easy in a wheelchair...exercise is good for everyone.
Small movements make you big. First succeed with a finger, then the hand or foot follows. In this way you build up dancing step by step. Good for the body and good for the brain. And the music by disco Charlie from the 70s makes moving so much easier.
As one participant said "This afternoon we are in seventh heaven for a while." Another couple was so looking forward to it that they had been practicing a foxtrot for a week. Dancing together in a group also motivates you tremendously. You can pull yourself together. You don't want to be left behind.
The support act was very special by Dido Mirck. The whole hall was challenged to start sitting down. And with Dido, you just can't sit still. Even if moving is more difficult, you just try. And then it turns out that everyone is pushing their limits. That is so beautiful to see and experience.
The main program was given by Andrew Greenwood. The dance phenomenon from Tilburg who wants to get all of Holland dancing. The music went a little louder, the chairs a little more to the side. Loose freestyle dancing. Sometimes a request number in between. And then it turned out that dancing for an hour after the warm-up was quite a challenge. Not everyone was able to finish the main program. But that's okay, too. This afternoon everything is good.
Then the party is over. RTV Noord-Holland makes a nice report and then it turns out that the following day we are picked up by the NOS and to top it off, we appear on the NOS news on NPO1 at noon on Monday. What a great promotion to dance together, move to music, that goes so much easier together.
And was that it or is there more? As a dance organizer, I'm going for more, but in what form? That will take some puzzling, but more on that later.
Thanks to all 30 volunteers and our sponsors Amstel Idea, STIVAK and HelderAdvies.
Edwin Barentsen
From the survey
- Participants came 60% from Amstelveen or neighboring communities and 25% through Danspark communities
- A dance party is something 60% of the participants think should be repeated quarterly and 23% go for 2x a year
- To stay fit, 44% want to dance once a month and 37% see themselves doing it every week
- A convenient day is 78% during the week
- A convenient time is the afternoon for 51%