Trama

It seems like two disparate realms. One occupied by some of the most acclaimed dancers in the world, people who move for a living. The other occupied by people who often struggle to move, people who have Parkinson's disease. This is the story of what happens when those worlds intersect. We followed individuals with Parkinson's as they prepared to stage a first ever dance performance, under the tutelage of two long time dancers at the Mark Morris Dance Group. It's a story about determination, adversity, contending with doubt, the transformative power of art and the strength of the human spirit. This is the story of a remarkable community of dancers who have come together to rediscover the meaning of grace.

What happens when a group of adults with Parkinsons disease collaborates with leading professionals from the Mark Morris Dance Group to stage a performance? One of the participants puts it succinctly: When the dance class is going on, there are no patients. There are only dancers. This inside look at a unique Brooklyn program, led by former Mark Morris company member David Leventhal, offers evidence for the beneficial aspects of physical activity in alleviating the debilitating symptoms of the disease. But, more dramatically, it challenges our expectations about illness and art. Director-producer David Iverson, a radio broadcaster known to Bay Area audiences as the Friday host of KQEDs Forum call-in show, was himself diagnosed with Parkinsons in 2004. He follows the proceedings with rapt attention, as men and women of diverse backgrounds find acceptance and unlock potential in a common cadence.

This film's engaging subjects forge a close-knit community, demonstrating art's power to transform and to heal.