In honour of Parkinson’s Awareness Month, join us at the Rio on Monday April 18th for Capturing Grace — a captivating documentary about how dance and community can help in overcoming the daily struggles faced by people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Following the screening, we will have a Q&A and panel discussion with clinicians, neuroscientists and local dancers to discuss the various applications of dance therapy, current treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, and how music/dance may affect the brain. Here are our panelists:

* Dr. Cheryl Wellington (Professor, Dept of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UBC; Dancer)
* Amber Eastman (Co-director of Luciterra Dance Company; Feminist anti-violence worker)
* Dr. Alexander Pantelyat (Neurologist & Director at Atypical Parkinsonism Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine)
* Dr. Julieta Arena (Clinical Research Fellow in Movement Disorders at UBC)

— Speaker Bios —

* Dr. Cheryl Wellington is a Professor at UBC who is internationally known for her research on neurodegeneration and neurotrauma. Her research program specializes in understanding the interplay of genetic and environmental risk factors for dementia from a whole body perspective, including apolipoprotein E (apoE) metabolism, history of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and cerebrovascular dysfunction. Dr. Wellington’s group has made key contributions to the understanding of the role of apoE in Alzheimer’s Disease, and is closely linked with initiatives exploring the contributions of the vascular system and metabolic disease to dementia. Additionally, her group recently developed a novel non-surgical animal model of TBI that accurately mimics the biomechanics and the neuropathology of human head injury. Dr. Wellington studied classical ballet from age 16-31, including the Royal Academy of Dance, Cecchetti and Vaganova methods. In 2006, Dr. Wellington discovered the richness of bellydance and has studied primarily with Leona
Planko-Finlayson for 10 years, as well as a number of
internationally renowned dancers. Cheryl performs as a solo artist and with the groups Phoenix Dancers, Cashmere Rose,
Emerald Kohl, Y Bellydance, and has accompanied Ala Nar as a guest artist.* Amber Eastman is a feminist anti-violence worker, dance instructor and performance artist based in Vancouver. Amber is passionate about exploring innovative mediums for social justice praxis, and finds inspiration in the multifaceted ways that people use dance and art for healing, self-expression, and community development. Amber graduated with a Bachelors of Arts from UBC and a Masters degree in International human security and peacebuilding from Royal Roads University. She currently works in Vancouver’s Down Town East Side as a violence prevention worker, offering support to women who experience abuse and gender based violence. Amber is also a founding member of Luciterra Dance Company, where she works as both a perform and instructor in the Luciterra school of dance. The 4 women of Luciterra are deeply dedicated to social justice, respectful conscientious fusion, and art innovation, and through their work they strive to develop a strong, supportive and empowering community for dancers. Amber is a lifelong learner and is constantly inspired by the strong, intelligent and innovative individuals she encounters both in her anti-violence work and in her dance community.* Dr. Alexander Pantelyat cares for patients with movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and related syndromes. His research explores atypical parkinsonian disorders, such as dementia with Lewy bodies, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal syndrome/degeneration and multiple system atrophy; cognitive aspects of movement disorders; and music-based rehabilitation of neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Pantelyat earned his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, where he was elected a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and received the Matthew T. Moore Prize in Neurology. He completed his residency training in Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and a fellowship in movement disorders at the University of Pennsylvania/Philadelphia VA Medical Center. As part of his fellowship, Dr. Pantelyat also completed the Clinical Research Certificate Program at the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics. He is a 2013 American Academy of Neurology Palatucci Advocacy Leader and grant recipient, and a 2014-15 American Academy of Neurology Emerging Leader.* Dr. Julieta Arena is a Clinical-Research Fellow in Movement Disorders at University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on cognitive aspects of Parkinson’s disease, atypical Parkinsonisms and the study of gait. Dr. Arena earned her medical degree and graduated with honors from University of Buenos Aires in Argentina, completed her residency training in Neurology at FLENI Institute for Neurological Research in Buenos Aires, and spent another year there as Chief Resident of Neurology. She then completed a year as a research fellow in Neurology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN focusing her research on atypical Parkinsonisms. Dr. Arena is completing her Clinical-Research training fellowship in Movement Disorders at UBC caring for patients with movement disorders and focusing her research on cognitive aspects of Parkinson’s disease and imaging biomarkers.