Belly Dancing with Multiple Sclerosis
Posted Tuesday March 01 2016 at 10:14 pm.
Used tags: dance
By Sandy Alissa Novack. Published in Spaulding Rehabilitation Network's "Disability Issues".
Anna Connors was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2006. It affects her walking and balance, which can make dancing tricky, she says. For the past six years, she has been learning belly dancing and performing with the Silver Moon Gypsies at local senior centers and other venues.
Sandy Alissa Novack (SN): Do you notice any change in your mobility function and in the quality of life that is attributed to dance?
Anna Connors (AC): Absolutely! The fun quotient! Just the pure joy of dance is incredible. Generally, belly dancing's slower fluid motion is much more suitable for my condition.
SN: What is your philosophy about exercise and movement?
AC: Gypsy and I say the same thing, Use it or lose it, and keep moving! As far as dancing, or anything else I do since being diagnosed with MS, my philosophy is to be flexible - not only body-wise but also on how I approach doing something. I may not be able to do something the way I used to, so try to adapt. There is always another way to take on a task, so I am creative. Gypsy always allows me to adapt moves in our dances. One of the dancers in our performing troupe is 82 years old. She can't do fast spins and quick steps either, so we kind of pair up together and adapt those steps to work for us. It really comes together and adds some visual interest. We can ALL adapt.
SN: Is there a particular aspect of belly dancing that is your favorite?
AC: I like that it is very expressive. It is very fluid, like a wave going up and down, very flowing. I like the way my hands and arms move slowly. I like the facial movements and the way I carry myself while dancing. The dance takes me over. I FEEL the movement and I move to it.
SN: For readers with MS or other disabilities, what would you like them to take away from reading this interview?
AC: When I dance, I do not feel my MS pain. I walk in with a cane, but then I adapt the belly dance. I encourage others who try to dance to adapt it to their needs in consultation with their teacher, such as whether a person can spin or not and how fast they can spin.
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