After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease three years ago, Stacy Collins discovered a program that has helped to alleviate some symptoms of the movement disorder one graceful step at a time.

Collins is enjoying the therapeutic benefits of ballroom dancing through the nonprofit RX Ballroom Dance, which tailors the rhythmic movements to help preserve and enhance the quality of life for people with illnesses such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s disease and similar disorders.

Classes are taught by dance instructors certified to work with individuals who are confronting neurodegenerative disorders.

“It’s definitely helped with my posture,” Collins said. “It’s definitely helped my flexibility and balance.”

RX Ballroom Dance was founded in 2019 by Erin Angelo, a former professional ballroom dancer who was looking to do more than simply teach after retiring from competition.

Angelo, who has also spent time as a kindergarten teacher for children with special needs, discovered a way to combine her passion for serving others with her love of dance.

“When I retired from ballroom dancing, I wanted to do more with my dancing than teach day in and day out,” she said. “I knew the benefits of ballroom dance, especially on neurodegenerative conditions. But there were no programs like it. So, I did what any woman does. You make it yourself.”

Since its inception roughly six years ago, RX Ballroom Dance has grown significantly, from a single class with 20 students to classes at 12 locations throughout Southern California, including classes in Tustin, Mission Viejo and Laguna Woods in Orange County, Temecula and north San Diego County.

Online classes are also available.

The program is free for participants, thanks to funding from federal and state grants, private foundations, and donations.

RX Ballroom was recently awarded a grant from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and is supported by the Parkinson’s Foundation and California Arts Council.

“Doctors literally write on a prescription pad, ‘ballroom dance,’ and send it off,” Angelo said. “It’s a free resource to help supplement their health.”

Peter Krajewski, a ballroom dance instructor with decades of experience, is one of the certified instructors who leads the RX Ballroom Dance sessions.

Krajewski said part of his motivation for wanting to teach the specialized program comes from having a close family friend who had been stricken with Parkinson’s.

“It’s wonderful to give back a little bit,” Krajewski said. “When we talk about ballroom dancing, we say we’re not saving the world, but in this case, we are truly changing people’s lives. Our assessments show that they have improved their balance, actually. So that’s an awesome thing.”

Classes begin with a 10-to-15-minute warm-up to improve circulation and prepare the body for dancing. Krajewski says he pays extra attention to muscle groups that tend to deteriorate faster.

The instructor said there is definitely an attitude change from the beginning of the class to the end of the class, adding he sees how it brightens up a participant’s day.

Norm Kredit, 80, and his wife Lori, 83, are regular participants in the RX Ballroom Dance classes taught at Century Dancesport in Tustin.

The couple said the classes have also helped to improve their balance and posture.

“When you’re moving, you’re conscious more of your steps, which leg to move first,” Norm Kredit said. “So that’s been a big, big help.”

Lori Kredit said the classes are also just a bit of fun out for the couple.

“We’ve made new friends, which is very important,” she said. “And it keeps us moving.”

Beyond the physical benefits, Collins also said the classes provide an emotional benefit as well.

“I love the people, the warmth of the group,” she said. “It’s something to look forward to that gets me out of the house.”

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