Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is proud to offer the oldest Parkinson's dance program in the Midwest. The program uses contemporary dance techniques to work to slow the progress of the disease, as well as providing a community of support for our students.

Kathryn Humphreys, Director of Youth, Education, and Community Programs, explains about the program, "This is a dance class that combines the artistry of dance with live music to encourage one's natural instincts for movement and the benefits that movement can produce physically and socially. It's an opportunity for participants and their loved ones to do something fun together."

What class participants are saying:

"It’s exhilarating. We learn to do things we never considered before, enjoy each other’s company and support. We end the day with a firmer stride and an improved outlook.”

"Here’s our reflection: As participants in the Parkinson’s Project for 8 years, we have experienced joy and energy in a loving community, enabling us to be confident dancers!”

"The instructors are tirelessly encouraging and supportive. The exercises increase range of motion, get you using muscles and joints that PD stiffens and cripples with tremors, and reminds you that, in spite of PD you are still a creative, expressive and physically capable person. You’ll also interact and dance with other friendly and encouraging PD sufferers. Besides medication, exercise is the best hope for slowing the progression of Parkinson’s disease and PD dance at Hubbard Street Dance is an excellent option. Give it a try."

Sarah Cullen Fuller is an educator, dancer, and choreographer who is dedicated to the transformative power of dance. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Sarah began her career in dance performance working with the Joffrey and Boston Ballets, and has spent the past fifteen years with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago as a main company performer, stager, educator, faculty member of the Professional Program, and Founder of The Parkinson’s Project.

Sarah has served on the ad hoc committee for the Adaptive Dance Program at HSDC, was a co-teacher of EveryBody Can Dance, and was a speaker at the National Dance Education Foundation seminar in 2014. In addition to her work with alternative dance populations, Sarah has had the great pleasure of teaching and choreographing for many professional dance companies including Visceral Dance Chicago, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Momenta, Cerqua Rivera Dance Company, DanceWorks Chicago, and Of Moving Colors Baton Rouge.