au Conservatoire de Bordeaux, on danse pour « retarder au maximum » la maladie
The dancer decided to create her association after meeting in the United States, with a desire: “Share. “The idea is to pass on to people who don’t necessarily have the opportunity to be in a studio and bring them into this universe. »
“Emotional support”
And it seems to work. For an hour, the participants follow Murielle Maffre with their gaze and reproduce her movements as well as possible. First on chairs, then standing. All this, accompanied by a musician from the Conservatory, Adrien Bernège, who handles various instruments to create different atmospheres. For him, who is a friend affected by the disease, it is important to be present, on a voluntary basis. “During the session, music has a place of emotional support. »
“We experience difficult things on a daily basis and it is sometimes easier to express them with dance than with words”
Martine sits on the side and observes the workshop. She accompanies her husband, Guy, 68 years old. He has been living with the disease for ten years now and she is trying to find something to relieve him. “In the beginning, Parkinson was fine, he continued to work. Now, there are really complicated moments. “So she is happy to see him participate in the session which “seems to do him good”.
As he makes a series of movements – albatross wings, navigation flag, lighthouse – she does her best to wave to him. But he remains focused on the exercise. Moved, she adds: “My husband is not a dancer, he is more of a singer. »
Dance as catharsis
Serge also accompanies his wife. He describes Monique as an “intellectual who is afraid of illness and who tries to delay as much as possible”. So she continues: gymnastics, speech therapy, tango therapy. He accompanies her, as a support: “I don’t understand anything about dance, music, but I do my best to help her. “And to add with a smile:” It makes him happy, I don’t see why I would deprive him of it. »