FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT

DULUTH - An East Coast class that teaches people with movement disorders how to dance, is now being taught in the Northland.The class at Parkinson’s Disease Dance Studio is being taught at Unitarian Universalist Church, teaching people with the disorder how to move.

Joan Setterlund was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a brain disorder that affects movement and coordination.

“I think Michael J. Fox sums it up the best when he says if you have to have a chronic disease, Parkinson's isn't so bad," said Setterlund.

Since her diagnosis, she aimed to build an army of support around her. So, she joined a dance class geared toward people just like her.

"It's here for us to enjoy and socialize and to dance," said Setterlund.

Students are taught dancing techniques, verbiage and choreography. The class is a little bit of folk, ballet, jazz and modern dance.

"There's things that dancers have always done to help themselves move and those things can kind of translate to people with Parkinson's," Parkinson’s Disease Dance Studio Instructor Jessica Roeder said.

"I had a pain in my right arm and it went away after a couple weeks of this," said Doug Lindberg, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 23 years ago.

The students dance to a range of brain stimulating music.

"Get that rhythm in your head kind of helps you to move forward," said Roeder.

Students say they can implement the moves they're learning in the classinto their everyday lives.

"A lot of the movements some of us practice at home too because we're moving every part of our body but then we have to complement it with other types of exercise," said Setterlund.

Students end the class with Passing the Pulse, where they bow and squeeze the persons hand next to them -- reinforcing unity.

They say they leave feeling uplifted, limber and empowered.

The class is every Friday from 1 p.m until 2:15 p.m.

They only ask for a donation of $3 per person and $5 dollars for a group to take the class, or it's free if you don't have it to spare.