Free programs aim at helping people deal with the physical and mental challenges of Parkinson’s Disease (PD).
Moscow Pullman Daily News – September 9th, 2025
Local organizations are offering free programs to help people alleviate the physical and mental challenges of Parkinson’s Disease.
One program helps people regain movement through the art of dance. Dance for Parkinson’s will hold fall classes every TUESDAY STARTING Sept 9 at Moscow Contemporary in Palouse Place. Classes for the 10 week course will run 10:30 am to noon.
The classes, designed in partnership with the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, are available to anyone who wants to learn how to dance, but instructor Corrie Befort has designed her lessons to benefit those with PD and Multiple Sclerosis. People interested in attending can register online at moscowcontemporary.org, or walk in and sign up the day of class.
“You can just drop in,” Befort said. “You don’t have to pay anything.”
Befort invites live musicians to help her teach multiple dance styles including line dancing and flamenco. Befort, who has been dancing since age 4, said her classes are very much like formal dance classes. They are meant to improve coordination, balance, and range of movement. These are all skills that can diminish from PD if they are not tended to, she said.
She said music in particular can help people move in ways they may not be able to do otherwise.
“As soon as the rhythm comes in, and the melodic flow, their bodies are able to actually access the movement through that in a way that is visibly hard to do without music,” she said. She called it “pretty amazing” to see.
Befort said her classes can help people form a community with others, which is important because PD can limit a person’s ability to be social. Since the program started last year Befort said she has seen a group of regulars attend her classes.
Befort said people are not required to show up every week, they can come at their convenience.
Moscow Contemporary received a 2025 grant for $10,000 from the Lewis-Clark Valley Healthcare Foundation to help fund the program. Classes are free, but attendees are invited to give a $10 optional donation per class. Caregivers can attend at no additional cost. More information here.
There will also be 10-week courses in winter and spring. Befort said her goal is to attain sponsorships that will allow her to bring her classes into assisted living homes in Pullman and Moscow.
Another free program in the area is aimed at connecting people with PD. Disability Action Center NW is hosting free monthly peer support groups for those with PD and their friends and family.
Participants are invited to meet each other, share their experiences and swap resources. Each meeting will feature activities like games and exercises. Topics of discussion included anxiety, using assistive technology, exercises and preserving their ability to speak and swallow.
Support group meetings in Lewiston are held at 1:30pm on the second Monday of every month at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Services, 1250 Idaho St, Suite B.
Meetings in Moscow are the third Thursday of each month at 5:30 pm at the DAC NW office, 505 N Mainst St.
More information about the support groups may be found at infomos@dacnworg or calling 208-883-0523
