On Pointe

Boca Ballet Theatre's Community Outreach Program, BBT4PD - which offers dance classes for those with Parkinson's disease - recently presented its fourth annual performance and fundraising event, Share The Joy, with more than 150 in attendance. Held at the Countess de Hoernle Center for Dance in Boca Raton, the evening also included a dessert reception.

Performers living with Parkinson's disease took the stage accompanied by the Boca Ballet Theatre level 5 jazz class, BBT4PD instructors and Share the Joy volunteers. With Dr. Martha Brown on piano, the program included several diverse numbers, including "Sun Salutation," "On Broadway," "Hey Good Lookin'," "Playing Ball!" and "Reverance." In one, "Art Works in Progress," participants painted a modern art piece live in front of the audience.

The BBT4PD program, which offers dance classes tailored to those with Parkinson's disease, is in its fifth season. Led by Boca Ballet Theatre instructors Cindy Surman and Dennis Lue, classes are open to anyone with Parkinson's and are free due to the support of the American Parkinson Disease Association, Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation, Beck Family Foundation, FirstLantic Healthcare, Marleen Forkas, Stuart Subotnick, Robin and Phyllis Donelson, Cindy Surman, Susan Skillman, Marilyn and Jay Weinberg, and Junior League of Boca Raton Community Support Fund.

Established in 1990, Boca Ballet Theatre is a nonprofit, award-winning civic ballet company that trains dance students, entertains audiences and inspires the community through successful outreach programs. Under the guidance of Co- Artistic Directors Dan Guin and Jane Tyree, the mission is to enrich the cultural landscape of the community and educate its youth in classical ballet and concert dance through focused training, interaction with professional dancers and participation in full-length ballets and contemporary choreography. O

For more information, call 561-995-0709 or visit bocaballet.org.