Focus on Dance

Starting with a single volunteer and expanding, thanks to an anonymous gift, to two professional dance instructors and a host of community and outreach activities, the dance program at Lombardi continues to build on the success of one determined individual.

 

Jill Roberts Piscatella, Georgetown graduate and member of the University Dance Company (GUDC) volunteered her time starting in 2002, offering simple stretch movement exercises to people with cancer. Her efforts helped people with cancer improve flexibility, muscle tone and mood.

Jill invited and trained GUDC members to work with patients as well, and with funds from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts, designed Lombardi Moves, a dance curriculum that assists with student training and serves as a guide for those who wish to continue the exercises at home.

Ann Behrends and Daniel Burkholder currently lead the training for patients and families with the assistance of current GUDC liaison Sarah Clark-Hammel. Since the dance program's inception, each of the creative leaders have introduced innovative programming, expanding the role of dance in a cancer center. Ms. Behrends leads an impromptu stretch movement session for staff.

Mr. Burkholder founded the Lombardi Moves Dance Troupe, a one-hour drop in dance class open to all Lombardi and Georgetown hospital staff. Warm ups and a sequential series of choreographed movement to music are practiced over a series of weeks.