«A brilliant, touching and thought-provoking book. Moving Along merges
academic research with personal narrative and beautifully rendered
drawings to create a one-of-a-kind book that contributes fresh and
compelling perspectives. This life-affirming graphic novel is essential
reading for anyone interested in Parkinson's and the power of art and
community to sustain and nurture the human spirit.»
(David Leventhal, Program Director and Founding Teacher, Dance for
PD(R), Mark Morris Dance Group, Brooklyn, NY USA)
«This is a wonderfully accessible book that has been co-created by
people living with Parkinson's, researchers and artists. In the
true-to-life stories, the anxieties and challenges of living with
Parkinson's are explored in evocative cartoons. Yet, as well as talking
about the challenges, the book has the joy of dancing at its heart.
Dance has proved to be an exceptionally good catalyst for living well
with Parkinson's and this graphic novel illustrates individual journeys
through Parkinson's and into dance. For anyone curious about dancing who
now lives with Parkinson's, or knows someone who does, this book is for
you. For anyone interested in graphic medicine, dance for wellbeing, or
arts in healthcare, this book is an important addition to the
literature. »
(Professor Sara Houston, author of Dancing with Parkinson's)
Meet Hugo, Karen, Alma, Helene, Anne-Marie, Poul, Lone, and Eskild, who
go to Parkinson's dance class together. They are characters in this
graphic novel, which is based on many stories about Parkinson's. The
stories come from participants in Parkinson's dance who have talked
about how dance involves bodily, aesthetic experiences, including the
feeling of bubbles in their bodies and flying together. Dancing brings
joy, energy, and community, and thereby strengthens the will to live,
all important when a chronic illness turns your world upside down.
This book, a co-produced research-based graphic novel, is designed for
use in the fields of arts and health, medical humanities, graphic
medicine, and narrative medicine. It is also written for people with
Parkinson's, or other chronic diseases, and their families. The book
invites dialogue about the existential dimensions of chronic illness,
especially Parkinson's, and long-term caregiving.
