WHAT: What do mistakes teach us? @ Velo Cult with Rebecca Hood, Behavioral Neuroscience, OHSU and Krystal Ngene, Danielle Ali-Cassim, and 20 dancers from the Kúkátónón African Children’s Dance Troupe

We did it! LEARN MORE at the link!

Parkinson’s, Dance & Mistakes

WHERE: Velo Cult, 1969 NE 42nd Ave, Portland, OR 97213

WHEN: Wednesday, May 2, 2018, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Mistakes are essential to learning in research and dance.

Discover the role of error in acquiring skills, and advancing both science and art with Rebecca Hood of OHSU and brilliant performers from the Kúkátónón African Children’s Dance Troupe!

All the inventions that the world contains,
Were not by reason first found out, nor brains;
But pass for theirs who had the luck to light
Upon them by mistake or oversight.
–Samuel Butler

Scientists aren’t perfect, as much as they’d like to be. The mistakes that researchers make aren’t usually mentioned in the papers they produce, leaving out a valuable (and often huge) part of the story. From a botched brain surgery that revolutionized the way we understand Parkinson’s disease to the discovery of anesthesia, join us as we talk about mistakes in science and the discoveries that can come from them.

“While music alone can unlock people with parkinsonism, and movement or exercise of any kind is also beneficial, an ideal combination of music and movement is provided by dance (and dancing with a partner, or in a social setting, brings to bear other therapeutic dimensions).” – Oliver Sacks

Learning to dance involves extensive trial and error, exquisite timing, and trains some of the same brain networks involved in acquiring other fluid skills, networks also impacted by Parkinson’s.

LEARN MORE: Basal ganglia @ Beaumont!

Kúkátónón’s mission is to inspire confidence, commitment and vitality among the children in the dance troupe, their families and communities; and to broaden awareness of African and African American cultural traditions throughout Oregon. Our Troupe performs to West African rhythms through song, instrument and dance.

Upcoming Events:

Public African Dance Workshop on Saturday, May 12th from 1:30-3pm at Peninsula Community Center 

Partner with the Pan African Festival on Aug 11, 2018

Kukatonon End of Year Show – June 9th

NW Noggin Velo Cult events are always free, open to the public, child friendly, and feature access to amazing beer (scroll here for current tap list), wine, coffee, tea, sodas and sandwiches…