For FSU Panama City communication students Morgan Cook and Brittany Sowell, with business administration student Lateasha Petty, dance took them out of the classroom and into the studio. These students gained practical experience in their Introduction to Public Relations class in a recent trip to the Light Energy Dancing studio in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Communication Professor Mike Wallace’s class is partnering with Georgia Ambarian, a five-time world champion dancer and owner of Light Energy Dancing, in creating a non-profit that helps individuals with Parkinson’s Disease and other neurological disorders.

Ambarian believes in a holistic approach using dance techniques to improve the quality of health for those who suffer from these disorders.

“You can use movement therapy to treat a lot of things and I truly believe in the next five to ten years dance as an actual therapy will become very popular,” said Ambarian.

The non-profit status will help Ambarian to write grants and seek other financial support in order to provide the dance classes at no cost.

Wallace’s students have the opportunity to gain real world-experience in setting up, marketing and developing a pubic relations profile for an actual organization. 

Ambarian trained with Dance for PD (Parkinson’s Disease), a New York organization that trains dancers in the techniques of large movement that aids patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Ambarian and her partner Eric Luna will be performing at FSU Panama City on Friday, October 2^nd at 6 p.m. For more information please see Dancing Through Life Unafraid.

For more information on the FSU Panama City professional communication program, please visit our website at pc.fsu.edu and the department webpage.