Watch Capturing Grace

Capturing Grace is a 2014 documentary film directed by David Iverson, starring Brittany Baratz. The film explores the lives of people with Parkinson’s disease and the transformative power of dance in helping them cope with their condition. The documentary focuses on the work of the Mark Morris Dance Group, a renowned dance company in Brooklyn, which has been offering free dance classes for people with Parkinson’s since 2001. The film follows the daily lives of a group of dancers with Parkinson’s who attend these classes, as well as the teachers who instruct them.

Through interviews and footage of the dance classes, the film delves into the challenges that people with Parkinson’s face in performing even simple physical movements, such as walking or reaching for an object. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects a person’s movement and coordination. It can cause tremors, rigidity, and difficulty with balance and coordination. The disease also affects people’s emotional well-being, leading to depression, anxiety, and social isolation.

However, the film demonstrates how dance can help improve the physical and emotional symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The dance classes provide a supportive community of people with Parkinson’s who share similar experiences and challenges. The dance movements help improve balance, coordination, and mobility, while also providing an outlet for self-expression and creativity.

The film also shows the power dynamic of teacher and student in the class, as well as the transformative effect the classes have on those teaching the course. Brittany Baratz is a professional dancer who teaches the class, and the film follows her journey as she develops a deep connection with her students and experiences firsthand the extraordinary impact that dance has on people’s lives.

As the film progresses, the audience sees the bond forming between Brittany and her students, as they not only learn to dance together but also become close friends. The film captures the beginning of their journey, and the physical transformation which moves to an emotional one that takes place in their lives through dance.

The film also shows the influence of the founder of the dance company, Mark Morris, and his role in developing the classes as well as encouraging others to start similar programs globally. The dance classes have changed the lives of many individuals, providing them with a renewed sense of purpose and a sense of joy they thought they had lost.

Overall, Capturing Grace is an inspiring and uplifting documentary that explores the transformative power of dance in the lives of people with Parkinson’s disease. The documentary portrays with utmost dignity and sensitivity the lives of people with Parkinson's, providing a humanizing and insightful lens in which we can see beyond their disease. Through the lens of dance, we are shown that people with Parkinson's can live life to the fullest and experience great joy in the moments that they dance.

Capturing Grace is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.0.