Grooving for t Junior Parnika Saxena uses dance therapy for her Girl Scout's Gold Award Service Project
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verybody clap your hands. Feel the music. Junior Parnika Saxena has traveled from local senior centers to as far as Nairobi, Kenya, and India to address the therapeutic effects of dance as part of her Gold Award Project. The Gold Award is awarded to Girl Scout seniors and ambassadors who have made a significant impact on their community, and is one of the highest honors a Girl Scout can receive. The process to complete her project was long, from identifying the issue and creating the plan to taking action to educate and inspire. “There's many requirements. You have to have something that can be sustained, and it has to be making a positive impact in many people's lives. You choose what direction you want to take it in but once you decide your project idea you're set up with an advisor,” Saxena said. “In terms of how far to take it, I guess there's no limits.”
Saxena describes why she chose dance as her project. “Dance has scientifically been proven to have therapeutic benefits, both for the body and the mind,” Saxena said. “The purpose of the dance exercise workshops that I initiated at senior centers, rehabilitation centers, and schools was to positively impact both the physical and mental health of those who lacked such opportunities to relax, in a constructive manner.” While at first members of the senior centers were hesitant to participate, they became more comfortable in taking part in the dance after Saxena visited each center a few more times. “To create an inclusive atmosphere, I incorporated upbeat modern music and interactive dance-related games to make members of my workshop feel comfortable,” Saxena said. Saxena has also taken steps to make her workshops accessible to those online.
