ACE Fellow Spotlight: Christina Soriano and the Power of Dance

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what lifted Miriam from her seat. Maybe it was the familiar refrain of the Jackson Five, tugging at some buried rhythm deep within. Perhaps it was the way her pulse quickened with every lift of her arm. Or maybe it was the sight of her husband, David, shifting from one foot to the other, his arms flailing with abandon – his body an angular symphony in motion, yet always in perfect sync with the steady thrum of the music. 

Throughout the class, Miriam had remained seated, her gaze wandering, her mind adrift while others revelled in the spontaneous dance of the moment. Just getting here had taken so much effort: the slow, deliberate journey from the car to the lobby of the Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness, up the ramp, past the open doors of the theatre, where Motown greats crooned of respect and grapevines. David, patient as ever, guided her every step as she leaned heavily on her cane and his arm, until they reached the circle of chairs – the two empty seats waiting just for them. Miriam’s breath, heavy with exertion, was the only evidence of her struggle—yet here she was, ready to join in.

As the others moved their bodies through increasingly complex improvisations – from simple arm lifts to fluid leg swings – Miriam remained still, more spectator than participant. She breathed deeply, eyes soft, raising a hand now and then, but her body remained anchored to the chair. By the penultimate song, most had risen from their seats, and the space around them pulsed with movement. They laughed as they tried to keep up with the rhythm, each new cue a playful challenge. They exchanged winks and smiles as they maneuvered around one another, weaving through the chairs, strutting in or out of tempo. It didn’t matter. They were holding space for each other while owning their own. 

Time seemed to stretch and compress, and all at once, for a moment at least, every worry, every ache,left behind. As Michael Jackson’s silky tenor rose–Ooh, baby, give me one more chance–Miriam caught David’s eye. Slowly, she reached out, and without missing a beat, his hands found hers. Her knees wobbled, her shoulders quivered with uncertainty, but trust, built over years of shared history, steadied her. She stood tall, eyes alight, a faint smile blossoming, as she and David swayed together with the music. 

Won’t you please let me back in your heart?

The Power of Movement

Why do we dance? What does it do for our well-being? What happens when we move freely, finding our own rhythm in movements that don’t demand perfection, but invite creativity and play? And what if those movements, rooted in the moment, foster connection and belonging? 

These are the questions Christina Soriano and her IMPROVment team seek to explore. On Tuesday afternoons, Christina, a professor of Dance and NIH-funded researcher at Wake Forest University, leads an improvisational dance class at the Intergenerational Center, just a short distance from campus. This free class, open to the Winston-Salem community, combines neuroscience-based movement with creativity to enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of all participants—regardless of age or ability.

As an alum of the ACE Fellows program at Wake Forest, Soriano connects students to the power of community-based learning. Through this initiative, students are invited to take the theories they explore in the classroom and apply them in real-world contexts, experiencing firsthand the impact of their work within the communities they serve. The best part? It’s a two-way exchange: the community benefits, certainly, but the students gain a deeper understanding of our shared humanity and an appreciation for the transformative power of service. 

As one of Soriano’s student researchers, Ziqi Huang (WFU ’27), puts it: “I’ve always valued the elements in creative arts, especially theater and dance, and I think I would like to apply what I know into different communities to make big or small contributions. I really enjoy working with elder people and getting to know them, and I enjoy the energy in the room. It’s just fun!”

The Science Behind the Dance

Back in 2010, as a junior faculty member with little experience working with older adults, Christina teamed up with a professor of physical therapy at Winston-Salem State University to investigate how modern dance might help improve mobility in older adults living with Parkinson’s disease. The class began with basic modern dance techniques, but soon, Soriano introduced improvisational movement into the sessions. It didn’t take long for her to see the change.

“The community loved it, thrived with it, and just sparkled when they knew they had the opportunity to be creative, inventive, and self-generative. And it was freeing, right? A lot of the other technical exercises were about trying to look like the teacher. But this? This was the eureka moment that taught us: this is what we need to lean into.”

Improvisation

When Soriano and her mentor presented this work at Wake Forest’s Translational Science Center, they caught the attention of neuroscientist Dr. Christina Hugenschmidt from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, sparking a new collaboration. With funding from local, state, and national organizations, they launched the IMOVE clinical trials, to explore how improvisational dance and movement affect brain function. Using fMRI technology, the team scanned participants’ brains before and after the intervention, searching for evidence of new neural connections. 

Upon completing the trials, participants were invited to join the ongoing community-based IMPROVment classes—like the one Miriam and David now attend regularly. However, when the pandemic disrupted in-person sessions, the team pivoted to Zoom-based interventions.

The Future of IMPROVment

The online classes, though challenging, led to a new research question: if dance is medicine, how often should we take it? 

Their current study, IGROOVE, aims to answer that question by examining the dosage of dance. Another goal is to develop an IMPROVment app that allows homebound individuals to access the benefits of improvisational movement, no matter where they are. Participants wear heart rate monitors and complete surveys about their well-being. The study has also expanded to include a variety of dance forms—tango, West African dance, ballet—alongside improvisational modern dance. 

Could dance offer preventative benefits for older adults noticing cognitive decline but not yet diagnosed? Might improvisational movement emerge as the most effective form of “medicine” for the aging brain?

Passing the Energy

At the end of each IMPROVment class, participants “pass the energy” around the circle, each person stepping into the role of choreographer while others follow their lead. Energy flows, smiles bloom, and laughter fills the room. No two classes are alike, but there is always a sense of freedom —simply moving in the moment, without expectation.

Soriano’s IMPROVment team has grown, and the work continues. Regardless of what the lab results show, the impact on the community-based engagement is clear: the community loves it, Wake Forest students love it, and as one participant said, “I’m just gonna keep pushing myself to stick with this group.” 

Because when we pass the energy, we truly feel it—inside and out. In IMPROVment, Ooh, baby, everyone gets one more chance to shine.

Want to Try It for Yourself?

Join Christina in a Zoom IMPROVment class or join a community class on Tuesday afternoons. See the attached flyer for details.

Have an Idea for Community-Based Learning?

Apply to join the next cohort of ACE Fellows in fall 2025 by May 15! Selected fellows will receive $2,000 toward your project and join a network of over 100 Wake Forest ACE Fellows making transformative, community-driven change.