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News, Research & Resources
Join Us for BB4B’s Ten Year Anniversary!
Ballroom Basics for Balance™ (BB4B) is ten years old this year! Join us to celebrate! Please mark your calendars, RSVP, and then come! All are welcome to this FREE event. Saturday 06 April 2024, 11am - 3pm. See schedule below. Madison Senior Center, 330 Mifflin St.,...
What Are the Steps to Better Balance?
What are the steps you can take to improve your balance? Why is dance so good for your balance? Get the answers in this video! Ballroom Basics for Balance can help - come dance with us!
BB4B Founder Featured in Podcast Interviews
Susan was recently interviewed for TWO podcasts about BB4B. Check out our Media/Press page to go to the links and listen, or bring them up on your favorite podcast source. Balance Matters - Episode: "Ballroom Basics for Balance with Susan Frikken" Second Act Fit Pros...
Pilot Effectiveness Study of BB4B Underlines Satisfaction and Confidence
In 2021, dancers from one of our BB4B classes were invited to participate in a study with Dr. Kristen Pickett and her lab at the UW-Madison Kinesiology department examining the effectiveness of our class on many measures, including balance and self-reported confidence...
Foot and ankle characteristics associated with fear of falling and mobility in community-dwelling older people: a cross-sectional study
Pol F, Khajooei Z, Hosseini SM, Taheri A, Forghany S, Menz HB. Summary: Several foot and ankle characteristics are associated with fear of falling and mobility in older people. Targeting these modifiable risk factors may play a role in reducing fear of falling and...
BB4B & PK Silver
The Friday in-person class at the library in Madison, WI was featured in the PK Move community, which has created PK Silver, another super-fun falls-prevention curriculum using Parkour to improve mobility and balance in older adults. Here is the class, practicing a...
Black Power Dance!
We enjoyed Guest Instructor Francis Medrano, who taught his Black Power Dance curriculum to the Madison Senior Center-sponsored Friday morning class at the Madison Central Library. "Francis Medrano is an internationally-toured professional dancer, choreographer,...
Dancing in the Park!
We were fortunate to be found by Wisconsin State Journal photojournalist John Hart, dancing at the park. Come join us!
Video Panel: Community Efforts to reduce Adult Falls in Madison/Dane County
Susan was part of a panel presenting how Madison and Dane County, Wisconsin are addressing falls prevention and promoting programs that improve balance. Click the photo, below, to play the presentation by Fitchburg Access Community Television!
Effects of Single-Task Versus Dual-Task Training on Balance Performance in Older Adults: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial
Patima Silsupadol, PT, PhD, Anne Shumway-Cook, PT, PhD, Vipul Lugade, MS, Paul van Donkelaar, PhD,Li-Shan Chou, PhD, Ulrich Mayr, PhD, Marjorie H. Woollacott, PhDSummary:Dual-task training is effective in improving gait speed under dual-task conditions in elderly...