Reaching New Heights Through Dance

Jose Gonzalez dutifully follows the modern dance moves demonstrated by professor Delma Iles in a spacious dance studio in the 6000 building at Wolfson Campus.

Gonzalez and two other students leap in unison diagonally across the black floor, holding their arms outstretched. They repeat this and other moves over and over again until they are panting and sweating.

For Gonzalez, 61, the class has improved the quality of his life. He has been dancing with Iles for two semesters to rehabilitate from a brain aneurysm.

“I come to dance because I want to die standing up,” Gonzalez said with a smile.

In November of 2012, a physician found the brain aneurysm, a bulging, weak area in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain.

“I was having headaches and my doctor decided to give me an MRI,” Gonzalez said.

They sent him to a neurologist at Jackson Memorial Hospital and found the aneurysm in his brain. In most cases, brain aneurysms cause no symptoms and go unnoticed.

“It was a miracle that they found mine,” Gonzalez said. “I am lucky to be alive.”

The condition can be fatal. His surgery was planned, right around Thanksgiving that year. After the surgery he spent three weeks at the Ryder Trauma Center. He was extremely weak and had to walk with a cane.

“I had to recreate neural pathways and learn how to walk again,” recalled Gonzalez. “I couldn’t even balance properly. So since I was retired, I decided to register for classes at Miami Dade College.”

Before he retired, Gonzalez worked at Jackson Memorial Hospital as a patient finance specialist in the radiology department. He is single with no kids but, he is close to his extended family which includes many nieces and nephews.

Last semester Gonzalez registered for piano, voice, theory, sight-singing, and modern dance 1. He was tired of being uncoordinated, and believed that dancing would help him regain his strength. He had performed earlier in life and had an affinity for the arts.

“I decided to do this because I did not want to stay home since I am retired,” Gonzalez said. “I wanted to feel active and wanted to improve my health.”

Dancing is difficult for Gonzalez, but he is motivated to continue because he feels the exercise has strengthened his mobility and outlook on life.

“He learned right along with everyone else,” Iles said. “He is very inspirational for me and for everyone else in the class.”

After only one semester of dance classes Iles said Gonzalez’s coordination has improved. He is a welcome presence in the studio. Students love Gonzalez because of his charming personality.

“We all admire him and are very proud of him,” said Paula Vasquez a fellow modern dance 2 student. “We also love his lifestyle.”

Last semester Iles choreographed a performance of the modern dance 1 students in the Magic Toy Shop.

“I decided to do the Magic Toy Shop because I had Jose as the toymaker and the rest of the students as the toys,” lles said.

Gonzalez’s confidence in the arts class has motivated him to pursue a degree in performing arts and seek out other performing opportunities at the College.

“I auditioned for In The Heights last Friday,” Gonzalez said. “I just found out today that I got the part where I will have to sing, dance and act.”