Founded in 2005 by dancer / choreographer/ master teacher Naomi Goldberg Haas, DVP is a multi-generational dance company and educational organization promoting strong and creative movement among all people with a special focus on older adults. Using the power of dance to build community, DVP creates lively, fun and beautifully executed theatrical dance with diverse individuals and professional dancers.
DVP is recognized for its free site-related professional dance performances in city parks and transportation hubs. Highlights include”REVIVAL” at Grant’s Memorial Tomb, Prospect Park and Queensbridge Park with annual performances since 2017, connecting legendary artists and neighborhood older adults, “The Phoenix Project” at the New York Botanical Garden in 2016; “Solstice Steps” at West Harlem Piers Park in 2014; “Roundup” in Times Square in 2012; “Autumn Crossing,” the first commissioned dance on the High Line in 2010; along with other recent performances in Hudson River Park, Battery Park City, Washington Square Park, on Governors Island, and in the Whitehall Ferry Terminal. Touring residencies and performances have included the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival; PS 21 in Chatham, NY; the International Contemporary Dance Festival in Poland and the Chutzpah Festival Festival in Vancouver BC.
DVP has also developed a distinctive class and free dance workshop program appropriate for older adults of all ages and abilities. Year round Movement Speaks® sessions are regularly held in libraries and senior centers. Our city-wide Dances For Seniors, performance/interactive workshop program is held every fall since 2008. On an ongoing basis, DVP’s Variable Pop® Dance and Fitness, along with Modern Dance for the Older Dancer are currently held at University Settlement, the the Harkness Dance Center at the 92nd Street Y and STEPS on Broadway at 74th street.
Though our programs, DVP provides performance and training opportunities for older professional dancers and choreographers.
Board of Directors
Deborah Thornhill, Chair
Frances Sadler, Treasurer
Mary Doty, Secretary
Naomi Goldberg Haas
Elspeth Macdonald
Kathryn Grody