Dances For A Variable Population, founded in 2009 by Artistic Director Naomi Goldberg Haas, is a multigenerational dance company and educational organization committed to promoting strong and creative movement among older adults of all abilities, enabling them to build creativity, improve their mental and physical health, strengthen social connections and enhance their quality of life. Through classes, dance workshops and performances, using the power of dance, we build community, creating lively, fun and beautifully executed theatrical dance with diverse individuals and professional dancers.
Serving over 2,500 older adults throughout NYC annually with classes and performances.
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 (Manhattan), Yolanda Garcia Park (Bronx), Prospect Park (Brooklyn) and Queensbridge Park (Long Island City) 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, senior centers and over zoom. Our city-wide Dances For Seniors, performance/interactive workshop program is held every fall since 2010.
Though our programs, DVP provides performance and training opportunities for older professional dancers and choreographers.
Board of Directors
Joyce Steinglass, Chair
Frances Sadler, Treasurer
Mary Doty, Secretary
Naomi Goldberg Haas
Dorothy Kaslow
Elspeth Macdonald
Kathryn Grody
Judy Rogers
