MOVEMENT SPEAKS® and Dances for Seniors
DANCES FOR SENIORS offers free interactive modern dance performances and participatory workshops to low-income seniors at New York City senior centers. Each program includes 30-minute performances by DVP’s multigenerational company, which encourage audience participation and feature artist-led introductions to explain the work. Following the performance, participatory dance workshops use creative movement, improvisation and personal gesture to introduce modern dance to participants.
Fall 2021 Schedule:
Part Performances and Part Interactive Workshops for older adults of all ages and abilities for individual expression and community empowerment at nine NYC senior centers!
During the Fall 2019 season, Dances For A Variable Population (DVP) will bring DANCES FOR SENIORS, free, community based performances with interactive creative movement for all ages and abilities. Presented by five members of DVP’s multi-generational company and featuring highlights of dances performed in public performances at Washington Square Park, Grant’s Memorial Tomb, Claremont Park and Queensbridge Park, these 75 min community events will feature dances from the styles of modern dance, jazz, flamenco and hip-hop. The performances will be followed by a creative movement and dance experience highlighting moving together in fun and friendship. Adults of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate!
The entire event is designed to be accessible to individuals of all abilities, bringing the power of dance in connecting communities. The performance presents dances from concert stages and social dance; the workshop invites the audience to dive into individual expression and discover new possibilities inspired by our company dancers and seasoned guest artists.
Through performance and a following interactive experience, New Yorkers become participants as well as audience members.
Participants should wear comfortable clothing and shoes for moving!l
“I enjoyed dancing with a partner, connected with someone.” – Participant at Hudson Guild Fulton Center
“The experience of participating in this workshop uplifting- I feel energized to the maximum.” – Participant at JASA Westside Senior Center
“I was so pleased by my group’s reaction to your efforts. I put it down to your skillful manipulation of the choreography for my population, your encouragement and demonstrations of what is possible, and your wider interpretation of what Dance means and can be for them.”-Eugenia Cameron, Activity/Outreach Director, Good Companions Senior Center/Henry Street Settlement
“We thought about dance performance and movement in a new way”- Suzanne Yuen, Director, Mott Street Senior Center