Feb 1st – March 21st 2024
Discover the joy of dance with our Guest Artist Masterclass Series. Six distinguished teachers bring eight curated classes, enriching the cultural experience for older adults. Foster unity and inclusion through the universal language of dance.
Introducing DVP’s 2024 Guest Artists
Audrey Madison:
Audrey Madison has been a teacher, dancer, and choreographer since she was a teenager. She was an original member of the Charles Moore Dance Theater and has toured the Caribbean as well as the United States. Audrey retired from the New York City Department of Education after thirty-six years of service. She offers modern jazz dance classes for adults who “used to dance and those who always wanted to.” Dedicated and committed members of the class inspired Audrey to create her own company, MoJazz Dance. Additionally, Audrey is thrilled to work with Seniors as a guest artist and choreographer for Dances for a Variable Population.
Modern jazz dance combines movements that incorporate a range of dance styles to form routines of creative self-expression. Our spirits rise as we celebrate the joy of dance!
Alfred Gallman:
Alfred is a celebrated dance artist who has had the privilege of working with some of the giants in the industry, including Pepsi Bethel, Fred Benjamin, Talley Beatty, George Faison, Louis Johnson, and Alvin Ailey. He is an accomplished choreographer, having created over 150 ballets and 25 musicals. He is also the founder of Gallman’s Newark Dance Theatre and School, and his works have been performed in the USA, Europe, South Africa, and even at the White House.
Joao Carvalho:
João Maurício Carvalho, a gymnastics champion in his native Brazil, has a degree in Physical Education from São Paulo University and a B. A. in Dance from Empire State College. In 2015 he became a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Method Practitioner. A Fulbright Scholar, Mr. Carvalho was a member of the Paul Taylor Dance Company for ten years. He was a Choreographic Assistant for the John Boorman film “The Emerald Forest”, in which he also appeared. He was part of John Turturro’s “ Romance And Cigarettes.” João teaches at the Paul Taylor School, Marymount Manhattan College, Eugene Lang College, and various other schools around the world,
Tony Howell:
Tony Howell is director of Dances of the African Diaspora dance workshops and performances. He teaches Dances of the African Diaspora dance classes at Ripley Grier Studios and as a guest artist at DVP (Dances for a Variable Population) and SAGE Bronx.
Mr.Howell earned the MSW (Masters of Social Work) at the GraduateSchool of Social Service at Fordham University, New York, N.Y.(2018) and a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in African Studies and French (2002) at the University of Albany; Albany, N.Y. He is the author of The African Diaspora in Arts and Culture from A to Z (2022) and Ice Does Melt: prose and essay by Anthony Tony Howell (2013)
Sloka Iyengar:
Sloka Iyengar is a dancer and scientist, with a passion for using the arts and the sciences to alleviate suffering. She practices Bharatanatyam, a traditional Indian dance that has a rich vocabulary of narration, storytelling, percussive movements, and an elaborate vocabulary of hand gestures, movements, and rhythmic sequences. As a scientist, Sloka is also interested in the convergence between the arts and the sciences. In addition to continuing her training with her guru, she creates new works that are presented in and around NYC. She is also creating the foundation for using aspects of Bharatanatyam for creative aging.
Sloka will share aspects of Bharatanatyam such as hand gestures, facial expressions, and rhythmic patterns that we can do with our feet. We will also co-choreograph a piece together!
Diane Jacobowitz:
Diane has a distinguished career in teaching, performing, choreography and arts administration. She has taught dance to all ages for over 40 years including 9 years as a professor at Long Island University. Diane choreographed and directed her company, the Diane Jacobowitz Dance Theater for over 15 years.
Diane founded and directed Dancewave, a prominent dance education nonprofit organization for 25 years. She currently focuses her teaching and writing on creative aging, healing, and fitness and has received grants that support her documentary films and creative aging workshops. Diane is a Level 4 Certified Essentrics instructor and an Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT energy medicine practitioner.
2023 Guest Artists
Margaret Yuen – Traditional Chinese Folk Dance
Alfred Gallman – Authentic Classic Jazz
Maisha Thompson – Soul Line Dancing
Kathy Sanson – Salsa for All!
Enjoy this glimpse into DVP’s 2023 Guest Artist Masterclass Series – Authentic Classic Jazz with Alfred Gallman at the Central Harlem Senior Center – Kennedy Site