Dances For A Variable Population

Free Senior and Adult Programs

MOVEMENT SPEAKS® and Dances for Seniors

Focused on inspiring strong and creative movement among adults of all ages and abilities, our free programs are the heart of Dances For A Variable Population’s work.  Based on the core values of appreciating one’s own body and moving with other people, the programs promote greater mobility, self-confidence, physical awareness, social interaction, expressiveness in movement, and a greater sense of meaning.  We start by acknowledging each individual’s history and take each participant forward from that place.

FALL 2019 Schedule of all sites MOVEMENT SPEAKS® programs!

WEST HARLEM, Manhattan: George Bruce Library

WEST HARLEM, Manhattan: PSS Manhattanville

WEST HARLEM, Manhattan: ABSW Senior Center

WEST HARLEM, Manhattan:  The Center at Red Oak

CENTRAL HARLEM, Manhattan:  Central Harlem Senior Center, Kennedy Center site

CENTRAL HARLEM, Manhattan: Beatrice Lewis Senior Center

CENTRAL HARLEM, Manhattan: Canaan Senior Center

CENTRAL HARLEM, Manhattan: St Nicholas Senior Center

UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan: Goddard Riverside Senior Center

CHINATOWN/NOLITA, Manhattan: Mott Street Senior Center

WEST VILLAGE, Manhattan: Tony Dapolito Recreation Center

UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan:  Webster Library

LONG ISLAND CITY, Queens: Queensbridge Riis Senior Center

CARROL GARDENS, Brooklyn: Eileen Dugan Senior Center

CLAREMONT VILLAGE, Bronx: William Hodson Senior Center

 

Dances For Seniors Fall 2019 Schedule as of 10-20

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

LOCATIONS AND DATES:

zenladies-57smaller

Since 2008, DVP has worked with over 45 senior centers and senior oriented institutions. Each year, we typically visit 10-12 centers with our Dances For Seniors programs and run our signature Movement Speaks programs at 12-14 additional sites citywide.

classesbackground_slider

MOVEMENT SPEAKS®

MOVEMENT SPEAKS® offers seniors in low-income communities free sequential dance instruction followed by a public performance of their original work. Ranging in length from 10 to 36 weeks, each 75-minute session typically includes warm-up and dance exercises for seated and standing participants; individual and group dance improvisation; memorization of basic movement phrases; and cool-down. Throughout the program, students will create movement in preparation for culminating performances, which take place at the workshop site or in the surrounding community. The program operates in libraries and senior centers citywide.

“Before I started I was very heavy, 300 pounds at 5’5. As we participated in the dance, my weight started coming down, my diabetes settled down and I’m doing so much better. I love this program to death. It’s very challenging. You’re challenging yourself; you’re challenging your mind. This dance class has saved my life.” – Participant, Citizens Care Senior Center, Harlem

“Although I had danced “a while ago” I developed a new spirit here in extending creatively legs, arms, head, shoulders, fingers, knees and toes. We were able to engage one another with positive “can do” statements. I truly am passionate what this project does, what it promotes and the joy it engenders!”- Participant, Central Harlem Senior Center, Harlem

“The program attracted me since I have had a double hip replacement and I don’t walk enough. The doctor said I need to move more. I really liked the idea of since it was a different kind of movement besides walking.” –Participant, George Bruce Library, West Harlem

“Before Movement Speaks I was sort of unsure about everything, now I feel my world is my oyster.” –Participant, George Bruce Library, West Harlem

“I love that we are all in this together; it’s a shared experience of dancing amongst all of us.”  – Participant, Central Harlem Senior Center

“I like that I come here and do what I CAN. I focus on what I can do and not what I can’t.”- Participant, Central Harlem Senior Center

“It’s for any level of learning or body movement. If I cannot do the movements that day standing, its no big deal I just sit with the others who take part from the chairs.”- Participant, George Bruce Library, West Harlem

“I have always felt that I had a dancing heart, but I couldn’t do anything about it before. Now it’s my time and I will dance.” – Participant, George Bruce Library, West Harlem

harlem_cropped

 

DANCES FOR SENIORS

Dances For Seniors Fall 2018 ALL SITES Flyer

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 2018 Schedule:  WEDNESDAYS Oct 3- Dec 5th

Oct. 3 – 1:30- 3pm
ABSW Senior Center
221 West 107th Street
New York, NY 10025

Oct. 10 – 1:30 – 3:00pm
YM-YWHA of Washington Hts.
54 Nagle Avenue
New York, NY 10040

Oct. 17 – 2:00- 3:30pm
Jackie Robinson Senior Center
1301 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10027

Oct 24-10:30 – 11:45am
Park Slope Center for Successful Aging
463A 7th Street (just off 7th Avenue)
Brooklyn, NY 11215

Oct. 31 – 1:30 – 3pm
Bartow Senior Center, JASA
2049 Bartow Avenue, Rm 31
Bronx, NY 10475

Nov 7- 1:00 – 2;30pm
JASA Club 76
120 West 76th st, 3rd Fl.
New York NY 10023

Nov. 14 – 1:30pm
Riverside Church of New York
490 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10027

Nov 28 – 1:30 – 3 pm
Penn South Program for Seniors
290 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10001

Dec. 5th – 1:30- 3pm
Einstein Senior Center, JASA
135 Einstein Loop
Bronx, NY 10475

“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

 

 

Follow Us On Social Media

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to keep up with classes and upcoming events.

Donate

Help Support DVP Donate Today