Empowering Communities Through Creative Aging Education
At Dances for a Variable Population (DVP), we believe in the transformative power of dance to promote health, connection, and creativity at every stage of life. Our education programs are designed to equip professionals with the skills, knowledge, and tools to bring the benefits of movement and creative aging to their communities.
Whether you're a healthcare provider, social worker, or dance educator, our training options provide hands-on experience and proven techniques to engage older adults through dance.
Introductory Teacher Training Program
Join us for a transformative 3-day training designed for dance professionals eager to bring the power of movement to older adults of all abilities. This in-person training is based on DVP’s award-winning MOVEMENT SPEAKS® model, equipping you with the skills to lead creative aging programs in your own community.
Led by Artistic Director Naomi Goldberg Haas and DVP’s expert teaching artists, this immersive training provides hands-on learning, live class observations, and guided teaching practice with older adults.
Why Join This Training?
Gain a functional understanding of aging and movement
Learn to debunk myths about physical activity for older adults
Receive hands-on training in DVP’s MOVEMENT SPEAKS® model
Understand how dance fosters positive aging
Practice leading exercises & engaging older adult students
Get personalized feedback from DVP’s expert team
Who is the Program for?
This program is designed for dance professionals interested in leading creative aging programs. Ideal candidates will have:
Proficiency in a dance or movement art (ballet, jazz, hip-hop, Latin, etc.)
Experience with improvisation and adaptive movement
A passion for working with older adults
Bilingual dancers encouraged to apply!
Basic knowledge of functional anatomy (preferred)
Training Details
Dates: Jan 10th - 12th, 2026
Location: NYC
Address: TBD
MOVEMENT SPEAKS® Teacher Training Nov 2023 at Alvin Ailey studios
Tuition & Registration
Program Fee: $1200
Early Bird Pricing until Dec 20th: $1000
Scholarships & work-study options are available –
contact miriam@dvpnyc.org for details.
Meet the Instructors
Naomi Goldberg Haas
NAOMI GOLDBERG HAAS is the founding Artistic Director of Dances for a Variable Population (DVP) since 2005, which promotes strong & creative movement among adults of all ages and abilities. DVP’s model of community creative aging education program MOVEMENT SPEAKS® has served 5000 older adults in NYC and is a model in best practices for creative aging in community-based performance and education programs for older adults. Goldberg Haas has been a leader in the field of creative aging, starting with founding the successful intergenerational and mixed-ability dance company, Los Angeles Modern Dance & Ballet (1990- 2004). She danced with Pacific Northwest Ballet and holds an MFA from Tisch Dance/NYU. Goldberg Haas received the LMCC President’s Award for Performing Arts (2014), served on the Age Friendly Media, Arts & Culture Working Group (2015–2018), and received the DANCE USA 2019–20 Fellowship for Artists addressing Social Change. In 2024, she was recognized by NSDEA with an Award for Lifetime Impact on Dance Education and in 2025 she published a memoire on MOVEMENT SPEAKS® and her disability, working with University of Florida Press called “Moving through Life: Essential Lessons of Dance.
Miriam Grill
Miriam Grill is the Program and Events Manager for Dances for a Variable Population (DVP). A choreographer, performer, and social dance teacher for over two decades, she has taught Lindy Hop, Blues, and Vernacular Jazz internationally, touring, leading workshops, and earning top competition placements across North America and Asia. She holds a Master’s in Theatre Directing from Columbia University and has directed acclaimed global productions, including the award-winning film Heirloom starring Norm Lewis and the groundbreaking AI project Frankenstein AI at the Sundance Film Festival. Her movement consulting includes work with Cirque du Soleil’s The House of Dancing Waters in Macau, and she has contributed to more than ten Broadway productions. A CUNY professor twice honored with the Excellence in Teaching Award, Grill also founded a university theater department in China and led community engagement at La MaMa Theatre. Her expertise in inclusive practice uniquely equips her to train teaching artists in adaptive dance methodologies.
Elissaveta Iordanova
Elissaveta Iordanova, M.S., MFA, MA is New York State Licensed Creative Arts therapist, and ADTA Board-Certified Dance/Movement Therapist. (DMT) She obtained her clinical professional experience as a full-time dance/movement therapist at Maimonides Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, NY. Prior to that she had conducted DMT sessions for seniors with Dementia, Veterans, and people at-large. Elissaveta has a private practice in NY (Inspired Creative Arts Therapy) since 2017. With her extensive experience in both cultural, and modern dance, she bridges Eastern and Western aesthetics and practices. She uses Argentinian Tango in her DMT sessions with couples as well. Additionally, for the past 19 years, Elissaveta leads a dance company ELEA GORANA DANCE COLLECTIVE and has been supported with numerous grants for her creative work by LMCC and Tienaderrah Foundation. Elissaveta maintains private practice in movement, health and wellness for the Hasidic community of women and adolescent girls in Kyrias Joel, NY for more 13 years now. She has been a returning presenter at ADTA, NDEO conferences, as well as DMT student’s supervisor for Pratt Institute.
