CLAIM YOUR SPOT NOW FOR WINTER IN-PERSON TERM, VANCOUVER, BC
Collaborative Creative Dance for Older Adults
WEST POINT GREY/ ABERTHAU FREE SESSIONS START Jan 12, 2024. Join anytime!
REGISTER HERE >>>
Collaborative Creative Dance for Older Adults with Desirée Dunbar
Fridays 12:30-2pm
In-Person Only
West Point Grey Community Centre
Free
Starts Jan 12, 2024
REGISTER HERE >>>
“I have happily participated in Desiree’s creative/collaborative dance classes for several years at the West Point Grey Community Center. It is a joy to be in her class both in person and online. She has greatly enhanced my overall health both physically and spiritually.
She has soothed and strengthened my inner soul. Desiree kindles a very positive energy in all her students. She is a creative and caring teacher. Dance enhances humanity and is one of the most positive forms of human expression.”
Take a creative journey...
Watch this excerpt from our FRIDAY WORKSHOP SERIES AT ABERTHAU MANSION
Wondering how Collaborative Dance will positively change all areas of your life? Hear Garrick’s story below!
See you soon!
And… we still have a few spaces left for our Trout lake Series! Welcoming you. Register below.
Collaborative Creative Dance for Older Adults with Desirée Dunbar
Mondays 12:30-2pm in-person @ Trout Lake CC
Cost: $47.15
Started Jan 15, 2024
REGISTER HERE >>>
“While stuck at home during this pandemic, Desiree’s online dance class has been my Friday lifeline to normalcy, hopefulness, and social connection. Her fun dance class helps me to sustain well being during these challenging times.”
“The Zoom Creative and Collaborative Dance classes have been a “life-line” for re-gaining a sense of calm and connectedness to others. After class, I feel better physically, mentally and emotionally as well as having a stronger sense of community. We are alone, yet together at the same time!”
Since the Pandemic, Desirée Dunbar has gathered her older adult dance community to foray into a special DIS-DANCING workshop to cultivate compassion and creativity through integration of body, mind and spirit.
Watch this Rose Embodiment Process from a recent workshop below.
MADE POSSIBLE BY WEST POINT GREY COMMUNITY CENTRE, VANCOUVER PARKS BOARD & DEZZA DANCE NON-PROFIT
“Desiree has developed online dance classes that are welcoming, inclusive and engaging; she has encouraged us as individuals and as a group to continue to learn, to be creative, expressive, and, above all, to have fun as we bring our individual points of view forward. It is one of the highlights of my shelter-in-place week to attend these online dance classes.”
“I have tried various dance videos and much prefer a live class that is interactive. When I close my eyes, I feel that Desiree and all the dancers are right with me. The on-line classes are perfect for those who have transportation issues or out of town. For some first-time participants, they could feel a greater sense of comfort being in their own space.
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“Desirée’s professional expertise as a dance artist and educator, plus her enthusiasm and encouragement is amazing. I find her dance classes extremely worthwhile as they encompass all that a community centre dance program should be. Her classes promote health (in all aspects), creativity, joy, friendship, and collaboration for older adults of all ages, abilities and cultures in a very fun, safe, encouraging and supportive environment.”
Tannis on her Collaborative Creative Dance journey
“It takes a very special skill both as a dancer and understanding of community dance to create and build on an atmosphere of trust and self expression. As an older adult, not only have been able to improve my flexibility and strength, but also to connect with others through movement. I leave Desirée’s class feeling more peaceful, refreshed and looking forward to our next class. I would highly recommend these classes to anyone – dance skill is not required, just a willingness to move.”
“I love the seniors dance program with Desiree Dunbar on Fridays! I am 72 years old, and it is wonderful to find a program where I can move to music, within my own capabilities. It is fun to play with movement, and to be creative with a group of like minded folks. I enjoy the camaraderie as much as the movement- no one judges, and we all enjoy ourselves. Lots of laughter and hugs.”
Biography
Visionary. Community-builder. Dance Artist.
Desirée Dunbar is award winning Dance Artist and known for dancing in principal roles of over twenty new works by esteemed Canadian choreographers including Serge Bennathan, Anik Bouvrette, Santee Smith and David Earle while with Judith Garay’s, Dancers Dancing Repertory Company (Vancouver) from 2000- 2015. She and was featured on the front page of the Dance Current Magazine.
Ms. Dunbar created Dezza Dance in 2013 and has since then brought over twenty emerging professional dancers through Catalyst Mentorship Program, presented over fifteen emerging choreographers in the annual showcase, Leg Up! in partnership with Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre and created five full evening works featuring live string music that reached over 800 audience members.
A lead artist and facilitator with Arts & Health, Healthy Aging Through the Arts, Ms. Dunbar since 2015, she provides weekly workshops and performing opportunities for older adults 55+ in Collaborative Creative Dance.
One of few Canadians to teach the traditional Martha Graham Modern Dance technique, she has had the honour of instructing at various schools including Simon Fraser University, Arts Umbrella, University of Arizona, Centre National de la Danse (Paris, France) and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance (London, UK).
Dezza Dance had the honour of presenting Miki Orihara, Bessie Award winning Martha Graham Dance Company member (New York City/ Japan) May 19, 2019 at the Orpheum Annex. Ms. Dunbar shared the program with an excerpt of intergenerational work Deep Roots with Rachel Helten, Garrick Jang, Linda Rosenheck Juan Villegas, music by Martin Reisle and art projection by Eze Peralta.
Prior to the founding of the organization, Desirée has been an active community builder since 2004 where she partnered with Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre to produce dance concerts and dance programs that brought emerging, professional and cultural dancers together. She is the founder of LINK Community Dance Showcase still going strong over a decade later at the Roundhouse Community & Arts Centre.
Recently incorporated as a non-profit society in August, 2018, Dezza Dance was pleased to receive support from Deux Mille Foundation for their Dance Residency Project at West Point Grey Community Centre.
Follow her on Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/dezzadance & @ www.dezzadance.com/about-desiree
Enhance your creativity and move your body...
“Desirée is intuitive and supportive. She is a talented dancer with a successful dance company, yet she loves being with us. What a gift she is! When you are a senior and you find a younger, dynamic person who loves being with you, it is life affirming. ”
Hear more about linda's creative journey now in the video below.
“Their dance is immediate, improvisational, and passionate. Rather than dancing to music, they become it as they channel the eclectic soundtracks provided by lead artist Desirée Dunbar - from Neil Young to classical orchestral symphonies. The spacious room in which they move becomes a forest, or a scene of creation, or an overcrowded elevator. ”
Hear how Garrick's creative journey has impacted all areas of life in the video below.
Tap into your inner playful and artistic self...
Join Desirée Dunbar in this collaborative creative dance workshop
Enjoy spontaneous movement exercises to eclectic & inspiring music
More about Desirée over here >>>
Made possible by Arts & Health Project for Healthy Aging, West Point Grey Community Centre & Trout lake Community Centre
“With the passing of my 95 year old father I have used some of the meditation and energy healing and stress reduction exercises learned in class to help comfort my father in his final days.”
CREATIVITY/ COMMUNITY/ CARING/ COLLABORATION
PHOTO:BERNDA KENT | TROUT LAKE CC
Where, When & How
Trout Lake Community Centre
Mondays 12:30-2pm in Grandview Room
REGISTER in-person, by phone or on-line
3360 Victoria Dr, Vancouver, BC V5N 4M4
(604) 257-6955
https://ca.apm.activecommunities.com/vancouver/Activity_Search
We greatly aknowledge this as a subsidized program by Trout lake Community Association and thankful to Arts & Health Project for initiating the project in Sept 2015.
West Point Grey Community Centre
Fridays 12:30-2pm in Oak Room
Free (registration required)
REGISTER in-person, by phone or on-line
4397 W 2nd Ave, Vancouver, BC V6R 1K4
(604) 257-8140
https://ca.apm.activecommunities.com/vancouver/Activity_Search
We greatly aknowledge this as a subsidized program by West Point Grey Community Centre and previously an Arts & Health Project initiative.
“Deeply engaged, they move, invent, compose and choreograph every Monday afternoon at Trout Lake Community Centre. Dogs and their owners stroll by the windows, oblivious to the large themes being investigated in the sunny spacious room inside – topics such as gratitude, beginnings, and opposites.”
LINK Community Dance Showcase 2017
Beginnings (2017)
Older Adults Creative Collaborations Class
Trout Lake Community Centre
Oh Mother (2017)
Older Adults Creative Collaborations Class
West Point Grey Community Centre
PHOTO: BRENDA KENT | TROUT LAKE CC
Watch part of our Trout Lake class above
HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?
We now have weekly classes to either pre-reigseter for (10 weeks sessions) or to drop-in to. Mondays at Trout Lake Community Centre and Fridays at West Point Grey Community Centre. Both are from 12:30-2pm.
To register call:
Trout Lake Community Centre | 604-257-6955
West Point Grey Community Centre | 604-257-8140
Joining Older Adults Creative Collaborations is for you if:
You're looking for a weekly, fun activity
Want more creative expression in your life
Love music
Want to enhance creativity
You are willing to be curious, playful & joyful
You enjoy being with creative, kind & adventurous folks
You see the importance in continuing to move your body
WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO DO?
We will meditate, stretch, move, learn steps, memorize phrases, co-create dances, discuss art, learn hands on healing techniques to heal yourself and others and have fun!
Move at your own pace. Healing an injury or working with pain? This is an opportunity to bring skillful awareness to healthy alignment of your body and how to create healthy movement patterns. You will find yourself getting gradually stronger, more flexible and agile.
This isn't a workout class- it's a creative and artistic experience... but you will find you get your heart rate up and that you stretch, lengthen and tone your muscles.
Don't worry we won't be moving the entire time. There are lots of times we are sitting on chairs and stretching or taking water and chat breaks or pausing to watch a group and discuss what we saw.
I always ask that you move at your best pace and adjust anything for your own body. Please let me know if you are working with injury, pain or trauma. I'm here to help.
WHAT DO I WEAR?
Good question! No tutus or special shoes required. Be your self and wear any comfy clothes that allow you to move freely. Layers are helpful to adjust to temperature changes. Sometimes we are still and sometimes we are moving more.
Bare feet, cotton socks or runners are all great options.
Bring a water bottle. You'll get thirsty.
THANK-YOU TO DAVID COOPER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY