Quicksilver: New Members, Fresh Techniques
Quicksilver, AFTA's senior improvisational dance troupe, welcomed three new members this year, Gail Frazier, Gloria Buckberg and Betty Shuford. Gloria and Betty came to AFTA as participants in the program Moving Art last fall. They enjoyed their experience so much they decided to join Quicksilver!
The addition of new members gives Quicksilver more opportunities for interaction with participants in their outreach programs for AFTA. Following a recent program at Long Branch Community Center, Program Director Mary Pelz shared her gratitude for AFTA bringing together ethnic groups at the center that do not typically interact. Programs at other partner locations, Rockville Nursing Home and Genesis Senior Center, were equally joyful community-builders, with large groups of participants smiling and engaging in dance with Quicksilver. Since so many AFTA seniors use wheelchairs, teaching artists Anthony Hyatt and Nancy Havlik trained Quicksilver in wheelchair dance techniques developed by Patricia Krauss, former director of Seize The Day, a mixed abilities dance company. This practicum has dramatically increased their confidence and skills.
____________________
Good Things Come in Small Packages
Teaching artist Annetta Dexter Sawyer used the ease of her iPad to share works of the great masters of modern art with participants in her Art for Everyone program at Genesis Senior Center in Rockville, MD. Viewing the artwork on a small screen as they discussed color composition, minimalism, and reductionism gave participants the chance to visualize their artistic ideas. Afterwards, they painted on iPad-sized canvases.
Abstract art created during Art for Everyone
________________________
"I Am Running Into a New Year"
In an Expressive Arts session at Alexandria Adult Day Health Care Center in Virginia, teaching artist Carol Siegel shared Lucille Clifton's poem, "I Am Running Into a New Year". The poem caught the sustained attention of one woman who often has difficulty focusing and communicating. She read the poem out loud repeatedly, entranced with the words. She exclaimed, "These are good words!" while one of the center assistants told Carol she could hardly believe the change that came over her. When it came time for her to personalize the group's poem, she wrote "I am running into a new year/I am not going anywhere, I have grandchildren to take care of!"
____________________
Talent in Our Midst
Teaching artists Nancy Havlik and Miles Spicer report that they have a published poet, Therese, in their Blues and Movement group at Downtown Clusters Geriatric Day Care Center in Washington, DC. Theresa read one of her poems aloud for the group, who created a dance to the poem. Excited by Therese's poetry, the group showed how proud they were of her. One participant, Evelyn, said "She's brilliant!"
At Long Branch Community Center in Silver Spring, MD, Peter Burroughs and Marla Bush discovered a professional flamenco dancer in their La Movida group! When Gladys was a young girl in Bolivia, she studied flamenco at University. Her Spanish mother and Italian father influenced her interest in studying the dances of many cultures. Proving her skills are still strong today, she effortlessly joined Peter in a dance with castanets. At the end of the session, she implored AFTA to come back very soon, saying the dancing "made her feel so alive".
____________________
Year of the Dragon
In February, Arts for the Aging joined the Family Matters Asian Senior Center for a celebration of Chinese New Year. There, the Silver Singers, an original group founded by AFTA teaching artist Anthony Hyatt, performed a traditional Chinese song "Gong Xi Gong Xi", meaning "Good fortune in the New Year".
Arts for the Aging is a leading Washington D.C. metro area service organization delivering visual, musical, performing, literary, and intergenerational arts programs to older adults, especially those with age-related impairments.
# # #
More information about Arts for the Aging can be found at www.AFTAarts.org.
All photos � AFTA
Pioneering Since 1988
Engaging Older Adults in Health Improvement
and Life Enhancement Through the Arts