This past Monday I and my wonderful teaching assistant Yolande had the extreme pleasure of giving a dance class to the participants of a PD group from Baycrest.  We were asked by Melissa Tafler ( who coincidentally is the niece of my first DWP student) if we could come to give a demo class for her program participants.  Melissa and I had emailed back and forth and her passion for creating an environment rich in the arts to help with the wellness of her program members was abundantly clear. I was honored to be asked to come and share a little bit of what we do weekly in our DWP classes. The chance to expose new students to the beauty and artistry that they could create with their own bodies is always an absolute gift to be a part of.  There is this moment in the class where the dancer realizes that there are no missed steps, when the dancer gives him or herself the permission to be free from their perceived physical limitations.  It is like for those brief moments when they actually allow the music to transport their minds and bodies something magical happens. The expressions on the faces of the dancers marvelled by their own fluidity is utterly moving.   I love to help facilitate the joy that comes when we  listen to our favorite piece of music. Play something you can’t help but hum aloud and the music, emotion and memory move you physically and spiritually.  There is nothing like it. The permission to move or be still while the music plays.

I am quite certain that the participants in our workshop did enjoy the class and it is always nice to see that they have a lightness in their step and a smile on their face when the class is over. I hope we have been able to inspire the group to put on the music at home and dance like no ones watching.