Below are two questionnaires dance anywhere invited the public to respond to regarding individual experiences with this year’s event. The first was answered by Greacian Goeke, who organized a dance anywhere event, and the second by Louise Moises Donleavy, who joined her.

#1: GREACIAN (RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA, USA)

Who are you? “The Impromptu No Tutu Ensemble are dancers age 50-90+ celebrating our lives through movement, music and percussion. Our mission is to open the horizons of dance for all ages. Artistic Director Greacian Goeke is an Orff Schulwerk movement and music teaching artist who nurtures creative expression in preschoolers, elders and students in between. She also dances with the USF intergenerational company Dance Generators, and teaches T’ai Chi Ch’uan in the East Bay.”

Where did you hear about dance anywhere? By chance I brought my No Tutu class to the Oakland Museum two years ago. The admissions desk asked if we were there for Dance Anywhere Day. They said dancers had performed at noon outside and gave me an announcement card. Our group was very inspired by this idea and continued in the same spirit inside the galleries that day. We also made a plan to participate in the event the following year. Now it’s a core tradition for our group. We are also dedicated to promoting elder flash mobs and dance opportunities throughout the year.

What is your occupation? I am a movement and music teaching artist, writer, editor and arts instigator.

If so, how does your dance anywhere experience relate to your regular dance practice / work? Dance Anywhere is a yearly tradition that brings together my various elder dance classes and ensembles into a joyful and public sharing of our love of dance. This year we were lucky to collaborate with a group of seniors from Richmond, CA who are in a gospel choir led by Laura Sherman and LaJuana Clark. Dancing to live music brought out more expression in everyone. Even more than before I am looking at public places and spaces with an eye to making a dance there or organizing a flash mob of elder dancers.

Where did you dance? On the wide grass median strip of Adeline Street, near Ashby, across from the Berkeley Musical Instrument Exchange and near the Berkeley Bowl.

Please describe the dance you did… Our Umbrella Dance was dedicated to Bay Area dance pioneer Anna Halprin, in the spirit of her public participatory performances. We had already planned to use umbrellas in our dance when I attended the February performance of Halprin’s Parades and Changes at the University Art Museum. I had forgotten that a segment of that dance used umbrellas!

Basic Umbrella Dance Score for Improvisation

Choir in a semi-circle and dancers form longways set

Opening: Umbrella Promenade

Song: O Happy Day
In a “wave” each facing pair makes an uplifting shape together

Song: Wade in the Water
Facing pairs step into the river with umbrella and cross to the other side (switching places)

Song: Think of Me, Forget Me Not
Each partner pair goes down the “”alley”” in a duet

Umbrella Shapes (to Wade in the Water)
Facing one side, then other, of Adeline Street, make large unison movements with the umbrellas, faces hidden. Final shape is umbrella on the ground, hold handle and dance around it.

The Big Tent
All gather toward the center, umbrellas touching overhead. People peel off and dance away solo across the lawn.

Did you have an audience? If yes, how did they respond? Cars honked and passengers waved, people stopped on the sidewalk to watch, some came over to the median to watch more closely, various people photographed us and one pair of picnickers spontaneously joined in the dance with us!

Any interesting comments or quotes from the audience? “Who are you?” “This is so joyful!” “Can I join the group?” “Where are your classes?”

Who participated with you? Members of my No Tutu elder movement classes from both Albany Senior Center and Stagebridge Senior Theatre Company. Singers from the Richmond SNAP Choir accompanied our dancing.

Did anyone unexpected join you? Two women who were picnicking on the median (as many people do after visiting the Berkeley Bowl) asked what was happening and were delighted to join us when we said we had extra umbrellas. They were wonderful dancers and improvisers. It turns out that they were choreography partners in college (but not working together currently). This was a return to their dancing days together and they definitely made the most of it!

How did your dance anywhere 2013 experience affect you? I was elated by the large turnout, the buoyant spirit of all the dancers and singers, the colorful images we created, the gorgeous weather. It was just what I had envisioned, only better! It confirmed my goal an artist to create opportunities to share the exuberance (as well as introspection) of elder dancers. We immediately knew we want to do this dance again, incorporating the choir and the dancers. We are in the process of deciding on a site, probably a senior center or residence, where we can do an adapted version and involve the residents. Participants have already acquired additional umbrellas in more colors, to be ready for the next occasion! This piece feels like something that can be further developed and adapted to a variety of settings and occasions.

Would you recommend dance anywhere to your friends? It’s such a simple way to bring dance into your everyday life. Everyone can participate. Who knows, it could start something bigger.

Do you have any upcoming performance, shows or events? We plan to do this performance again at least once before March 2014 and will keep Dance Anywhere informed when the date is set. We’re open to venue suggestions.

I’m dancing in a concert with the USF intergenerational dance company, Dance Generators, titled Time Signature of Water, this Friday, April 19, 7pm, at University of San Francisco, in the Studio Theatre, 2800 Turk Blvd., Lone Mountain Campus, San Francisco (free). Nina Serrano, a member of my No Tutu ensemble, is a guest artist in the concert and will be reading poetry that we have created dances to.

#2: LOUISE (RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA, USA)

Who are you? Hi, I am a 68 year old, active semi-retired woman who has always loved to dance. I met my second husband on the dance floor in 2004 and we were married in 2005. We dance 2 to 4 nights a week: ballroom, west coast swing, country two step and zydeco. I had just joined the wonderful solo improvisational dance class under the direction of Greacian Goeke in Richmond, CA, when the Dance Anywhere Event took place, so I joined in. It was a very rewarding experience.

Where did you hear about dance anywhere? I heard about Dance Anywhere from my improvisational dance teacher, Greacian Goeke and she organized our dance anywhere performance.

What is your occupation? I am a self-employed seller of rare books. My book business was started with my deceased husband in 1975. We had an open street location in San Francisco until the fall of 2002, when we moved the business to our home. Unfortunately, my husband died in Jan. 2003. I know sell books on line from my home.

Is dance a regular part of your life? When my husband died, I had not danced in a class in 40 years and had not social danced except at weddings. I did dance around the house. When he died I returned to an activity that I had loved as a teenager and in college. I started with Belly Dancing, then ballroom. I met my second husband at a dance lesson. When he proposed the only prenup that I required was that we would “keep dancing”. We have been to numerous West Coast Swing and Country Dance conventions and we have been taking lessons and dancing together since March 2004. We dance 2 to 4 nights a week and now I’m delighted to be part of the improvisational dance class.”

If so, how does your dance anywhere experience relate to your regular dance practice / work? The dance anywhere event was part of my desire to express myself and expanded my experience from the newly joined improvisational dance class. I loved the meeting other dancers at the event and bringing the joy of dancing to the public. I am a performer at heart and have given public speeches, one woman puppet shows and studied drama. So this experience worked into the things I have always loved doing.

Where did you dance? We danced in a median strip of lawn and trees at Ashby and Adeline streets in Berkeley California.

Please describe the dance you did… About 20 of us gathered with a small, community gospel choir providing background music. Our teacher, Greacian Goeke asked us to where solid color tops with dark colored bottoms and bring colorful umbrellas. After the group arrived we practiced for about 15 minutes a simple routine that also involved improvisation. We danced to “”Oh Happy Day””, Wading in the Water and an other song. We used the entire length of the median to move and express our selves. Some people who were having lunch on the median also joined our dance. It was an uplifting, inspiring event. My husband came to watch and photographed the event.”

Did you have an audience? Our audience was the people in the area, people walking or driving by and people who were in the park. It created a happy mood for one and all. Cars slowed and watched us, beeped horns, and waved. Also members of the choir were our audience as well.

Who participated with you? Individuals from classes taught at various locations by Greacian came together.

Did anyone unexpected join you? Two people having a picnic joined us. The people in the choir stood and rocked to our movement.

How did your dance anywhere 2013 experience affect you? It lifted my spirits and I know I will dance anywhere, when ever I can. In the past my husband and I have danced at music festivals, in bars, on tables, in a beauty salon, in the super market and even on the platform of the MTA in Boston. When we dance, we make people smile and bring joy to everyone. Non-dance vicariously enjoy our dances

Would you recommend dance anywhere to your friends? If another opportunity arises, I will bring other friends.

Do you have any upcoming performance, shows or events? My husband and I will be attending a four day dance convention in Fresno, Ca. Called Frezno Dance Sensation. It is attended by 300 to 500 people. There are workshops, performances and competitions for all 4 days. We will be doing West Coast Swing, Country Two Step, Night Club Two Step, Waltz, Salsa and some solo workshops.

Any other feedback? Thanks for organizing this amazing event.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!

Where did you dance on March 22nd, 2013? In your seat at the office? With a group at your favorite museum? At home with a friend or significant other?

Tell us about your performance, however small (or large it might have been) by clicking here!