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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Arts Participation & Healthy Aging: Knowledge Exchange

On June 27th and 28th, 25 researchers, artists, and providers of services to older adults gathered from across Canada at SERC to discuss the state of research on the benefits of participation in the arts for older adults. After two days of very stimulating discussion, the participants from SERC - and hopefully all attendees - came away with renewed vigor for pursuing research into the health benefits of participation in the arts for older adults.

SERC would like to thank the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for their generous support for this meeting.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Belly Dancing Workshop





Thirteen women joined SERCCA for the introductory belly dancing workshop on Saturday, April 16th. Six of the participants made the trip from Riverside Glen, a Schlegel Villages location in Guelph, Ontario.



Workshop leader Danielle Lottridge has been dancing ever since she learned to walk; she enrolled in ballet at age 3, and studied jazz, tap and piano throughout her childhood and adolescence. Danielle continued taking different styles of dance until she found belly dance and fell deeply in love. Danielle has been performing professionally since 2005, in high quality venues such as the Enwave Harbourfront Theatre in Toronto and the Crucible in San Francisco. She has taught regular classes for over three years, including workshops at McMaster University. Danielle holds a doctorate in human factors, and brings expertise in ergonomics and applied psychology to create a safe and enjoyable environment in her classes.

Dancing Home to Me

My experience in the SERCCA dance project
by Jacqui Penson

It is the tiniest of ads, tucked away in the “Community Notices” section of the paper, but it springs at me like a banner headline: “Free Dance Classes for adults 55+.” Despite earnest worries about what is in store (what if the classes require spandex?) I summon the courage and call. A pleasant voice answers the phone. Within minutes I hear myself making arrangements to participate in what I learn is a dance research project with older adults through Sheridan College’s Elder Research Centre (SERC). And it’s pretty much come as you are – works for me!

The first day, I locate the studio and tentatively open the door. I am really quite anxious. Seeing the mirrors, the barre, the piano, I am transported back in time. As a child, I had fallen in love with ballet – the music and movement carried me away. Somehow when I danced, I felt safe, I felt special – I felt like ‘Me.’ Later, as a young woman, exhausted after a day’s work, I would don black leotard, red skirt, and leg warmers to stretch body and soul on a dance floor.

Brought back to the studio, I see individuals of every age and stage (55 plus, that is!), size and shape, clustered here and there chatting. I make a mental note – no spandex in sight – I like it already!

We learn that, because this is a research project, we must go through a series of simple pre-test measurements of things like flexibility, balance, muscle strength and complete some questionnaires and an interview. I am so pleased to be part of something bigger and at this point, if I can coax this aging body into a studio twice a week to dance AND contribute to science – well, even better!

The first day of class arrives and as we wait in the studio, there are nervous whispers, faint anxiety, quiet laughter and tense anticipation.

Our teacher reminds us that this time is an investment in our well-being, in caring for ourselves and honouring who we are and the road we (and our bodies!) have travelled. Above all, it is about having FUN! We need to lose that inner self-critical voice (someone quips maybe they could cover up the mirrors!) relax and enjoy the moment.

We take our places at the ‘barre’ and the class begins. The teacher demonstrates and explains the how and especially the ‘why’ of each exercise and most importantly, how to work around our various physical challenges. Clearly the name of the game here is not being ‘perfect’ but rather how to work with our bodies and still reap the benefit of this graceful form of movement. She watches carefully, keenly focused on ensuring that no one gets hurt, offering a modification here, a suggestion there and tons of gentle encouragement. I think to myself – this woman really ‘gets it’!

We work our way through pliés, relevés, tendus and grande battements and then move to the centre of the room for ‘floorwork’ (now without the security of the ‘barre’!). Once we’re oriented we move across the floor, this time to the soaring strains of a Viennese waltz. We are dancing and it is joyous, freeing and just plain fun!

There’s a sense of “we’re all in this together” – no room for ‘prima ballerinas’ here – we’ve travelled varied paths to arrive at this point in time – and the room is rich with the collective strengths, passions and humour of those who have survived to tell the tale!

At first, I feel clumsy and unsure and my brain is working overtime to remember everything – but it is okay. As the class progresses, my anxiety slowly ebbs and I feel the music lift and transport me. Something deep, long-buried and forgotten is stirring, but all too soon it is over and we clap in appreciation. I grab my keys and fly out the door.

The Thursday class is more of a jazz/modern dance. Compared to ballet, this presents a challenge to move outside my ‘comfort zone’, to become aware of and fully inhabit my body in a grounded way. After warm-up exercises, we learn a little ‘combo’ to Liza Minelli’s “Bye, Bye, Birdie.” I don’t remember ever having laughed so much in a dance class! As we ‘step-ball-change’ and ‘sugar’ our way across the floor I can feel inhibitions gradually falling away as our teacher exhorts us to “put it out there!”

The weeks fly by and I feel my body and brain respond. I feel stronger, balance is improving and joints that just a few short weeks ago felt like they required a shot of “WD-40,” begin to loosen up.

Even more significant though, is the feeling of well-being by the end of class. None of us can explain it. We know about ‘endorphins’ and the benefits of exercise but this is something more than that, something almost mystical. For 60 minutes twice a week the world fades away. Whatever cares have silently accompanied us into the studio seem to dissipate as the music, the movement – and yes, the laughter – capture us and carry us away.

I realize that for me, being in these dance classes has become an exercise in déjà vu – a reconnecting with and reclaiming of an essential part of who I was – who I am – lost through time and circumstance. I am dancing home to ‘Me.’

And I am – still – in love with dance.

The Centre for Active Aging Art Group

Who are we?
We are seniors (60 to 92 years of age) who deeply value the experience of sharing and supporting creative pursuits. The majority of the members work at the intermediate or advanced level in at least one medium. In addition to participating in our classes, many members take workshops and courses offered by other institutions and engage in individual or small group study using books/videos from libraries or private collections, watching televised art instruction shows, and using Internet lessons and videos to further develop their skills and knowledge.


All art group members are also members of the Centre for Active Aging ($27.27 for Mississauga residents and $32.92 for qualifying non-residents). In addition, we charge an annual $5 club membership fee, and $35 to $55 for each session depending on its length. The centre’s activity fee ($1.00 per person) is included in our course fee or collected individually for the Saturday studio work. In addition, we buy our own supplies and occasionally make use of a various supplies we have collected over the years. Sessions are 4 to 6 weeks with instruction, demonstration, exercises, and individual guidance.

In 1974, the Centre for Active Aging (then known as the Mississauga Senior Citizen’s Centre) located in Ontario, Canada, opened and 14 enthusiastic artists began sharing their interests and talents under the direction of Shirley Erskine. In 1989, a second section was added and the group took over responsibility for hiring and paying the instructors. Talented local artists teach both traditional and innovative techniques in various styles including abstraction, using pencil, ink, pastel, water colour and acrylic.

Working from our own resource material, we paint all subject matter from still life to the human figure. We are regularly surprised by, and admiring of, the finished works that reflect each member’s unique style and personality.

We maintain an active waitlist whose members join us whenever regular members are absent. We are fortunate to have some members from the original group still active and willing to share their extensive knowledge and experience.

What are the benefits?
The mix of creativity, learning and friendship enriches our lives, keeping us engaged and active. Many of us regularly stay after class for a light lunch in the centre’s cafeteria. There we share life’s joys and frustrations, tell stories from our past, discuss issues of interest, and pass around photos of our trips, pets and family. We often go on outings to art shows, movies, local events, and participate in many of the centre’s other activities such as the spring picnic, the Christmas lunch, and Valentine’s lunch.


Is our work on show and available for sale?
We offer a continuously changing display of 30-40 pieces in the centre’s main hall which visitors may view at their leisure. Since 1979 we have held an annual Art Show and Sale offering 350+ original works in a variety of media. Artists choose which of their pieces to exhibit. We offer unframed, matted, and framed works and a large collection of original art cards. Click
here for information about our next show.