The community of dancers at Neskaya wishes to spread the messages of world peace and cultural diversity into the larger community. To accomplish this we have brought individualized dance programs to schools, cultural events, and seniors. Please contact Neskaya if you are interested in bringing a program to your school, organization or community event. Here are some descriptions of previously presented dance offerings.
Lafayette Nursing Center, Franconia, NH, March 11, 2007
Kayla Dauphine, Jenny Deupree and Helen Pimental shared Circle
Dance with many of the center's residents and their family members.
Many were tapping their feet and nodding their heads to the lively
music, while some jumped up to join the dance. There was also
time to remember and reflect on how dance had played a part in
one's life.
Wellness Fair at Littleton High School, Littleton, NH June
8, 2006
Jenny Deupree and Kayla Dauphine participated in the Littleton
High School Wellness Fair by presenting two sessions of World
Dance as a fun, low impact aerobic dance experience. Simple dances
from the folk traditions of many cultures including Celtic, Balkan,
Russian, Greek, and Gypsy were taught, giving the high school
students an opportunity to explore the unique pleasure of dancing
with a group of people to the movements and rhythms of the world.
Outreach with Circle Dancing to Retirement Communities -
Burlington, VT
In June 2003, Neskaya began sharing Circle Dance with residents
of retirement communities in and around Burlington, Vermont. The
ever-flexible dance is easily adapted to accommodate dancers with
limited mobility and these circles may include seated dance, song
and live music, as well as upright dance! It's a delight to dance
with these gracious elders. Contact Julia Lynam at seren@together.net
for more information.
Folk Music Festival, Conway, NH, June 7, 2003
In addition, the Neskaya Community Dancers participated in the
Folk Music Festival on June 7, 2003
in Conway, NH in cooperation with Mountain Top Music. To
the live music of local musicians we taught dances from Greece,
Russia, Macedonia, Israel, and Armenia. We stayed on to participate
in the Contra Dance as well.
May Pole Dance at the North Haverhill School on May 2, 2003
Neskaya Dancers led a dance around the maypole for the fourth
and sixth graders in North Haverhill, NH. It was a wonderfully
festive time for all and clearly a kinesthetic learning experience
for some, particularly a number of special ed students.
Russian Folk Dancing as part of "Russia Past and Present"
curriculum at Gilford Middle and High School, April 17, 2003
Neskaya was invited to participate in this schoolwide project.
Jenny and Gene taught several Russian folk dances to five different
classes from both the middle school and high school. The students
and teachers were very cooperative and excited. The classes were
a great success and we were invited to do it again next year by
the organizers of the event, VSAArts of New Hampshire.
Wellness Fair at Profile High School, Franconia, NH
March 12, 2003
Jenny Deupree and Gene Podhurst participated in the World of Wellness
Day which featured the ways in which the arts contributed to the
health of the world and its people. We presented the concept and
the activity of circle dancing to middle schoolers and high schoolers
as a way of bringing people together to strengthen community and
enjoy life.
In-service Teacher Training at the Warren Village School
On September 17, 2002, four experienced circle dancers from Neskaya
met with all the teachers and aides in Warren, NH to discuss the
possibility of using dance activity to supplement curriculum and
provide motivational support in after school activities as well.
At first the teachers were skeptical of finding time and space
for dance and felt it could only be done at the expense of other
educational goals. After getting up and dancing with us, however,
the entire tone of the meeting changed and all were anxious to
find the time and space to explore the possibilities of circle
dancing during the school day. As a result ......
Thanksgiving celebration with Native American Theme, Warren
Village School
On November 22, 2002 in Warren, NH, a group of six volunteers
from Neskaya conducted a dance program to supplement the schoolwide
curriculum that was addressing Native American culture.
The entire elementary school (64 students, as well as their teachers
and aides) divided into six groups, or clans, and together we
danced to celebrate the four elements (earth, air, fire, and water),
planting and harvesting, as well as storytelling. Everyone,
including the principal and school staff, enjoyed and valued the
project. We have been invited back to do more of the same next
year, perhaps two or three times, in connection with curriculum
and/or holiday celebrations.