Members of a local dance program worked with residents from Traceway Retirement Community to help them find their groove. Dancers from the Doniphan Dance Project, a local modern dance group, taught the residents simple movements during several sessions held this fall at Traceway. Roxie Clayton, instructor with Doniphan Dance, said the sessions were held in preparation of the Link Centre's annual artist residency program.
Doniphan Dance worked with Cassie Meador of Dance Exchange, a Maryland-based company of artists, on some of the Traceway dance sessions. Meador, executive artistic director of Dance Exchange, along with other dancers from the group, returned in January for the residency program. The artists residency program took place in January and February 2018, and brought artists to Tupelo to interact with the community through schools in the Tupelo Public School District and public performances and events.
As a part of the residency program, the Traceway residents participated in the training and performance of a piece of modern dance. Throughout the fall, the Doniphan dancers visited Traceway and taught the choreography for the winter show. Dancers in the group range from 12 years old to 23. The performance was held February 10, 2018 at the Link Centre. A dance called "Still Crossing," was performed by the Dance Exchange ensemble, Doniphan's Dance Project members, and three Traceway residents: Juaniece Wood, Marvelita Price and Caroline Russell. The dancers, led the audience through a journey-themed dance piece which documented stories of immigration and explored not only physical migration, but the different types of journeys people take throughout their lifetimes.
"This is a great experience for all of them," Clayton said. "For my young dancers, it's an appreciation of bodies and movement that shows you don't have to do intricate choreography for it to have meaning." Clayton also felt that getting the Traceway residents involved was a great way to get a broader segment of the community involved with the residency program.
"I had the most wonderful experience. I never would have thought that I would have had the opportunity to dance with professional dancers and dance companies, especially in my retirement. I made new friends and have such wonderful memories." ~Caroline Russell
"It was delightful! The opportunity and experience to practice and actually perform on stage with professional dancers in my Senior years was very memorable! Thanks to Doniphan Dance Company and Dance Exchange and the Link Centre.I will cherish those memories that I made. I even made a new friend and pen pal." ~Juaniece Wood
"My experience with the community dance project was amazing! I feel very happy to serve the com-munity. I am not able to speak, so when I dance that is my voice. Dancing helped me tell a story through movement.I love to move and felt helpful when I was dancing." ~Marvelita Price