The 2025 Dance On GATHERING is an in-person and online event at Dance Exchange celebrating aging with dance, creativity, and connection
This year’s Dance On Gathering launches on Friday, May 16, 2025 with an evening performance of Dance Exchange’s Co|Lab program:
Ordinary Acts of Resistance
The MOVE, MAKE, and GATHER sessions will take place on
Saturday, May 17, 2025
What can you expect?
The Dance On Gathering will give attendees the opportunity to…
GATHER with other older adults, artists, and leaders in creative aging
MOVE in a dance and movement class designed to welcome everyone.
MAKE with artists who are exploring intergenerational collaboration in their creative work.
2025 Dance On Gathering Schedule
IN PERSON ONLY:
Friday, May 16 @ 7:30pm ET
Tickets: $15
Kick off the 2025 Dance On GATHERING with Ordinary Acts of Resistance. This new performance work emerges from Dance Exchange’s 2025 Co|Lab series—an exploration of the quiet, powerful ways we resist and persist in our everyday lives. Conceived and created in collaboration with participants and guided by lead artists Judith Bauer and Corina Iona Dalzell, this world premiere dance work weaves together personal and collective stories of resilience.
IN PERSON TRACK:
MOVE - Saturday, May 17 @ 11:00am - 12:00pm ET
with Vincent E. Thomas
Class fee: $15
Join us for an exhilarating movement class for all ages and abilities led by Vincent E. Thomas, a former company member of Dance Exchange and the founder of VTDance. Vincent brings years of experience, infectious energy, and a deep commitment to community collaboration. With a focus on community-building through dance, Vincent’s work is rooted in fostering creativity, connection, and joy. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or just starting out, this session is for you. Join us for this joyful celebration of dancing together and dancing on!
ONLINE TRACK:
MOVE - Saturday, May 17 @ 11:00am - 12:00pm ET
with Sarah Ramey
Class Fee: $15
Join Sarah Ramey, former Dance Exchange company member and founder of Perennial Movement Group, for an online dance class designed for adults over 50. Drawing from principles of ballet, contemporary, and improvisational dance, Sarah’s class promotes strength, coordination, flexibility, and range of motion while encouraging creativity and self-expression. Whether you are new to dance or returning after many years, you’ll find a welcoming, supportive community that values movement at every ability level. Through Sarah’s guidance, you’ll experience the physical and cognitive benefits of dance, all from the comfort of your own home.
IN PERSON TRACK:
MAKE - Saturday, May 17 @ 12:30 - 2:30pm ET
Ordinary Acts of Resistance – Exploring the Creative Process with Corina Iona Dalzell
Class Fee: $25
Join us for a special MAKE session that opens the door to the creative process behind Ordinary Acts of Resistance, a new performance project emerging from Dance Exchange’s 2025 Co|Lab series. In this session, you’ll be guided through practices that illuminate how personal stories and everyday actions can transform into powerful sources of movement and meaning.
Led by Corina Iona Dalzell, co-director of Ordinary Acts of Resistance alongside Judith Bauer, this session will explore how movement can emerge from our daily lives and how small, individual acts of resistance can build into a collective creative force. Come ready to move, reflect, and contribute to the growing narrative of this collaborative project.
ONLINE TRACK:
MAKE - Saturday, May 17 @ 12:30 - 2:00pm ET
Building Community Through Dance with Perennial Movement
Workshop fee: $20
Join us for an inspiring online MAKE session with Perennial Movement Group Director Chloe Napoletano and ensemble member Jill D’Antignac. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Perennial Movement is reshaping the dance landscape for adults over 50 by creating opportunities for dancemaking and performance that foster creativity, wellness, and community connection.
In this session, you’ll engage directly with Perennial Movement’s creative process. Perennial Movement Group believes that dance performance has the power to envision the future of our communities—what we see on stage sparks our imagination for what could be. Participants will contribute to the early development of Perennial Movement’s next performance project. Come ready to move, share your ideas, and be part of this collaborative journey.
ONLINE ONLY:
GATHER - Saturday, May 17 @ 4:00 - 5:15pm
Dancing Through Generations – The Role of Dancemaking and Performance in Intergenerational Collaboration
Session Fee: $15
Join us for an engaging conversation with artists Ami Dowden-Fant, Vincent Thomas, Sarah Ramey, Ken Vail, and Dance Exchange’s Executive Artistic Director, Cassie Meador, as we explore the transformative power of intergenerational dancemaking and performance. Dance Exchange has long been a leader in building community across generations through dancemaking, and in this session, we’ll hear from artists who are pushing the boundaries of this practice through their work in Creative Aging and beyond.
This session will provide an inspiring opportunity to reflect on how dancemaking and performance can be used to foster deep connections, inspire creativity, and build resilience across generations.
FAQs
Who should attend the Dance On Gathering?
If you’re interested in dance, aging, or creative aging, you’ll find a workshop that moves your body and sparks your interest. At this year’s Gathering you might find...
An older adult who has just started to bring dance into their life—or one just interested in the idea.
An older performer who began dancing at age 7 and another who began at 70!
A caregiver hoping to move and connect with their aging family member.
An artist working to create connection among older adults.
A local leader or city official cultivating creative health aging initiatives in their community.
A healthcare professional interested in the latest research and best practices in creative aging
Do I need to be a dancer to participate?
Not at all! The Gathering creates connections between older adults, artists, leaders in creative aging, and more—whether you call yourself a dancer or not. People of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and experience with dance are welcome.
Is the Dance On Gathering accessible?
We're striving to make the Dance On Gathering as accessible as possible. ASL interpretation will be available by request no later than 5 days prior to the event. If ASL interpretation would support your participation or if you have other accessibility needs, please email Creative Producer Stephen Clapp at stephenc@danceexchange.org.
Can’t make it to the Gathering?
Celebrate from afar by making a donation to support our Dance On programming.