By Walter Rutledge
The Dance of the Village Elders is returning to St. Philips Church, 204 W 134th Street beginning Thursday October 16th, at 2:30pm. The senior wellness classes, which uses dance as the primary medium was a mainstay in the Harlem community. The participates learned choreography, in addition to the wellness/fitness training, and presented biannual concerts in St. Philips’ sanctuary.
It didn’t take long for the dancers to begin performing at events throughout the community including Harlem Week, the summer dance series at Marcus Garvey Park and collaborations with Dancers of A Variable Population. Things were moving forward. We had created our own revenue source and formed an arts cooperative which the participants controlled. Then in March of 2020 Covid 19 closed the entire world.
We continued online for a year, but then we discontinued the classes. When the pandemic threat subsided the health risk for seniors remained cautionary, and we all felt it was not a good idea to return yet. The most gratifying part of our four-year hiatus is we all kept in touch. Facebook, Instagram, texts, phone calls, Zoom, and later cookouts and birthday parties were part our of Village Elders lifelines.
Dance of The Village Elders – Here’s to Life 2017
Fellowship had become friendship and the friendship evolved into family. Starting October 16th we are back home at St. Philips Church! If you live, work or just want a fun positive experience in the village of Harlem join us. 
