We decided to create a new kind of physical recreation program that would be fun for everyone no matter how old they were or whether they were physically or intellectually challenged. It had to be inclusive, creative, safe, supportive and non competitive. We knew improvisational theatre and music could be used effectively to bring people of all sorts together to invent new ways of playing with each other. So we invited professional theatre artists and musicians to work with us. This turned out to be a challenging, but rewarding experiment.
The community of Windsor helped begin the process with financial assistance from the Nova Scotia Department of Heritage Tourism and Culture in the form of a Cultural Activities Grant. Chris Hiede from Mermaid Youtheatre and Kathleen Purdy of the Alexander Society facilitated a three day intensive workshop with a variety of participants from the community. Live music was provided by Kim Rayworth and Al Fitch. The group experienced theatre games and creative movement with costumes, ancestor masks and giant puppets from Wee Giant Theatre. A small core of dedicated people from Canada World Youth collaborated with Dave Hockey from AVAV to create a video to help promote the idea. See their All Souls video in Quicktime or Windows Media.
We were able to continue developing these ides in the community of Canning with the help of C.A.P.R.E., The Ross Creek Centre for The Arts and a physical activity grant from Nova Scotia Health Promotion. We called this part of the experiment Community Spirit. Ken Schwartz from Two Planks and a Passion Theatre helped facilitate with live music by Acadia Music Professor, Mark Adam. Other musicians joined in the fun and before we knew it, we had some very successful improvisation sessions including people of all ages and abilities. We held ten of these weekly improvisation sessions at the Ross Creek Centre in the Spring of 2006.
Word about the fun we were having began to spread and the folks from The Flower Cart in New Minas invited us to demonstrate our process during one of their regular coffee house nights at the New Minas Civic Centre. Over thirty people attended and we had a five piece improv band with Kimberly Smith from Creative Action as facilitator. Everything clicked and all the people had so much fun, we were invited to return. At the end of that session we decided to name this new way of playing together "Jam Dance!"
Love, Respect and Patience. This process is still unfolding. There are many barriers to dismantle and it will take time, but now we have a new cultural option that can bring people of vastly different capacities together in ways that are truly mutually satisfying. Jam Dance is a new community building option that truly can kindle warmth, good cheer and belonging within diverse groups of people. This creative, loving, respectful approach to nurturing friendliness and safety in community must be practiced and developed by many people over a long period of time. Regular Jam Dances would be a beautiful way to melt away barriers and add new life to any community.
We want more people to experience Jam Dance. If you like clowning, music, dancing, theatre and video, we urge you to get involved. Volunteer to be a buddy. Meet new people. Write us or call 902 582 3888.