Day of Dance

The Day of Dance is an annual event that celebrates the joy of dance with a traveling movement choir that flows throughout the hospital. The choir passes through the public spaces of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital infuse spaces with joy, music, and enriching moments of beauty.

Day of Dance 2019

In October, the AHP held its third Day of Dance led byg dancer-in-residence, Alison Waldman, and musician-in-residence, Anthony Hyatt.  

Before the Day of Dance, hospital staff had asked the AHP dancers-in-residence to share their route and timing. The AHP created flyers and posters to help the staff get ready for the big day. This year, we also decided to add a community stretch break in the Lombardi Atrium towards the end of the activity. The publicity and new plan worked out wonderfully.  

The dancers began their movement choir in the Lombardi Atrium, and were almost immediately joined by orthopedic resident physician, Dr. Nick Apseloff. Dr. Apseloff, wearing scrubs and a surgical cap, told the dancers that the Orthopedic Department physicians and staff had voted that he should spend two hours participating in the Day of Dance. Did he have a dance background, we asked? “ No,” he said. But it didn’t matter. Dr. Apseloff was a natural! He learned the dances as he went. As the dancers and doctor moved down the hall, patients and staff joined the movement choir. Dr. Apseloff’s presence gave the Day of Dance both gravitas and levity it didn’t have before he joined. With him, there were many sweet and humorous interactions with patients, caregivers, and staff members throughout the morning. 

When the dancers returned to the Lombardi Atrium, many staff members were waiting to see the Day of Dance finale and join dancer-in-residence, Deborah Riley, in a community stretch break. Dozens of people joined in as the Lombardi Atrium was transformed into a place of music, movement and joy. 

Photos from the day:

Day of Dance 2018

The Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program presents Day of Dance in Healthcare in MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. This second annual, day-long event took place on October 24, 2018, led by Movement Artist-in-Residence, Alison Waldman, and Violinist-in-Residence, Anthony Hyatt.

Day of Dance celebrates the joy of dance with a traveling movement choir flowing throughout the hospital. The traveling dance passed through lobbies, hallways, waiting areas, and medical units in the hospital to infuse the spaces with joy, music, and fleeting moments of beauty.

Day of Dance 2017

In October 2017, dancers wove their way throughout MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH) bringing movement and beauty to patients, staff, caregivers and medical providers for the first ever Day of Dance in Healthcare.  The Day of Dance in Healthcare consisted of a traveling movement choir flowing through the hospital followed by noontime dance performances in the Lombardi Atrium. The Day of Dance proved especially powerful as dancers of different demographics meandered through the hospital.

Keira Hart-Mendoza directed the Movement Choir with assistance from Alison Waldman. Together, they brought 6 dancers from Keira’s company, Uprooted Dance, as well as another 6 from the general dance community.  We were thrilled to have Deborah Riley, retired co-director of Dance Place as one of the Movement Choir participants.  AHP musician, Anthony Hyatt, was the “pied piper” of the group, leading the dancers through the hospital with the soothing sounds from his violin.

The Movement Choir began at 10am with the dancers entering the Lombardi Atrium.  For the next two hours, they snaked down halls, up stairwells, through clinics and units and waiting areas. Here are two quotes (one from a patient and one from a staff member) expressing their reactions:

“I am new to the Lombardi Center. I visited it as a patient for the second time on October 11. While I was there a wonderful violinist and a half dozen women moving in sync came out and performed in the waiting area, where I had been for more than three hours. I LOVED it. I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful offering. I hope to see more on future visits. Thanks to you and all who perform in your programs.” – patient

“I wanted to thank you for the “Day of Dance” at MGUH.  What a beautiful expression of dance to promote healing in the spirit of cura personalis (treatment of the whole person). I loved the freedom and rhythmic movement. It was an inspiring performance!” – staff member

Following the Movement Choir, from 12:30-2pm, Keira Hart Mendoza’s Uprooted Dance company performed two pieces in the atrium.  In addition, Keira premiered a new solo work based on the “Ready to Move” program called, “Stretch.” Katie Harris Banks performed a piece choreographed by Ilana Silverstein, with Arts and Humanities Program artists-in-residence, cellist, Martha Vance, providing the music.  More than 50 staff and patients came to see the performance in the Lombardi Atrium and the reviews were terrific.  People were happy to see so much beauty, grace and energy brought directly into the hospital.