NORDC/NOBA Center for Dance Receives National Recognition

The New Orleans Ballet Association is one of only twelve community arts education organizations in eight states to receive a national grant dedicated to fostering the development of professionally-led arts education programs for older adults. One of two agencies in the southeast to receive the award, this year marks NOBA's third consecutive year as a grant recipient of the MetLife Foundation Creative Aging Program. With the support of this program, the seniors will be competing for the third year in the Team Dance segment of the Greater New Orleans Senior Olympics at Clearview Mall on March 12.

In partnership with the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC), NOBA has initiated its fourth year of innovative programming that combines stretching, social dance and ballet skills in classes for more than 100 older adults in the local community. Aline De Souza, the teaching artist, engages her classes by integrating sequential skill-building and drawing on the participants' memories, life experiences and music preferences.

"It's important for all people to stay active, but it's particularly essential for seniors as they continue aging. These fitness classes keep my students moving beyond their basic day-to-day lives, and they are constantly giving me positive feedback on how helpful the classes have been. I'm proud to be doing something that is making a difference in their lives," said De Souza.

The goal is to improve their overall health and increase their knowledge of and skill in dance. Classes are taught at the NORDC Behrman and St. Bernard Centers and are offered on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Behrman NORDC Center in Algiers and on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the St. Bernard NORDC Center in Gentilly. Both centers offer classes in stretch and cardio, and are free and open to the public.

"I look forward to the classes at NORDC. They help my mobility and general health, and the teacher is very helpful," said Dolores DeQuair, a participant of the program. "She is always encouraging and helping us to progress to another level."

On March 12, twenty participants of the programs from the Behrman and St. Bernard NORDC centers will participate in the Team Dance segment of the Greater New Orleans Senior Olympics, to be held at Clearview Mall. Each group will perform two dances, with music ranging from Donna Summer's Last Dance to songs from the movie Grease.

"It's a lot of work to put together a routine that the seniors can both enjoy and memorize. At the same time, it's priceless to see that they are as committed as I am to giving their absolute best," said De Souza. In addition to the standard two hour classes, seniors who will perform in the Senior Olympics are devoting time after class to practice their pieces.

National Funding: The Creative Aging Program was initiated in 2009 by MetLife Foundation and the National Guild in response to the rapid population growth of Americans aged 60+, as well as the research demonstrating the health benefits generated by professionally-led, participatory arts programs for older adults. A report on the first year of the Creative Aging Program showed that older adults who participated experienced a statistically significant improvement in their mood, reinforcing the findings in the National Endowment for the Arts study.

"MetLife Foundation is committed to making quality arts education accessible for all Americans," stated Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. "As we embark on our third year supporting and expanding the Creative Aging Program, we are pleased with the program's success, as well as its positive impact on the lives of older Americans. We commended New Orleans Ballet Association and the National Guild for their exemplary work making arts accessible to people of all ages and capabilities."

NOBA is the Central Gulf region's premiere presenting and service organization dedicated solely to the art of dance. NOBA's dynamic Main Stage season annually features a diverse array of world-class companies and artists. Each year NOBA provides concerts, classes, workshops and lectures to more than 25,000 area dance enthusiasts of all ages. In addition, NOBA's nationally recognized award-winning education programs provide the youth of our community access to quality arts programs with 3,000 free activities annually at eleven sites throughout the Greater New Orleans area. With a mission of access to the art of dance, more than 90% of all NOBA's activities are free to the public. www.nobadance.com

The National Guild for Community Arts Education supports and advances access to lifelong learning in the arts. Our more than 450 members include community schools of the arts; arts centers; and arts education divisions of performing arts institutions, universities, museums, and other organizations. They are located in urban, suburban and rural communities in 45 states. In concert with this dynamic network, the Guild researches and promotes best practices, provides opportunities for professional development and dialogue, advocates for broad access, and makes grants to the field. Collectively, Guild member institutions offer direct instruction to more than one million students each year. In addition to providing classes and lessons within their own facilities, most members also collaborate with senior centers, hospitals, public schools, and other agencies to increase communities' access to arts education. www.nationalguild.org

MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife to continue the company's long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. The Foundation supports programs that improve education, promote health, encourage parental involvement and family engagement, help revitalize neighborhoods and stress accessibility and inclusion. Recognizing the vital role the arts play in building communities and educating young people, the Foundation contributes to arts and cultural organizations across the United States, with an emphasis on increasing opportunities for young people, reaching broad audiences through inclusive programming, and making arts more accessible for all people. For more information about the Foundation, please visit its web site at www.metlife.org.

The MetLife Foundation Creative Aging Program is funded by MetLife Foundation and administered by the National Guild for Community Arts Education.

NORDC/NOBA Center For Dance
The NORDC/NOBA Center For Dance is a cultural community partnership between the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC) and the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA). Founded in 1992, The Center was born out of a need to make dance accessible to all school-age children. A program that began with just 30 students now has an enrollment of more than 350 children per semester at 7 locations citywide. With a core curriculum of ballet, classes are open to any child in Orleans Parish with a demonstrated interest in dance. Through a professional faculty, master classes by NOBA Main Stage artists and other visiting artists, a mentor program and field trips, the Center works with each child to cultivate dreams and strengthen futures. The Center is the recipient of many awards and honors for excellence, including the 2002 Coming Up Taller Award, nominated for the Big Easy Classical Arts Award for best dance performance, national grants through the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Guild of Community Schools for the Arts, among others.

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