Movement Meets

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Movement Meets is Urbanity’s rapidly expanding program of customized dance classes that “meet” a life-altering physical or mental challenge through embodied movement. Classes are designed to uplift community members who share various life experiences. Participants draw from the power of movement through styles such as freestyle, contemporary, and street dance to communicate, connect, empathize, and “meet” their challenge to find healing.

POPULATIONS SERVED
Movement Meets classes include those tailored for people experiencing breast cancer, stroke, psychosis, addiction, homelessness, aging, and Parkinson’s Disease. Participants are guided by a dance facilitator through expressive exercises geared to improve one’s quality of life and diagnostic outcome, building community and finding connection with others, all in a joyful and uplifting environment.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Program workshops are offered in partnership with Boston area community organizations and are tailored to a range of locations such as Urbanity’s dance studios, hospitals, and community centers. Whether a weekly class or one-time pop-up session, Movement Meets’ customized curriculum addresses the physical and emotional impacts of the shared group experience.

TEACHING MODEL
Urbanity selects a Teaching Artist for each program who is personally connected to the challenge and provides them with specialized training to ensure they are teaching inclusive, trauma-informed classes and are able to make the adaptations necessary for the specific community with which they are working.

FREE VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Urbanity is partnering with the Office of the Arts at Harvard to provide Movement Meets training and teaching opportunities for Harvard undergraduate students. More information on this partnership can be found here.

GIVING CIRCLE
If you’re interested in naming a Movement Meets track after your family or a loved one, you can learn more here.

CURRENT PARTNERSHIPS

  • Boston Community Pediatrics

  • Dana Farber

  • Dance With Parkinson’s at Urbanity Dance

  • Movimiento en Sillas with Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA) Boston

  • McLean Psychiatric Hospital

  • Pine Street Inn

  • Age Thrive at Urbanity Dance

  • Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

  • Youville House

PAST PARTNERSHIPS

  • Boston Combined Residency Program at Boston Children’s Hospital

  • Boston Medical Center

  • Delta Projects

  • Horizons for Homeless Children

  • The Jeremiah Program

  • Partners for Youth with Disabilities

  • Roca Boston

  • Victory Programs

If you are interested in volunteering or partnering with Urbanity's Movement Meets, please email community@urbanitydance.org.

Movement Meets is generously supported by the Anna B. Stearns Charitable Foundation.