PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
World Dance Party (WDP) is a fun party designed to get neighbors to interact and to celebrate culture and diversity. Everyone from all backgrounds and ages is welcome. It’s a potluck. Several multicultural dances are taught by volunteer instructors in 20-minute mini-lessons, then everyone dances. That’s it. There’s no other agenda. No fundraising. No lectures. Just food and dancing and community.
DEVELOPED BY:
The idea for the event surfaced at an Aging Your Way Gathering, organized by Senior Services, an organization in Seattle. The gathering was part of a project designed to capture people’s input on an ideal community for everyone to grow old in, as well as inspire citizens to actions to improve their neighborhoods.
WEBSITE: http://worlddancepartyseattle.org
STARTED: 2012
OBJECTIVES:
- To have fun: WDP is an event that energizes people and gives us all an outlet to know our neighbors in a fun and relaxed setting.
- To contribute: WDP is about building community. Everyone contributes in some way such as bringing a dish to share, teaching dances, volunteering, and inviting their friends and family to participate in the event.
- To accept: WDP should be a place where everyone can feel welcome and connected to their neighbors, regardless of their culture, race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, political view, sexual orientation, etc.
TARGET POPULATION: The community at large
BENEFITS/OUTCOMES:
Connections between elders and young people, and between neighbors of different ethnicities
VOLUNTEERS: 15
HOURS PER MONTH: Varies
PROGRAM GUIDE:
A Tool Kit is freely available on the site http://worlddancepartyseattle.org
OTHER SUPPORT MATERIAL: Photos and videos on the site
COSTS/FUNDING: Sponsored by local companies and organizations
TRAINING: N/A
PROMOTION: A simple website was created, promotion through the Seattle Senior Services
POLICIES FOR REPLICATING: Open
Please complete our online Program User Form if you are interested in trying out this program and need more information. You will be contacted shortly by a member of the Pass It On Network team after you submit the completed form.