World Dance Party

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.