By Carly Nichols, Chelsea Ambrose, and April Hortman
Motion plays in integral part in our daily lives. For many cultures around the world and throughout history, this has taken the form of dance, and has been the foundation of building friendships and community. This type of connection often sparks another form of motion: E-motion. Emotions, too, are entangled in our lives; the things we do, the places we go, the people we meet. During the final programming week of the Garden of Fire, youth had the opportunity to experience motion, with an E.
CareFirst partnered with 171 Cedar Arts, their artist, Vicki Rosettie, and The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes with their artists, Pat and Kathleen Kane, for week five of the Garden of Fire. Through the dance sessions, the kids heard and participated in traditional Irish dance, and better understood the origins of dance from many other countries.
Dance is a form of motion that is used to not only remain active and build connections with others, but can help us relate to the e-motions we feel. What do we feel when we watch someone dance? Is that different from how we feel when we dance ourselves? How does it feel if we don’t express our emotions? How can motion help us express how we feel and improve coping? These questions and more were explored together and helped the youth better understand the power of physical expression.
CareFirst Grief Services Team
Carly Nichols, Chelsea Ambrose, April Hortman
Garden of Fire 