Sebastion Le’s reflections on being an Intergenerational Programs intern with Engage, inc.
August 2022
Before Dance Generators, I did not have any experience with or understanding of intergenerational relationships. My friends and people that I interacted with most were all around my age. I never thought about connecting with older generations the same way I did with people my age, and was unsure if I would enjoy dancing in an intergenerational group. Honestly, the first thought that came to mind when I first heard the phrase “intergenerational dance” was simplified dance routines – I could not have been more wrong. Moving with Dance Generators’ members, I was able to learn from the unique qualities older adults brought to rehearsal every week. And more importantly, the time I spent with all the members allowed me to form meaningful relationships that I would not have even thought about before.
My time with the Dance Generators prepared me for my internship with EngAge at Crescent Park. However, coming to Crescent Park felt like a different challenge. The Dance Generators is a group of people who all are connected through their passion for dance, and the community at Crescent Park is much larger and filled with people who have a wide array of passions and interests. Since joining the Dance Generators, I’ve grown very comfortable going to rehearsal and moving with everyone, but I never challenged myself to build intergenerational relationships beyond our group.
I felt a little pressure to give my best effort to get to know the residents at Crescent Park. During the first couple of weeks, I remember awkwardly approaching residents to introduce myself and hesitantly passing out the bingo boards. Although it felt uncomfortable and something that I was not used to, I tried to think of it like a dance with Dance Generators members to help open myself up. I was able to quickly bond with everyone, and now have so many great memories of talking with the residents as we worked on art projects or chatting before events that would not be possible if I did not experience those early uncomfortable moments. Connecting across differences can feel foreign at first, but can lead to meaningful connections.
The other end of the aging spectrum was reflected during my time at Crescent Park this summer, too! It was wonderful to see youth residents attend events such as the beat-making and percussion classes. The smiling faces of kids while they helped the teacher make a beat, and the intense focus of their eyes following along to the rhythm made me feel happy that these events are providing a good time for all of the residents, no matter their age.
I was able to get to know the vibrant nature of the residents at Crescent Park, and found my time there meaningful. My involvement as an intern with EngAge and dancer with Dance Generators has taught me the value of intergenerational participation. There are a lot of things that each generation can teach one another, and I don’t think that is valued enough in society. Intergenerational relationships are a beautiful part of life that have helped me grow personally and artistically. I am more open-minded to different approaches and ideas. I explore more than I used to. I feel my growth being prompted by these relationships and can sense the benefit across many aspects of my life. I will forever be grateful for the memories that the residents of Crescent Park and the members of the Dance Generators have given me.
July 2022
Throughout July I have been thinking about finding qualities and approaches in dance that correlate to how I show up to lead events like Bingo and community art projects at Crescent Park. As I continue to choreograph a piece to perform at Crescent Park, I realize that there is a lot of doubt in my decision-making. There are moments when I do not think that a section I worked on looks “good”, so I start completely over. I have a difficult time letting movements and ideas come to me and being content with what is. I sense a connection to my leadership skills when leading events at Crescent Park. Similar to the doubt that persists during my creative processes, I felt the same doubt creep up during my time leading events in community engaged spaces. I would ask myself, “Am I running these events the right way?” or “How would someone else lead this event?” This train of thought hinders me because it makes me think about others’ approaches and implement them, instead of figuring out what works for me. I don’t think it is inherently bad to use others’ ways of doing things as a starting point because you can always alter and mix in your stylistic approaches. However, sometimes I do this out of fear of doing the wrong thing, which is a hindrance to my own exploration and growth. The fear of messing up is one of the things that I have tried to get over during my time with EngAge. How do I follow in others’ footsteps while staying true to ourselves? How do I learn from previous generations without feeling stifled by expectation? In the future, I would like to try things and push forward without the fear of not doing things the way someone else would.
Throughout these considerations, I was struck by how at home I felt with the residents of Crescent Park. After being around them for many weeks, I have had the chance to learn and get to know everyone a lot more. After not knowing how I would fit in, their welcoming nature dissolved my nerves. We spent time in conversation where I learned about what they have going on in their week, or a highlight from their week prior. These interactions have opened me up, and I feel like I can be myself a bit more than in the first few weeks onsite. I was moved when I heard one resident talk about how she tries to be fully present to show her love to those around her at all times. That resonated with me! My mind typically wanders and thinks about many different things, but that sense of presence had been something I was working on during my internship, and in my day to day life. I wonder, what role does presence play in dance and in community engagement? I value bringing intention to every moment with the Crescent Park community. Seeing the happy faces of the youth residents at the beat-making class, and hearing the banter during Bingo games has brought me joy. I am fulfilled when residents enjoy EngAge’s programming and grateful we have a space to come together and connect. With each event, a sense of community is rebuilt across the expansive layout of Crescent Park campus and I am reminded of the equal importance between being myself and being with others.
June 2022
My first day onsite at Crescent Park and Hayward Senior Apartments put me in a position where I knew no one and that made me feel uncomfortable. It was reminiscent of my first days at school, or the first time I attended a Dance Generators rehearsal. Not knowing anyone forces me to step outside of my comfort zone and socialize to get to know others. My three years spent with the Dance Generators prepared me for this experience. I grew comfortable with everyone in the group through our shared love and passion for dance. It allowed me to share personal experiences verbally and through movements with others. Entering into EngAge communities was a little different because the interests and passions of the residents are more varied. This provided a new challenge for me to push myself to find intersecting interests or life stories to connect with.
My nerves decreased as the weeks progressed. From dance classes to Bingo, my experiences onsite familiarized me with the environments and cultures of each property, and continued to develop my social skills. The kindness and openness of the residents made it easier for me to find my fit in their environment. The confidence of the residents to move without a care in the world in Hayward, or the uplifting chatter during the Bingo games at Crescent Park, felt contagious to me. To see people with little to no background in dance be so willing to try out movements with us has infused me with confidence to strike up conversations and explore new choreographic ideas. In Hayward, during an activity in dance class where we passed our moments from one person to another around a circle, you could feel, with every passing, the creativity and willingness to attempt new ideas increase. Instant duets were created by initiating movements from obscure parts of our bodies. I found myself motivated to think outside the box and try a move out that I am not accustomed to. Exploring the various possibilities inspired by older adults with no professional dance training or experience.
Joining the EngAge team as an intern this summer, I did not know what to expect. However, throughout my time so far I have been able to get to know a lot of great people. It makes my day to see the residents fully invest themselves in the activities and have a joyful time with each other. The infectious energy of everyone I have been able to meet has made my time so much fun. I look forward to the ideas that we will continue to generate within our movement classes and to further developing relationships with the residents in Hayward and at Crescent Park. Connecting across differences can sometimes be uncomfortable, but I believe it is a sign that I am learning more about myself and gaining some insight into where my discomfort comes from. All of the residents have been very welcoming and kind to me, and I hope that can reciprocate that same energy for them. I am excited to learn more about everyone and see what the rest of this summer has to offer.
