“The Waltz,” featuring “At this Moment,” sung by Michael Bublé.
Since May, 15 virtual and in-person programs have been offered throughout Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) branches and the Library’s Services for Older Adults (SOA) department as part of Lifetime Arts’ Brooklyn Digital: Connecting Through Creative Aging initiative supported by The New York Community Trust. The most recent series brings the total number of older adult participants in this initiative to nearly 1,000.
One of the virtual programs, “Lets Ballroom Dance — Waltz, Mambo & Swing!,” was facilitated by Silver Shoes Dance Club and hosted by the BPL. Daniela Del Giorno, the teaching artist who led the program, taught participants about these genres of music and dance via Zoom over the course of 8 weeks. The video shown above was produced by Silver Shoes and depicts scenes from the program’s remote culminating event performance.
“Increasing access to remote programming is a boon to older adults, period. Through this grant we were able to support an enormous number programs during a period of extreme isolation.”
— David Woehr, Program Manager
“We at Lifetime Arts applaud the Brooklyn Public Library’s Services for Older Adults team for reaching people where they are. This initiative built upon their existing capacity to do remote programming. It is exciting to work with partners who help drive the work forward, especially during the toughest of times.”
— Nathan Majoros, Director of Programs
Addtional “Brooklyn Digital” creative aging programming included:
| Program | BPL Library Branch/Department |
| Storytelling Workshop for Polish Seniors | Greenpoint |
| Bringing Acrylics to Life | Mill Basin |
| Latin Dance Pa’ Gozar | Sunset Park |
| Mask and Collage | Services for Older Adults |
| I Have a Voice: Personal Narrative Writing Workshop | Services for Older Adults |
| Acrylics for All with Leonid Filitsyan | Services for Older Adults |
| Drawing & Watercolor with Nancy Carey | Services for Older Adults |
| Latin Social Dance & Exercise | Services for Older Adults |
| Crochet Jewelry & Fabric Designs | Services for Older Adults |
| Beautifully Made Jewelry | Services for Older Adults |
| Charcoal Made Easy | Services for Older Adults |
| Bead Weaving | Services for Older Adults |
| Little Artworks in Ink | Services for Older Adults |
| Still Life Drawing, Painting & Composition | Services for Older Adults |
