Mr. DeBlieck’s teaching credits include faculty lecturer at the University of Hawaii (1995-1997), where he taught courses in modern dance technique and advanced Labanotation, Augsburg College (2005-2015) where he taught Creative Drama, Introduction to Theatre, Dance for Musical Theatre and Introduction to Dance, and at St Cloud State University (2009-2015) where he taught dance composition and global dance perspectives.
David currently holds the position of Assistant Professor of Dance in the Theater Department at the College of St Benedict & St John’s University. Since 2010, David has conducted numerous workshops and residencies in the community through the Paramount Center for the Arts, including participation as a lead artist in the Growing Artful program funded by Aroha Philanthropies.
Lifetime Arts: What is your primary artistic medium?
David DeBlieck: Dance
LA: How did you get started as a teaching artist?
DD: I grew up with a mother and grandmother who were both teachers. It has always made sense to me to share knowledge and help others to understand and embody the creative process. Shortly after starting my training as a dancer, I also began working as a dance teacher. As my career developed, I became more and more interested in the craft of teaching and now consider it to be an art form.
LA: What led you to Creative Aging work?
DD: One of my first “real” jobs in my early 20’s was leading activities for folks at a senior center in San Francisco. I discovered that one of the best ways to connect with people older than I was through movement. Dancing seemed to be a bridge between our generations and we all felt better after moving together.
As I age myself, my passion for moving has only increased. I see this same hunger in my students.
Even though I have a full time job teaching college students, I am drawn to working with people across the community who want to dance together. It is their enthusiasm and curiosity that keeps me coming back!
LA: What is one of the most challenging or surprising aspects of this work?
DD: One challenge is the varied range of abilities that can exist within the classroom. It takes some creative thinking to devise a lesson that engages people who are upright and mobile along with folks who are in chairs, or participants who have visual impairments along with those who are hard of hearing. It can be quite transformative when we do find ways to all come together through dance.
LA: Tell us a short story from a class that demonstrates the benefits of Creative Aging for participants.
DD: Last year a student showed up on the first day of class reluctant about joining and doubtful that she could make it through an entire session. She had grown up dancing with a mother who owned a dance studio, but hadn’t danced or been physically active for many years. She made it through that first class, taking breaks as needed, and decided to commit to showing up each day no matter how she felt. Before long, she was sharing stories with the group about being able to climb stairways that she couldn’t before and feeling better all around. She ended up attending every session and performing with the group at the end. She also went on to perform two dances in an event in the community called Dancing with Many Voices. She is back with us again this year and feeling better than ever!
LA: Tell us about the class you are teaching for the Paramount Center for the Arts in St. Cloud, MN.*
DD: I am currently co-teaching a weekly dance class with Paramount for an amazing and vibrant group of dancers at Whitney Senior Center in St Cloud, MN.
LA: What do you have planned for the culminating event?
DD: In early December our group of dancers at Whitney Senior Center will celebrate the work of our 9-week workshop by performing a range of dances — African-Haitian, ballet, tango as well as original compositions. Many of these dancers participated in the sessions we conducted last year, and several have performed as part of dance groups in the community. They have become a tight-knit group and grab every chance they get to dance together.
LA: What are your current and upcoming projects of both your own work and teaching assignments?
DD: My full-time job is teaching dance to college students at the College of St Benedict & St John’s University. I usually arrive at class there after just having danced with my Creative Aging folks and often share stories of the experience with my college students. Likewise, I often share dance material from my college classes with my seniors. This past weekend we had a guest choreographer and teacher, Ron K. Brown, and students from both worlds participated in his classes together.
It was great to see everyone come together and witness the range of body wisdom across the age spectrum.
Out in the community, I am gearing up for rehearsals of our annual holiday show at Pioneer Place Theater, “Laughing All the Way”. This is the 8th year I have worked as the choreographer on this show, conjuring up rousing dance numbers which will be accompanied by a live band. I suspect some of these dances will soon find their way into my classes.
Thank you David, we are thrilled to have you on our roster of teaching artists.
*David’s class with Paramount Center in St. Cloud, MN is part of Aroha Philanthropies’ Seeding Vitality Arts initiative.
Interview and reporting by Lindsey Francis
Check out David’s teaching artist profile, or search our Roster to find qualified teaching artists in your area.
