Sebastian Le, a Business and Dance student from the University of San Francisco, joined EngAGE as an intern working with EngAGE Intergenerational Programs Director Liv Schaffer. Liv is also the Director of Dance Generators, the University of San Francisco’s intergenerational dance company, which we featured in a previous post.
Sebastian’s summer internship has come to a close. It provided him with valuable experience working with our older adult residents, and our residents benefitted from his enthusiasm and participation in the creative programming they enjoy. You can read his thoughts below and click here to watch a video of his final performance for the residents of Crescent Park in Richmond, CA.
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.
~ Sebastian Le
