Young and Old Unite Joyfully During International Day of Movement at Peconic Landing

Generations united over the beauty of dance and art Wednesday as four organizations came together at Peconic Landing in Greenport to celebrate an intergenerational Day of Movement.

Professional dancers El Colegio del Cuerpo, artists in residence at The Watermill Center, led more than 40 students from Peconic Community School and 30 Peconic Landing members in a workshop and performance in the auditorium before treating everyone to an interpretive dance in the sculpture garden, according to Andrea Cote, educational program coordinator at The Watermill Center.

Cote is well-known on the North Fork for her popular "Port of Views" installation at Mitchell Park and her "Eyes on Main Street" installation in Riverhead.

According to Cote, El Colegio del Cuerpo’s residency at The Watermill Center during the month of September "has exemplified all that art and community can achieve when the human desire to connect through art comes to full fruition. From their collaboration with the Shinnecock Nation, to dance workshops reaching hundreds of participants on the East End from the Springs to Riverhead through Greenport — they have united people from different populations, cultures, abilities and generations; their reach has been all-encompassing."

Last week at Peconic Landing, the dancers created an improvisational dance piece for Hans de Bovenkamp’s new outdoor sculpture, "tapping rhythms from the metal and sculpting their own bodies onto the work. It was a pleasure to connect with the artist’s youthful enthusiasm afterward. It is this kind of extraordinary collaboration that we aim for in our outreach The Watermill Center," Cote said.

"The best art experiences take us beyond what has been envisioned and show was what can be created when minds, bodies and souls dance together," she added.

On a personal note, Cote said working closely with the dancers over the past two weeks was an honor, and the event hosted by Peconic Landing far exceeded expectations.

"Students from the Peconic Community School had expressions of awe on their faces as they watched the dancers demonstrate duets lifting each other high into the air, and were further surprised to find that they themselves would be carried by the dancers," Cote said. "There wasn’t a still body in the house as staff danced with each other, children led flocks of dancers across the floor, and a conga line of seniors circled the room."

Kathryn Casey Quigley of the Peconic Community School agreed. "Quite simply, it was a magical day for all who participated. The dancers helped to facilitate a peaceful, connected and open energy in the room that allowed for a unique time of shared learning, movement and understanding between young and old."

Quigley said the day epitomized one of the goals of Peconic Community School, which include connecting children to the arts, multiculturalism, and their community to foster reflection, resilience and compassion.

"We are deeply grateful to the talented El Colegio del Cuerpo, the Watermill Center and Peconic Landing for this tremendous opportunity," she said.

Dominic Antignano, Cultural Arts Curator at Peconic Landing, was equally moved by the day's events.

"It was inspiring to see the generational divide melt away as students and members became entwined in the dancer's workshop," he said. "We are so appreciative of The Watermill Center and El Colegio del Cuerpo for helping to create such an experience. Art came alive as the sculpture became an intimate partner with the dancers. The dancers created a relationship with the sculpture – a dialogue."

After an informal talk and demonstration from the dancers’ repertoire, guest joined together for an invigorating workshop in creative movement. All ages and abilities are were welcomed to participate. In the afternoon the improvisational dance by El Colegio del Cuerpo in the Sculpture Garden was open to the public.

Álvaro Restrepo and Marie France Delieuvin, co-founders of El Colegio Del Cuerpo, and the 10 dancers of tLa Compañia Cuerpo de Indias have been Artists-in-Residence at TheWatermill Center throughout the entire month of September.

During their residency, the group has created a ceremony with participants of the Shinnecock community, and interacted with other members of the Hamptons’ community, through workshops, master classes, and open rehearsals.

Restrepo often refers to the 18-year-old eCdC, based on Cartagena de Indias in Colombia, as a four-legged animal: "artistic, educational, social and political, having nature as/in the heart of their creature/institution."

Patch photos courtesy of Peconic Landing.