About Us
Our Story
During COVID-19, many elders living in nursing homes were left isolated from the outside world with quarantines. They were unable to go out and see family, friends, or any live performances. This lead to isolation, anxiety, depression and grief for so many. Nadia Espinoza with a passion for geriatrics and mental wellness, felt compelled to give back and bring some joy by bringing the beauty of ballet to them. She formed a charity called “Elevation Through Dance” to elevate hearts and spirits. Two fellow passionate ballerinas from the Martin Center for Dance, in Lawernceville NJ, Avery McDowell and Lillian Woodward joined the charity. They collaborated to perform ballet excerpts of the Nutcracker during the winter months and some other classical ballet variations in the spring and summer seasons. At the end of each performance they follow with a movement therapy dance class for those living in nursing homes and assisted living centers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The three ballerinas made a commitment very early on to be double vaccinated, & boosted. Ballet was a very popular art form of entertainment for many elders in this generation, and the tears and smiles on their faces during each performance--- has been the greatest reward of this charity!!
Dance Therapy
Mood Elevation through Dance
As we age, our memory pathways are disrupted and the storage space in our brains become more occupied, therefore leaving less room for more, and memories stored in our brain become less accessable. By dancing and memorizing arm movements, we are challenging the mind to create new pathways.
Our Movement Therapy Class
It has been scientifically proven that learning dance movement helps with memory. Focusing on patterns, choreography and constant movement changes, helps the brain process, focus and build up memory. As the majority of attendees of our performance and movement class are wheel chair bound, we have focused our classes on the upper body, arm movement and positions.
Meet the Dancers
Nadia Espinoza
Nadia Espinoza has been dancing for over 13 years. She is the founder of Elevation Through Dance. Nadia is 16 years old and began her first classes at the Roxey Ballet School. At the age of 12 Nadia transferred to Ballet Central New Jersey. During her time at Ballet CNJ, she competed in the YAGP Ballet Competition, and was awarded the spot in the Top 12. A few years later began her training with Douglas Martin, Mary Barton, Maria Youskevitch, and Kirk Peterson at Martin Center For Dance. Her first summer intensive she trained with Gelsey Kirkland and Michael Chernov. Followed by summers at Mark Morris Dance Group, The American Ballet Theatre, Ellison Ballet, School of American Ballet, and San Fransisco Ballet School.
Avery McDowell
Avery McDowell is 15, and started dancing when she was 4 years old at Princeton Ballet School. Over the years, Avery has spent summers dancing at The School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Princeton Ballet School, Martin Center For Dance, Boston Ballet School, and the National Ballet of Canada. In the winter of 2020, Avery danced in the winter workshop at Kaatsbaan. In 2020, Avery transferred to Martin Center for Dance. Since joining Martin Center for Dance, Avery has had the pleasure of training under the direction of Douglas Martin, Mary Barton, Maria Youskevitch, and Kirk Peterson.
Lillian Woodward
Lillian Woodward is 15 years old and began her classes at Red Oak Ballet at age 3. At age 8 she transferred to AP Motion, and then to Princeton Ballet School a year later. Finally, at age 13 she transferred to Martin Center for Dance, where she is still training today with Douglas Martin, Mary Barton, Maria Youskevitch, and Kirk Peterson. She has attended numerous summer intensives over the years, including Princeton Ballet School, Boston Ballet, and Kaatsbaan’s Winter Intensive with Stella Abrera.
Photo Gallery
