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“A home for connecting through the arts in Pasadena.” That’s how Lineage Performing Arts, a nonprofit arts organization that produces their own performances and serves as a home for visiting artists to produce their own work, describes its mission – a mission that it has so far adhered to since 2009 when the Lineage Dance Company founded the “Dance for Joy” program.
“Dance for Joy” is a series of free acting, dance, and voice classes for people with neurological challenges like Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and stroke. Partnering with other nonprofits in the Pasadena area, Lineage has been able to pursue this program as well as other community-oriented programs that make the arts and arts education accessible to everyone in the community.
“We see ourselves as part of a network that supports our community,” Lineage Performing Arts says on its website. “That’s why we also partner with other nonprofits to raise awareness and funds for important causes.”
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these classes have been postponed and replaced by a limited number of online events. Currently, they’re able to offer free classes via Zoom for their select clientele: Dance for Joy and The Shakes on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Singing for Joy on Wednesdays.
There’s also a daily lesson: Amy Says Dance, created out of a need for connection and fun for the Parkinson’s community in the midst of the pandemic. The group started on March 13, 2020 and has since never missed a day of dancing. Handled by Amy Carlson, Amy Says Dance is on Zoom daily, including weekends, from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m.
Lyrical Modern for Teens, a paid class, is offered on Saturdays, also via Zoom.
Even with these online classes, Lineage hopes to return to the dance gallery soon to continue providing free dance education for their select clientele as well as paid classes for other community members.
Over the years, Lineage Performing Arts has been receiving generous support from the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation, the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts, The Davis Phinney Foundation, and the Pasadena Arts League, enabling the company to conduct online classes either for free or at a fair discount.
To stay informed about their online offerings, visit www.lineagepac.org/classes. They’ll also post announcements there about when they’ll be open for on-site classes and performances.
