our
history
Perennial Movement Group (PMG) was founded in 2015 by Sarah Ramey to create more opportunities for older adults to experience dance in Columbus, Ohio. The program began with support from an Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, a national program of funding and mentorship for graduate students engaged in service projects to address the social determinants of health in their communities. In partnership with the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center, Ramey developed a free dance program that included twice-weekly dance classes and field trips to see local dance performances. In 2017, Chloe Napoletano joined PMG as a teacher and key collaborator.
Now, PMG is an organization that offers dance classes and performance opportunities for adults over 50. Our classes and rehearsal operate out of varying community spaces including local dance studios, parks, and school gymnasiums-always with the goal of cultivating creativity, health and community involvement through dance.
PMG may best be described by one of our program participants, Marybeth, “I look forward to weekly movement classes. They were my lifeline during the pandemic. Be they in person, or via zoom, our teachers work hard to make each person feel welcomed. We have different ability levels, and experiences, and this adds to our group. Our teachers know us by name, and develop class lessons that incorporate our ideas. I haven't felt pressured to be perfect, but feel encouraged to do my best and have fun. And I have made new friends and that is also something I look forward to when I think of an upcoming class.”
present day
