At Larga Vista Dance, we blend the artistry of dance with women's healthcare education & experience. We explore the harmony of dance enriched by vital healthcare knowledge, empowering women through the synergy of art and health. Larga Vista Dance formed successful partnerships with healthcare providers & experts to develop engaging community workshops and fundraisers centered on menopause, mental wellbeing, pelvic floor/diaphragm health, & musculoskeletal health. The healthcare professionals & experts provided evidence-based information for the workshops, & met with the choreographers to share valuable insights. In addition, the choreographers connected with patients, collecting personal healthcare stories that inspired distinctive dance pieces being presented. *Due to an unforeseen medical emergency, the show on October 19, 2025 is being presented as a 'work in progress.' *Tender Rebellion: The Art of Not Caring (with Heat) by Miho Ryu Sound Credit: “fur Ryuichi” by Alva Noto, “Melan-coin” by MASAR, Junichi Takagi, Keisuke Ohta, Masaki Yoshimi Dancers: Alexis Borth, Miho Ryu, Roxanne Young Healthcare Topic: Perimenopause/Menopause Expert: Kara Govoni of Elektra Health Choreographer’s reflection after meeting with the professional practitioner: The pursuit of quality of life. Choreographer’s reflection after speaking with a patient: Recalling my mother going through menopause, it was difficult to understand her experience. It's important to mention that Adelita and I contributed to this conversation as well. Instead of a one-way interview, it was really a discussion among the three of us. *Counting On Our Bodies by Soles of Duende Costumes & Original Music: Soles of Duende Dancers: Amanda Castro, Arielle Rosales, Brinda Guha Healthcare Topic: Pelvic floor / diaphragm health Expert: Chantel Bermejo of Physical Culture Choreographer’s reflection after meeting with the professional practitioner: STAGGERING STATS = WIDESPREAD ISSUE. The stats are staggering, and true for so many. It makes people not want to deal with their realities and stops women from freeing themselves of certain issues. Choreographer’s reflection after speaking with a patient: PELVIC FLOOR HEALTH IS A THING. Understanding the importance of women's pelvic floor & diaphragmatic health is crucial to our overall wellness. It’s surprising how little the general public knows about this topic. The more we share this knowledge, the less isolated we feel. *Kinetic Memory by sarAika Movement Collective Music: “8” by Kelly Lee, “Cadence” by Travis Lake, “Inertia” by Travis Lke, “Orgins” by Max Cooper Dancers: Lana Hankinson, Roxanne Young Healthcare Topic: Musculoskeletal Health Expert: June Rivera of Physical Culture Choreographer’s reflection after meeting with the professional practitioner: After speaking with the practitioner, we were intrigued by the delicate balance between maintaining the virtuosity of the body and nurturing creativity in choreographic creation, while also developing a more functional and sustainable approach to movement. This conversation highlighted the importance of educating oneself in practices that promote physical longevity without compromising artistic expression. Choreographer’s reflection after speaking with a patient: Speaking with the patient illuminated the profound emotional impact of their journey. It became clear that, beyond the physical process of healing, there is also a deeply personal journey of emotional restoration and self-discovery. This perspective enriched our understanding of the experience as not only a recovery of the body but also a transformative exploration of the self. *The Lens of the Mind by Larga Vista Dance Music : “This Bitter Earth,” by Dinah Washington; “Bathroom Dance,” by Hildur Guonadóttir; “Lily’s Theme,” by Alexandre Desplat; “Sirens End Credits,” by Michael Abels; “Love Is In Town,” by Brenda Boykin. Dancers: Lana Hankinson, Sara Pizzi, Aika Takeshima, Adelita Hinojosa-Martin Healthcare Topic: Mental Wellbeing Expert: Dr. Chloe Godwin Choreographer’s reflection after meeting with the professional practitioner: (1) Be proactive with your healthcare. Think about your future self and prioritize HOW you want to live. (2) Bring yourself into your body, out of your head. Meaning, mental wellbeing isn’t one track. Consider integrative medicine as part of your self-care. Integrative medicine uses an evidence-based approach to treat the whole person — your mind, body and soul. Using combination therapies, your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs are all involved. Consider integrating conventional approaches and complementary therapies to achieve optimal health and healing. Choreographer’s reflection after speaking with a patient: “To heal, I had to be inside my body, creating and dancing. Meaning I couldn’t think myself into healing.” We do not own the rights to any music. All Choreography is the property of each choreographer.

Choreographed by Ali McClellan and Adelita Hinojosa-Martin, this piece delves into the connection between dance and healthcare. As a dance movement therapist and a registered nurse, we recognize the vulnerability our patients face and the extent of emotions they navigate, from denial to grief and acceptance. Through this work, we cultivate an environment that honors their experiences, offering physical, emotional, and spiritual support. We celebrate the essence of human connection and resilience. Music: "Dance of Death" by Andrew Bird & "Peace Piece" by Bill Evans (we do not own the rights to this music).

Larga Vista Dance is a Brooklyn-based dance company, empowering women through art and health. We held a fundraiser at The Brooklyn Artery, in Ditmas Park, to help raise money for our 2025 Season. This was a free admission evening of art & women's healthcare education. The evening included a short performance by Larga Vista Dance Company, with guest artist Miho Ryo, a Watch Party of "The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause," followed by a short Q&A with a menopause coach and a raffle. Women walked away with new education on how their bodies work and how to better support themselves during this transition. The performance was a structured improvisation, inspired by the words of women's real perimenopausal experience. Guest artist Alexis Borth read the words of the women. (Pardon the video angle.) Our 2025 goal is $11,000. This money will fund our upcoming show, set for October 19, 2025. Read about our company at our website and donate, www.LargaVistaDance.org Help us reach our goal! Speaking portion May 17th Larga Vista Dance Presentation: How has perimenopause impacted my life? How HASN’T perimenopause impacted my life?! Even as a hyper-educated person on the subject, it kicks my ass on a daily. It isn’t one “thing” per se…I have so many symptoms. Brain fog, relentless self judgement, lack of control or agency over my moods, my output, and my energy – at work and at home. I just can’t seem to push through or “will myself” like I used to. For me, it’s the physical symptoms: the joint pain, the sudden injuries that seem to come out of nowhere, the irregular periods, breast changes and weight gain. Not knowing when it will change makes it feel like a rollercoaster. It has taught me that there are still things we cannot control, no matter how much we try. There is still a mystery to our bodies, our cycles and our rhythms. On the positive, it has forced me to give myself grace and hold my boundaries more steady than ever. I used to be a huge people pleaser, going above and beyond in order not to disappoint others - even if it exhausted me. Now, I can say “No” and put guardrails around what I can and can’t do. Most women I speak to say the same thing…the “I DON’T GIVE A FUCK” switch gets turned on….and it’s incredibly FREEING. (Music: a1 by Ólafur Arnalds & Nils Frahm - we do not own the rights to the music).

"Notes from Daughters" is a touching project created by Leah Elimeliah, originally presented in April 2024 at an intimate, charming art gallery on the Upper West Side of NYC, NY. The event honored a variety of artists, each of whom expressed how their fathers had influenced their development into the women they are today. Larga Vista Dance showcased an extraordinary performance, choreographed & directed by Adelita Hinojosa-Martin and Ali McClellan; coached by Arleen Sugano. The captivating guitar melodies from Gipsy Kings resonated a deep appreciation that a woman has for her Dad. This show was presented in June 2025 at STUDIO TO STAGE, presented by Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company. As this work continues to develop, the vision includes exploring the incorporation of videography. Music is Faena by Gipsy Kings (we do NOT own the rights to the music). The goal of Larga Vista Dance is to bring healthcare education and performing arts together. Ali is a dance therapist, and Adelita is a registered nurse. Learn more at https://www.largavistadance.org/

"Notes from Daughters" is a touching project created by Leah Elimeliah, presented at a charming art gallery on the Upper West Side. The event honored a variety of artists, each expressing how their fathers influenced their development into the women they are today. Larga Vista Dance showcased an extraordinary performance, directed by Adelita Hinojosa-Martin and Ali McClellan. The captivating guitar melodies from "Gipsy Kings" resonated the deep appreciation Adelita has for her Dad. Impressively, she delivered this piece following a demanding 12-hour shift at a NYC hospital, highlighting her commitment and passion. As this work continues to develop, the vision includes exploring the incorporation of videography, ideally performed in a larger space to amplify its effect. Music is Faena by Gipsy Kings (we do NOT own the rights to the music). The goal of Larga Vista Dance is to bring healthcare education and performing arts together. Ali is a dance therapist, and Adelita is a registered nurse.