Les Dames du Burlesque have permission to practice at the Senior Center

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Les Dames du Burlesque have permission to practice at the Senior Center

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Started 2 years ago by Charlotte Walker
Latest reply from Charlotte Walker

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Charlotte Walker
Member

I suppose most OTR members saw the story in the Press Citizen about the provocative group of young women who are performing under the title of Les Dames du Burlesque.

http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20100408/NEWS01/4080339/1079/news01/Les-Dames-du-Burlesque-brings-old-art-form-to-Iowa-City

I learned some surprising news about that group today. I found out that the "ladies" are practicing at the Senior Center. That news was revealed in a March 6th entry of Les Dames Facebook that told where they are practicing. After getting that information, I checked with the senior center program specialist, Michelle Buhman. She confirmed that they are indeed allowed to use space at the senior center to practice. I replied asking if they pay rent and if so how much. I also asked how many times a week they practice there. She didn't answer yet.

As I wrote on my PC blog today, the senior center staff does have trouble getting the younger men to join the senior center. Maybe allowing the "ladies" to practice at the senior center is a feeble lure to try to increase the number of the younger male members. However, I think it is just another example of the staff's compulsion to have the senior center become so utterly intergenerational.

Here are two other links to find out more about Les Dames du Burlesque:

From the Daily Iowan:

http://www.dailyiowan.com/2010/04/01/Arts/16461.html

Les Dames Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Les-Dames-du-Burlesque-dIowa-City/306595668924

The senior center staff seems determined to turn our senior center into another intergenerational center. They are trying so very hard to avoid focusing upon the our older people. Iowa City already has one intergenerational center at the Recreation Center. We don't need two.

I would be very interested to hear opinions about whether the senior center space should be used for this purpose.

Charlotte L. Walker

Posted 2 years ago #
Charlotte Walker
Member

For the record, I contacted Linda Kopping, the manager of the Senior Center, about her decision to allow private practice space to Les Dames. Here is what I asked her:

In a message dated 4/12/2010 12:28:34 P.M. Central Daylight Time, WalkerCL04@aol.com writes:

Linda, I would like to know what to tell people who have been surprised by the news that the Les Dames du Burlesque group is being allowed to have practice space at the senior center. I have also been told that, when they are practicing, the room is closed to the public and that they are not shown on the daily roster at the reception area. I don't know if that last information is true or not but you do. I would like to know if it is true.

What is the official staff view on this surprising news? What would you like me to tell people who ask about it? So far I can only tell questioners that Michelle informed me after my question that the group does practice there.

I read over the policy about room use that you have on the senior center web pages. I would like a clarification about permission to use rooms requested by "individuals". If an individual requests to use a room, are there any limitations at all upon the purpose of request to use the room or upon who can ask or their age? If so, what are they?

Since I doubt that the Les Dames are a non-profit organization, would it be correct to say that they were approved as an "individual" request? I would like to know how many times a week and for how long each time that Les Dames practice at the senior center? Do they have to pay rent and if so, how much?

Charlotte Walker

Posted 2 years ago #
Charlotte Walker
Member

Today I got a reply to the message that I sent to the senior center manager on April 12th, after I sent a reminder today. She sent a very interesting reply. Below is what she wrote:

In a message dated 4/26/2010 4:18:39 P.M. Central Daylight Time, Linda-Kopping@iowa-city.org writes:

Charlotte,

Yes, I inadvertently discarded your message and have not had time to follow up on it.

Yes, they are still practicing here once or twice a week for 60-90 minutes at a time. Nelle's group will be doing a performance at the Center around June 24 in return for the use of our room. Shortly thereafter, the group will perform with the Swing Band at the Iowa City Jazz Fest.

Nelle has worked for the Center for a couple of years. Prior to that she was a volunteer in SCTV.

It is not unusual for a group to close the door when using a room. The doors are not locked. In fact, because they generally use G13, which has a timed locking device, they do not have the capability to either lock or unlock the room. The only way the room could be locked is if they entered the room while it was unlocked, shut the door, and the timed device locked the room while they are in there.

Practices have been listed on the daily calendar of events since February 22. Initially it was called Nelle's Dance Group because they had not decided upon a name. Once a name was selected, it was used on the daily schedule. At this point,the only reason it would not be on the posted schedule is if the room use is arranged at the last minute on a space available basis (e.g. for an extra practice).

I adhere to current policy when authorizing room use by individuals or groups.

The Senior Center neither approves nor disapproves of the content, ideas, or subject matter presented in meeting rooms used by community members and nonprofit groups and organizations during regular hours of operation or on evenings, weekends, and holidays. The Senior Center does not accept responsibility for ensuring accuracy or that all points of view are represented.

I have not had a single question related to Nelle's dance group using the facility. Because her program isn't scheduled until June, it hasn't been publicized yet, so I'm not sure how people know about it. Nonetheless, I guess if anyone said something about the upcoming program to me, I would say that the Center is hosting a burlesque-type program and if they think they'd enjoy it, they should plan on attending.

Linda

Posted 2 years ago #

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