Dance Generators is an intergenerational dance company within the University of San Francisco’s Performing Arts & Social Justice department. Founded in 1997 by Amy Dowling, the company believes that when generations dance together, empathy and connection soar, blending the wisdom of age with the vitality of youth through movement.
Now under the direction of Liv Schaffer, Dance Generators includes members from their twenties to nineties. The company creates performances and community events where diverse bodies and stories come together, guided by the vision that dancing together cultivates belonging and inspires social change.
Workshops and collaborative events use dance as a shared language for trust, healing, and joy. For many, it starts with play, an open exchange that bridges generations. Younger dancer Zoe says, “I want to keep learning a sense of play and curiosity,” while her partner Cecilia brings movement as joy and presence that blurs the lines of age. Beneath the playfulness, there’s a deep awareness of being alive. Elder member Yope reflects, “I still have to open up to include as much as I possibly can in this life.” For him, dancing with youth invites reflection, tenderness, and the courage to grow.
This exchange builds confidence for all, especially for those finding new ways to express themselves. As Seb, a younger member, shares, “It’s that confidence I think is really useful outside of dance.” Surrounded by self-assured dancers, he found space to expand in both movement and voice. Their latest work, CALLED, draws from the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, weaving together interfaith and intercultural spiritual ideas. Through dance, they explore how a shared sense of spirit might heal divisions and reimagine community. Together, Dance Generators reveals the transformative power of intergenerational exchange: play becomes communion, presence becomes wisdom, and movement becomes liberation, reminding audiences of the stories only dance can tell.
What is the value of generations coming together in programs like this?
"When generations dance together, age-based biases about bodies and ability are challenged. Older dancers find safe spaces for self-expression and ongoing discovery, while younger dancers learn generosity and connection through movement. Supportive culture transforms negative body image, freeing us from old stories of unworthiness. Collaborating across ages to create dances taps into a collective well of stories, symbols, and shared meaning—fuel for healing and progress. Together, generations co-imagine, co-design, and co-perform what’s in their hearts: a living vision of what people long for, regardless of age, race, religion, or class.
At Dance Generators, we invite audiences into this intergenerational dialogue, using dance as a doorway to connection, felt sensation, and symbolism. The response from participants and audiences alike is always the same: a sense of truth and belonging. As a species, we have always danced together. Let us remember our deep connection to each other, the earth, and the cosmos."
—Liv Schaffer, Dance Generators Director
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