Welcome to the DAM Community Spotlight!
The next community spotlight, where we share stories from current and alumni members, highlights Mr. Cooper Dupre, DAM volunteer alumni.
Cooper and a Dancer – Smiling and Having Fun Backstage!
Cooper joined DAM in 2014, volunteering in Milton and Ancaster. In 2017, he filled the role of Volunteer Coordinator, allowing him to get involved across every studio with a particularly frequent presence in Alliston, Milton, and Mississauga.
Cooper shares the true value and impact he felt in the DAM community, emphasizing the collective kind and welcoming attitude. As a volunteer in Alliston, Cooper formed a special connection with two dancers who welcomed him to join their dance crew. That dance crew developed the ‘V formation’ which featured the two dancers in the front, and Cooper behind cheering them on. Cooper highlights the consideration and inclusion that was present in this dance crew and the community overall.
“I loved the unconditional kindness I was met with and how it was about more than the dance. I didn’t come from a dance background and that didn’t matter. DAM was about finding a space to be yourself and feel welcomed. This radiated amongst everyone involved and allowed anyone who came to the program to get something out of it.”
Since his time at DAM, Cooper has completed his Master of Social Work and is now working at a Pediatric Rehabilitation Hospital. In this role, Cooper works in outpatient units with youth and families with disabilities, supporting them “to navigate the systems and psychosocial experiences associated with growing up with a disability.”
Cooper reflects on how his time with DAM continues to impact his life. He shares the listening, adaptation, empathy, and compassion skills honed through his time in our community, and how these skills continue to help him in his role today.
“I rely on my critical thinking and reflexivity learned from DAM to ensure I am best supporting my clients in a way that meets their best hopes. With these important skills, I never lose sight of how DAM also taught me that no matter how tough of a card people are dealt, we all just want to have a little fun.”
The experiences and stories Cooper shared showcase what DAM is all about – ensuring everyone can have fun through movement!
