Coming in March 2023:
AUM's vision:
ARTS
that heal, connect, transform.
AUM's mission
Using the kinesthetic arts to promote healing and better mental health by reducing anxiety and depression in the community and in the workplace
Kinesthetic ARTS
in the community
Awaken, Reflect, Transform, and Share through the expressive arts, including drama, dance, movement, and the visual arts
AUM collaborates with organizations, non-profits, and individuals to serve communities in reducing anxiety and depression using the kinesthetic arts.
BeWellArts
AUM's workplace initiative:
Increasing emotional resilience and decreasing stress
BeWellArts programming uses the kinesthetic arts and evidence-based practices.
BeWellArts is a workplace initiative of Arts Unity Movement (AUM), a 501(c)(3) non-profit that promotes emotional health and healing through mindfulness, movement, and the arts. BeWellArts provides experiences that encourage connection and directly reduce stress and fatigue, while improving focus and productivity.
What are the benefits?
Learn how to get out of your head, get into your body, and take a break from your daily routine.
What makes BeWellArts different?
BeWellArts is a playful and non-judgmental use of movement and art media that releases stress and builds internal balance and ease naturally. BeWellArts integrates:
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Breathing techniques
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Body awareness and alignment
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Mindful movement and art
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Guided visualization
AUM sponsors artists
AUM helps fund artists from arts disciplines including:
dance and movement
performing arts
visual arts
creative writing and poetry
photography
filmmaking
music
yoga
mindfulness practices
Many of our artists are also licensed and board-certified therapists.
We give our artists a voice, an audience, and an income.
AUM driving impact
We develop customized kinesthetic arts programs supporting mental health initiatives for your organization's needs — just ask us.
We are grateful to our clients, including agencies, audiences, and corporate funders for their grants, sponsorships, donations and trust.
NewGround performance history
TIMELINE
2010-2021
Over 40 performances, Annual storyline performances around themes such as earth/environment, domestic violence, self-awareness, dance/art events, art shows and multiple workshop series
2000
Our co-founders Roberta Wentzel-Walter and Coleen Lorenz begin collaboration on art and movement projects
2010
AUM applies for and receives 501(c)3 designation
2011
AUM incorporated as 501(c)3. NewGround Theatre Dance Company performed the Terrain Project. Subsequent art workshops followed
2012
New Ground performed AXIOM
2013
New Ground presented Catalyst, Choreographer Festival and Breaking New Ground, Discovering the Relationships between Art, Psychology and Recent Discoveries in Neuroscience.
2014: Opening of AUM Center, Started Offering Classes & Sessions: Open Art Studio, New concept of Empathic Art Exchange (EAX) was initiated Express Yourself! event was presented at AUM for the broader community. Three well-known artists presented their works and assisted community members in their own self-expression. NewGround commissioned to perform at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival in SF
2014
The AUM Theatre and Workshop Center opens
2015
AUM invited to present the Opening Ceremony for the ‘Girls Conference’ in Human Trafficking. Black box theater opened. EAX event involved inviting community artists view new works in progress by the NewGround Company. Resulting work was an art show to accompany performance of Quantum Leap” Portals of awakening through art and dance.
BHRS contract to provide art therapy to incarcerated teens. The Magic of Ghost Ranch Art show held at AUM Center
AUM is awarded the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) contract to provide art therapy for incarcerated teens
2016
NewGround invited and commissioned to perform in touring production “Shanti - A Journey of Peace” NewGround Theatre Dance Company produced and performed Expressions of ONE along with presenting an art show created by participants in Empathetic Art Exchange. NewGround Invited and commissioned to perform in Mosaic America production
AUM wins Audience Choice Award for Best Choreography at ChoreoProject Festival
2017
NewGround wins Audience Choice Award for outstanding choreography. Title of piece: “The Only Constant Is Change” sjDANCEco – ChoreoProject. EAXs presented about “Our Earth and its resources- Letters From Earth. NewGround selected to perform in sjDANCEco festival as professional company performance.
AUM wins state grant to provides art-based workshops for mental health professionals
AUM is a finalist at the Edinburg Fringe Festival; Environmental Recognition award “given to a production of high artistic integrity with a strong focus on sustainability and taking responsibility for our environmental impact."
2018
NewGround invited & commissioned to perform at San Jose Museum of Art Presented by Mosaic Silicon Valley. NewGround performed Shekinah at AUM Center, Magic Theater in San Francisco and DeAnza Visual and Performing Arts Center Cupertino
2019
NewGround selected to perform at Movement Arts Festival San Francisco Grace Cathedral, SF CA. NewGround performed Star Seed at Canada College with art show in lobby. Star Seed performed at Montalvo Arts Center presented by Mosaic Silicon Valley. NewGround Invited to present at sjDANCEco Annual Dance Festival
2020
NewGround collaborated with Fuse Theater in a theatrical production. Art show at philanthropic center and theater festival planned, cancelled due to COVID. Shift to virtual programming, Virtual COVID art show opened on our website
2021
Virtual art therapy classes continued. Hybrid EAX with livestream performance and zoom audience. More planned.
2018
HUMANITARIANISM AND COMPASSION
Shekinah: One woman’s journey from pain and suffering to finding self-empowerment. The “heroine’s journey” of facing her own challenges and discovering the strength and compassion of the divine feminine, “shekinah”
2019
UNITY AND INCLUSION
Star seed: A poetic narrative of three seeds of our existence-- breath, minds and voices--unifying us across our differences. A beautiful dance production with representation from our local BIPOC, LBGTQ and disabled communities.
2020
EMERGING FROM COVID-19
Art Show and Empathic Art Exchange performance:
112 art pieces produced during COVID workshops that dealt with feelings of isolation, fear and hope.
Dancers selected art pieces that influenced them to build six pieces of choreography relating to COVID and BLM. The show also included a performance by an award-winning opera singer.
2021
MOSAIC ARTS FESTIVAL
Celebrating the diversity of cultures and the unity of our shared human experiences told through co-created and intercultural art forms. AUM's NewGround Theatre Dance Company participated in October 2021 at the Mosaic America Arts Festival in Silicon Valley.
AUM Board of Directors
Coleen Lorenz
MA, BC-DMT, CGP
President, Artistic Director NewGround Theatre Dance Company
RJ Mahadev
AUM Secretary and Treasurer
Lisa Spivey
AUM Board Member-at-Large
Devora Weinapple
MA, LMFT, ATR-BC
AUM Board Member, Director of Web and Graphics
Roberta Wentzel-Walter
MA, ATR-BC
AUM Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Director
AUM Vice President