Even as the world celebrates the career of a talented persona like Dick Van Dyke against all odds, still being very active in his late years, doing different things that the media haven’t even covered, he has certainly left a niche of his work that will stay forever.
At his Malibu home, Van Dyke, a renowned actor age 99, has been offering small, private and non-structured artistic and music sessions for the young.”Far from the flash of cameras or the buzz of the internet, these intimate gatherings are all about sharing knowledge, fostering creativity, and passing on the essence of storytelling.
An anonymous source, whose bond with the actor is close, defined the events as “like a living room jam session, part masterclass, part hangout.” Most participants are usually those who are invited with the help of others, such as young people who attend the theater, those who are in search of their first break in the music market, or some creators who desire to be in touch with their art.
One performer, a 24-year-old singer-songwriter who was present at that time, shared, “He wasn’t interested in anyone trying to make it or in trying to impress him. All he wanted to find out was why we loved what we did. He was an excellent listener.” The attendees, who are generally those who have been there testify,
He also said that “Van Dyke showed us voice warm-up activities, breath exercises, and moving exercises that he has been working with for many years. His being technique-focused was the least thing to consider in comparison with his philosophy. “He said something that stuck with me,” the singer recalled. “‘Don’t let the algorithm tell your story. Let your story tell the algorithm.’ That blew my mind.
The sessions usually begin with a calm chat and often turn into either a jam session or some group mulling about. He’s the star and the showman of the group as he sometimes let out a song or crack a dance step on the spot to make his point. “He’s got the grace of someone in their early thirties,” spoke the filmmaker very confidently. “His happiness is very clear to anyone who visits him”.
VAN DYKE doesn’t have any ego issue. These are no pictures from the press, no hashtags on social media, no videos. One of the participants said, “He’s not trying to create a brand, but he’s mentoring people.”
Although word-of-mouth is not the most reliable distribution channel, it is still slowly but surely being used to spread the word. A few young artists who gained wisdom from Van Dyke have embarked on the journey of writing some new material, composing music of their own, and tackling short films. A group of them is also having a plan to come up with a stage show that reflects their mentorship—a salute to a person who is both a classic and contemporary one—Van Dyke whose old-school stories and modern-day thoughts are the inspirations.
In a time where materialism, speed, and virality have too often taken the place of substance, Dick Van Dyke is becoming a real force for change: time and attention and sincere motivation.
“The thing that he says is that you remember why you wanted to create in the first place,” another member stated. “It was not for the sake of views or followers, but due to the fact that you had something inside you that just had to be seen or heard.”
The man who is going to turn 100 years old this December, Van Dyke, does what he has always done best—arousing people’s interest, boosting their mood, and, thus, making a quiet and powerful contribution to the world through the simplest, most powerful gift of all: joy.
And those who have the privilege to be in his living room, that joy becomes ecstasy for sure.
