UC Irvine

The goal of this project is to bring dance to an at-risk community of children in Panama and work for social justice through the language of dance. UCI is partnering with a third-party non-profit, Movement Exchange, who will facilitate the organization and itinerary of our international dance exchange. We will be connecting with the University of Panama and the National Dance School of Panama, teaching advanced master classes and taking class in traditional Panamanian dance styles. It is a true exchange in that our group of UCI students will be bringing our dance forms to share with the youth in Panama, and the Panamanians in return will be sharing their dance styles with us. We will also be traveling to orphanages and at-risk youth centers to teach dance classes to children of all ages. This experience will help us understand dance on a global level and see how we can fit into this larger community. During this exchange, we will examine how we can create dance lesson plans that effectively stimulate development of creativity, self-expression, and physical embodiment in the child. We are also interested in observing how dance can serve as a language between two groups of people who do not speak the same mother tongue but are still communicating through the body. We will also be learning new styles of modern dance and some of the native dances of Panama at the National University of Panama. Not only will this exchange impact the lives of the Panamanian youth, but will also aid in the evolution of our own growth as maturing dance professionals by having international immersion and hands-on teaching experience. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01qhyLd966E