During this 8-day exchange, you will teach over 100 youth, collaborate with Panamanian dancers, and discover Panamanian history and culture. Activities include:
Program Donation for the Panama Exchange Students: $1,390 Non-Students: $1,590 *A non-refundable and non-transferable deposit of $500 is due three months before the international dance exchange. The remaining amount of your program donation is due one month before the exchange. |
2018 Dance Exchange Timeline
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Sample itinerary: Panama City Exchange
DAY ONE Welcome to Panama! We will celebrate your arrival with a welcome dinner in Casco Viejo, the historical district of Panama City. Panama is a melting pot of diverse cultures, which can be seen in the Spanish and French architecture found throughout this part of the city. The cathedral and colonial period homes with balconies are great examples of this unique architectural combination. Once we settle into Magnolia Inn, everyone will receive an In-Country Handbook that functions to guide daily discussions for our week of dance and service.
DAY TWO We will start off our day with a hike up Cerro Ancon, a small inner-city rainforest with a breathtaking view of Casco Viejo, Panama City’s skyscrapers, and the vast Pacific Ocean. Today, you will be taking class from the students at the University of Panama to get a sense of their training and movement. After lunch, we will head across the scenic Bridge of the Americas to Malambo Orphanage in Arraijan. Malambo is home to over 100 children. This particular orphanage takes care of many children with disabilities and chronic diseases such as HIV. We will break into 2-3 groups and teach class to the girls for the rest of the afternoon. DAY THREE Rise and shine for a full morning of dance class! We will be learning one of the following techniques from a local dance professional: flying low modern, aerial dance, salsa, or breakdance. Following class, we’ll be heading back to Malambo Orphanage. By now you should feel more comfortable teaching and developing relationships with them, so delve deeper into your class material. We return to Magnolia Inn right after the classes to do reflections. Dinner on your own tonight will allow you to explore the city’s scene! |
DAY FOUR To start of your day, you will be taking a Panamanian folkloric dance. What a great way to get to know Panama’s many cultural dance traditions! So get ready and warm up for some “seguidillas.” After lunch, we’ll head towards Aldea SOS Orphanage in Panama City. The Aldea SOS Orphanage is a beginning class for boys and girls ranging from age 6-18. Aldea SOS is a similar house system to the Malambo Orphanage and also has over 100 kids who live there full-time. Dinner is on your own again tonight, feel free to explore the myriad of restaurants that Casco can offer!
DAY FIVE This morning you will take another dance class! After lunch we’ll have a small tour at Mi Pueblito. Mi Pueblito is a picturesque town that was built to exhibit the folklore and tradition of Panama, past and present. Here you will get to witness different housing styles back in the days, from natives to towns. After the small tour we’ll head back to Aldea SOS Orphanage in Panama City. After dancing at Aldea, it’s back to Casco for reflections and dinner will be on your own tonight again. The plazas will start to become more alive tonight, so feel free to explore! DAY SIX Take this morning as well-deserved free time to explore, take a nap, or journal. After lunch, we’ll be picked up for our last day of teaching at the Aldea SOS PTY orphanage. Be sure to finalize your choreography because we’ll have one big show. Say your final goodbyes to the students you’ve gotten to know this week and we’ll head back to Casco Viejo for dinner. DAY SEVEN Beach day today! Be sure to bring a bathing suit, towel, and plenty of sunblock. After lots of sun and sand, we will have our final group dinner and reflections. We will celebrate a jam-packed week of dance and service with a night out salsa dancing, Panamanian style. Time to put those newly refined salsa skills to use! DAY EIGHT Our final group breakfast will precede a morning stroll for last minute souvenir shopping. It’s time to say our last “hasta luegos” to all our new friends in Panama and head to the airport. Panama thanks you for your passion, energy, and time! |
**Note: Classes at the University of Panama will occur provided that it is in session during our exchange dates.
**Itineraries are subject to change.
**Itineraries are subject to change.