It’s amazing to realize that even the small things we do can have a big impact on others. As a high school student, my life usually revolved inside my own bubble. But while helping to teach a class at Girls Inc., I found myself needing to step out of my comfort zone. Although it was nerve-wracking to work with so many kids and sometimes challenging to keep the kids focused on one activity, it was a mind-opening and wonderful experience. I’ll never know what impact I have on their lives, but the kids’ smiling faces make me think it’s a good one.
- Jamie Foo, Dance Diplomat at Northwood High School
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“I came to our first workshop without preparing much, because based on experiences I had in Panama I realized to give the kids a fun class, I had to be flexible with what we did in class. I wanted to know if they had a real interest in learning dance and what styles they want to learn so they would be active throughout our next weeks. At the end when asked what they wanted to learn in the future, I was so happy when they were interested in ballet and breakdancing. A desire to learn about dance is what I am striving to ignite in my classes and I’m so excited for the following weeks I will be teaching at KidWorks.”
- Alyssa Muller, Dance Diplomat from UC Irvine I went with Movement Exchange to Panama for my first time this past summer. No amount of research could have prepared me what we experienced. Panama itself is a very beautiful place, bursting at the seams with arts and culture. I loved going to the outdoor markets with our group and seeing the handmade jewelry and molas. Although I wasn’t accustomed to the climate when we first arrived, it grew on me the more the week went by. The first day of heavy rain was uncomfortable and scary, and at the same time so freeing to run through. I have never seen rain as heavy as Panama’s, and having no choice but to run through without any umbrella allowed me to embrace the warmth and insanity of the water. Learning the history and experiencing everyday life in Panama reminded me the importance of dance and community. I knew I wanted to use my passion for dance to ignite some spark in the kids, to show them dance is something accessible that can be used to find your niche. The kids in both orphanages made me extremely proud with their talents and support for each other. Who knew there was a secret b-girl hiding in Malambo?!! They surprised me every day with what they could do and what they wanted to learn. There were many children with so much potential, and I strove to teach them what I could while making sure they felt that same passion for dance. - Alyssa Muller, Dance Diplomat from UC Irvine Teaching your peers is one thing, teaching your peers in a different country is another. Teaching at the University of Panama was an experience beyond words. Prior to going in and prepping beforehand, we didn’t know what to expect. We were nervous about the reception of our choreography and how the students would react to it. Also, how well we would be able to teach it considering the language barrier and cultural differences. We were overall scared hoping the students would like our choreography and be able to understand it. However, once the class begun it felt like any other class we have taken/taught before. The entire class was solely about the movement and good vibes. This experience and class was a prime example of the power of dance and how dance really is a universal language. It was incredible to see how we were able to communicate without directly speaking at all. We had a translator, but it almost wasn’t needed. Just through dance, the students were able to interpret what we were saying and execute the piece flawlessly while adding their own style to it. The students understood simply by watching our moves and listening to us recreate the beats in the music. All dancers have an unspoken connection and understanding where talking isn’t necessary to be all together in one space to dance. We feel, we move, and we dance together no matter where we are from.
– Aja Loo, Dance Diplomat from UC Irvine Today was a very busy day! We started with a 6:30 am wake up call and set out to hike Cerro Ancon, a hill on the outskirts of Casco Viejo where we are staying. Not only did the hike offer beautiful views of Panama City and Casco, but it was rich in historical value from when the Americans forces occupied Panama’s Canal Zone. There was interesting information about bunkers built into the hill as a precaution for potential attacks on the canal during WWII. Having studied European History extensively, I was fascinated by the impact it has had as far as Central America. I am constantly in awe of the beauty of Panama’s flora and fauna, as well as skyline and overall wonder. The hike allowed us to appreciate all of the above, and even see a toucan!
Next, we headed to the University of Panama to teach a class to the dance majors studying there. This was my first time experiencing dance in a university setting internationally! Sam and Aja taught a hip hop routine, including improvisation at the start. It was so fun to see the Panamanian dance majors, our peers, throw themselves into the choreography and improvise alongside us and with us. Their passion and dedication was clear, and it was inspiring to us all as dancer majors and dance diplomats. Finally, we returned to Aldea orphanage to teach again. Today was special, because they remembered us and were familiar faces to us as well. Many even remembered our names! Teaching felt a lot more natural, and I felt my Spanish growing stronger. Growing up in a Spanish immersion program, I have a background in Spanish that I am hoping to improve, especially my conversational skills. Speaking with the kids is so beneficial as they are not afraid to correct you or tell you the word you are searching for! I love watching my fellow dance diplomats teach, and I feel so much love and support from each of them when I am teaching in turn. The environment here is so comfortable and kind, and truly fosters learning and growth. Watching them interact with the children warms my heart, and I can see everyone is truly invested in the mission of this organization. Our day at Aldea was bittersweet however, because we had to say goodbye to the kids we met. They were each so unique and beautiful and several tears were shed by the dance diplomats of love and appreciation for our time with them. I felt such a strong connection to the students instantly, through their warm smiles, physical affection, and enthusiasm for life. I am so thankful to Movement Exchange for fostering such a loving environment that is such a rewarding experience. As an international studies and dance double major, it is fascinating to me to see how dance connects to global citizenship, the nationality and culture of a nation, and the impact the arts have on a nation’s identity. It is truly amazing to be able to communicate with another nation simply through movement and expression, and no words. I am especially thankful for this opportunity to combine both my passions in this way. I will remember my time teaching, dancing, and learning about Panama firsthand forever! – Sonya Thrasher, Dance Diplomat from UC Irvine Day 3. We started off our day in Panama with a break dancing class. It’s a style that is out of my comfort zone, but today our teacher, Hernan, was very caring and he helped all of us individually. He corrected us one-by-one and he was so genuine. His ease made me feel so comfortable that it allowed me to open up and try the break dancing moves without feeling shy or judged. Also with it being day 3, I already feel so close and open with everyone in our group and that allowed me to open up and feel free to try moves in the studio without fear of failing. Then after class, we had a quick lunch and headed straight to Malambo Orphanage.
When we arrived, our group gathered together for a little bit before seeing the children, and one of the things we discussed today was the difference between volunteerism and voluntourism. An example of voluntourism is exploiting an organization for selfish reasons, or being ignorant of the culture that you will be going into and being disrespectful. For me, I want to become more knowledgeable about Panama and the Panamanian culture. I also want to become fluent in Spanish. But anyways, I digress…. So after our meeting, the first thing we did at Malambo was go to the toddlers’ room and get to play with the little ones for a little bit. When we got there, immediately, one of the little girls attached herself to me. The first thing she did was come up to me and just sit on my lap. She didn’t say much but I knew she just wanted love and connection. So for the rest of the time, that is what I did, I picked her up and held her as long as I could. She was adorable. Since we were outside and the sun was beating down on us, it was very hot and carrying her very close to my chest made me very sweaty, but I dared not to put her down. I was an orphan once too, but I was adopted at 20 months from an orphanage in China. I know what it is like to want love, affection and human touch. All of what we crave, when we are babies, from our mothers. I know that after I was adopted, I was inseparable from my mother. I had separation anxiety, in fear that I would lose my mother again. Because being in a orphanage as a baby, and not understanding anything, it’s like your mother died and you don’t know why or where she went and she never came back for you. (oh and also as a side note, being on this exchange is the first time I have ever seen an orphanage since being in one, about 19 years ago. I am 20 now.) So I felt that I had a deep indescribable understanding with the kids in these orphanages. I know that they are craving human touch and they just want to be loved. And that’s what this little girl wanted. When I had to go, I realized maybe I shouldn’t have attached myself because saying goodbye was the hardest part. She didn’t want me to go and she started crying. I could hardly tear my self away. It broke my heart. I am upset with myself that I couldn’t say that I would be back on Thursday to see her again, and that I couldn’t comfort her with words. But my peers helped me so much in translating, and I am forever grateful. (after this it is a goal of mine to become fluent in Spanish) But even with the language barrier, I know the girl and I had a deeper connection that words can not express. That is why I love dance. It is a universal language. After saying, “Chao,” I went to go teach the older girls. At first I taught them a short ballet class and it was so wonderful and pure to watch them dance. They were so happy. The girls today were superb. They all mostly participated and were really interested in learning. Also for the second half of teaching the older girls, another dance diplomat, Aja, and I taught them a fun combination to “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce. They loved it. Their faces were radiant. And getting to see them dance was so pure. Their faces were so joyous. Next I helped assist the younger girls’ class, and there were only about four girls. Unfortunately the rest were sick or had pink eye, so we had a small class. But it was still fun. In this class, we played games more and didn’t dance as much, but still being with the girls and seeing their happy faces was amazing. Seeing all these happy faces these last two days is just breathtaking and beautiful. I know they are young and they just want to have fun, and I want to give that to them. But also, I want to give them so much more. And for only having been here for 3 days, I already know that I am going to come back next year. I feel that there is so much more to say, but it is hard for me to formulate words. I only hope that I have given you a little taste from my experience. Panama has opened my heart and my soul so much. And also aside from the children, being able to walk around and experience Panama is wonderful too. Panama is a vibrant city with an amazing culture. I am in love. – Jaliya Wilkinson, Dance Diplomat from UC Irvine We kicked off our second day in Panama with a flying low technique class, which was taught by a college student named Adrian. I'm personally not fond of floorwork but it was fun exploring out of my comfort zone and getting down on the ground (and I learned that I really need to work on my tricep muscle strength). He didn't speak English, but the language barrier wasn't an issue because just watching him demonstrate the movement was enough to know what he was looking for in the exercises. After lunch we headed to Aldea SOS Orphanage for our first day of teaching the kids. Once our bus pulled up, my nervousness melted away. I expected to see shy faces, but many were very curious and were immediately clinging to our arms, touching our hair, and asking to take pictures on our phones. I was beginning to look forward to teaching them. However, a majority of the children vanished once we began class. It was honestly very discouraging for me, but the children who did stay behind were so genuinely eager to learn that the feeling went away. I wanted to ask them what they did today, what their favorite color is, whether they are a dog or cat lover. For someone whose basic knowledge of Spanish comes from watching Dora the Explorer, it was frustrating and I was disappointed and even ashamed with myself for not learning the language. But when I saw them laughing as we danced and played games, I realized we didn't need to share words to create a bond. All we needed was the power of dance and our passion for moving. Even after several years of dancing, it still warms my heart to know that the language of dance has the ability to bring different people together. I can't wait to see these children again and continue building our relationship through movement... and the occasional silly selfie! - Jerica Tan, Dance Diplomat from UC Irvine Day 2. I am absolutely in love with this city, its people, and its vibrantly beautiful culture.
The day of our departure to Panama I felt overwhelmed with nerves and a shaky sense of excitement. I had no idea what to expect, but I knew that this experience would change my life. I’ve been through every emotion possible in just two days of being in this new world. And I’m learning that it’s okay, to just be. It is okay to feel whatever it is I’m feeling in each moment, and to allow myself the space to vulnerably be my self. I quickly realized that my three years of Spanish in high school would only slightly help me to get around, but I am building up every ounce of courage in me to practice without fear every chance I get. If there’s one thing I’ve learned so far, it is that fear will not help me here. There is so much freedom in letting confidence and awareness of my surrounding take the forefront of my experience. I’m refusing to let myself to be ruled by the anxious feelings that arise with being in an unfamiliar place, and instead empowered by them. Yes, I’ve cried at least five times so far, but I’ve also laughed until my belly hurts, and danced until my legs felt like they were going to give out on me. And I am so in love with everything I feel, every beautiful face I’ve encountered, even the humidity (I have not stopped sweating since we arrived.) Today was our first adventure visiting the Causeway, seeing the breathtaking views through the windows of our sweet little Movement Exchange bus, walking along the water, riding a six person bike and laughing the whole way. We experienced our first dance class, learning the incredible style of Folkloric, and my heart was instantly filled seeing the bright, smiling faces of my group of amazing dancers overflowing with the joy of sharing new movement over the colorful streets of Casco Viejo. We ended class and were greeted with a tropical downpour most of us had never experienced, and I think that moment will be one of my favorite memories, running through the streets, screaming and laughing all the way to our hostel, arriving at the doorstep dripping from head to toe, with the biggest smiles you’ve ever seen. We are already growing so close as a group and I feel overwhelmed with the support, and love pulsating through our group of beautiful individuals. Tomorrow will be our first day teaching at the Aldea orphanage, and everything in me feels unprepared, yet more ready for this than I know. This feels like home. In the most unfamiliar way. Everything feels right and my heart is pulsing with the radiance of Panama. – Nashalah McNamara, Movement Exchange Dance Diplomat Today, our last day with the Malambo girls, was gratifying, exhilarating, and heartbreaking. We have been bonding with a lot of these girls for four days now and through my broken Spanish I was able to learn about them and about myself. For the past three days we have been working with both the older and the younger girls on different warm ups and combinations. Watching them progress, change and grow has been such an amazing experience.
Before going on this trip I didn’t expect to bond with one person as much as I did with Aris. From sitting in front of me on the bus day one, to helping me speak Spanish day two, to telling the other girls to keep dancing on day three, to coming up with her own choreography on day four, Aris taught me how strong friendships can be even with a language barrier. I would hold her hand, teach her steps and watch her interact with the other girls. When something was troubling her I was their to cheer her up. I was happy to be there but I was also frustrated because I could not explain to her how much she meant to me. I wanted to explain in words and not just hugs, dance, and facial expressions, how proud I was of what she had accomplished in 4 short days and how inspired I was by her dancing. I decided the only thing I could do was write her a letter. With the help of Edgar, who is fluent in Spanish, I crafted a letter that explained how I felt and how I would always remember her. I will never forget the look on her face when I gave her the letter, or how 20 min later she returned with a letter of her own explaining how I was her best friend and she will continue to dance. Holding back tears I hugged her and thanked her for everything. I then taught two more classes and helped the girls perform in the show all while thinking that this could be the last time I see her. After the show she told me she had a surprise for me. I followed her into one of the houses and covered by eyes. She came out with two teddy bears explaining the big one was me and the little one was her. She walked me to the bus and we said goodbye. Sitting on the buss in our way back to the hostel the tears finally came, for everything I was leaving but especially her. Her kind eyes and knowing smile touched my heart in a way I was not expecting and I am so glad I was able to make that connection with her. I’ll never forget Malambo and the connections I made there. -Brooke Bierling, Dance Diplomat from UC Irvine Edgar and I first found out that we were teaching at the University of Panamá while reading our itinerary a couple of days before leaving for our exchange. Immediately, the two of us began conversing about our lesson plan and songs that we each wanted to choreograph to. While these aspects of teaching are vital to the structure of a dance class, we never could have expected the amount of support that we received during our time of instruction.
I have been teaching dance for the past 5 years form ages ranging between 6-17 years old. I have noticed that American dance students cling to their reflection in the mirror and follow the specific directions they are given throughout class. However, there seems to be a lack of community and support for their fellow classmates. From the second I walked into the University studio, I felt the positive energy and the eagerness to work hard and focus throughout class – something I had never felt before in classes I had taught in the past. Each dancer exuded their own style and quirks throughout the movement and continued to push themselves for the entirety of the class. Edgar and I were able to combine our movement combinations and work together to give corrections and take feedback in regards to our teaching. At the end of class, I took a step back and watched the students improvise in the center of the room with their hearts exposed and minds hard at work. I felt a sense of accomplishment and excitement about my teaching abilities that I had not previously felt in the states. While dance is considered a disciplined art form, it is also an emotional outlet. Consequently, dance promotes positive self esteem and further enhances the personalities of each dancer. This experience has taught me to keep the mirror curtains closed, mind open, and heart exposed. My hope is to allow students to remove themselves from the mirror and focus more on the others that share the same passions and desires. You never know what you will discover about yourself while interacting with others. -Terra Deal, Dance Diplomat from UC Irvine |
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December 2017
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