DANZAREA is a dance and educational project which gives at-risk children and teenagers in Panama the opportunity to learn aerial and contemporary dance, and enjoy the benefits of practicing dance for their mental and physical health. We also supply academic supervision, subject-specific tutoring and phsycosocial counseling as part of the program, helping our students and their families to thrive, regardless of their present situation within their homes and their communities.
One out of every four children in Panama lives in poverty. The public education system is severely deficient, and lacks art as part of the curriculum. Surrounded by violence and lack of integrity and a strong work ethic, these young Panamanians are demoralized. COVID-19 worsened their condition. In an effort to provide our students with an integral education and life skills that will allow them to break the poverty cycle, we offer them not only dance, but also psychological and academic support.
DANZAREA continues to provide a safe place for children to grow and develop their abilities and skills through contemporary and aerial dance. Supporting each of our students individually with an holistic approach to their needs, gives us the opportunity to change their lives, by allowing them to grow up in an integral way. Providing individual and family psychological support and tutors helping out with their studies we can complement the impact made by dance in their lives.
This project which started in 2008 has already benefited thousands of children and teenagers from at-risk communities in Panama City, instilling love for art and culture. DANZAREA will contribute to the comprehensive education of the children with the goal that they remain in the project until they complete their high school education. They will be encouraged to finish school, continue with university studies, and become young adults that will sustain a job and finally break their poverty cycle.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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