Educate and empower at-risk children through dance

The year 2026 began with energy and purpose through the DANZÁREA Summer Program, which this year was extended to three weeks (instead of the usual two) and engaged 31 children in a period of learning, movement, and discovery. Beyond dance training, we introduced an important new component: one hour per day (on training days) dedicated to reading comprehension, reinforcing our commitment to holistic development. Visits to the Mola Museum and the Casa Museo at Ciudad del Saber further enriched the experience, allowing participants to engage with their cultural heritage in a meaningful and tangible way.

In parallel, we completed the implementation of our 2025 Health Plan, providing comprehensive care to 50 program participants. This included pediatric consultations (with blood tests), nutritional assessments, and dental check-ups with fluoride treatments. This effort reflects our commitment to the overall well-being of our students, recognizing that their health is essential to their ability to learn, grow, and fully participate in the program.

Behind each experience is a dedicated team. For this reason, we conducted two intensive weeks of training for our instructors (17 teachers). This was a deeply enriching process focused not only on strengthening technical skills, but also on equipping the team with tools for respectful teaching methodologies, critical thinking development, and more effective student support. We firmly believe that when the team grows, the impact multiplies.

The academic year began on March 9 with 45 children and adolescents, reflecting the growing trust of families in the program. This year, we continue integrating reading into the creative process, connecting it to the annual performance—centered on cosmovisions, understood as the ways in which different cultures interpret the world, nature, and their place within it. This approach supports both artistic expression and the development of essential life skills. We are also proud to have three program alumni now officially involved in DANZÁREA: two serving as assistants (Anthony and Juan), and one as a teacher (Dany).

With our PASADIZO community outreach project we continue to strengthen local partnerships, with the support of the Parque Lefevre Local Council and the Centro Juvenil de las Mañanitas, whose collaboration is key to sustaining and expanding our impact within the community.

Each quarter reaffirms that DANZÁREA is much more than an arts education program: it is a space where children grow, express themselves, and discover new possibilities for their future. Thank you for being part of this journey and for making these transformative experiences possible.

Links:

• Webpage

This year in DANZÁREA was full of movement, learning, and beautiful stories worth celebrating. Thanks to your support, we reached more than 300 young people across DANZÁREA and PASADIZO, offered nearly 300 hours of aerial and contemporary dance training, and provided over 190 hours of academic reinforcement. We also achieved a 94% retention rate, which means the kids chose to stay, grow, and keep creating with us — something that fills us with pride.

We also strengthened the educational and emotional pillars of the program by offering psychosocial workshops and activities, sessions for caregivers, and more than 200 hours of training for teachers and staff. And on the community side, we connected with over 600 people through performances, showcases, and special activities that bring dance beyond the foundation and into families and neighborhoods.

We wrapped up the year with our final performance, “El Espantamiedo,” which the students experienced with a mix of nerves, excitement, and genuine pride. For many, it was their first time on stage; for others, it highlighted just how far they’ve come.

More recently, we celebrated a truly meaningful milestone: Yilenis’s graduation, a moment that captures exactly what we aim for — supporting real, long-term journeys filled with effort, growth, and transformation.

We’re closing this year by executing our DANZAREA 2025 Health Plan, through which we’re offering dental and nutritional care for our 50 youngsters, as well as pediatric consultations and bloodwork. It is very important for us to ensure a healthy body for a healthy life.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for standing with these young people and with our mission. Every hour of training, every performance, and every smile is possible because you believe in the work we do and in the transformative power of art. We’re heading into the new year with even more energy and hope. We’d love for you to keep walking this path with us.

Links:

• Our Website