Dancing Toward Unity

More about Dancing Toward Unity

The dance education programs that Movement Exchange implements in orphanages seeks to target several marginalized and disadvantaged populations. While our programs serve youth of both gender, much of our focus is on young female orphans, all of which come from broken homes and live in poverty, and the majority of which are HIV/AIDS positive, Afro-Panamanian, and Indigenous. These groups have traditionally been excluded from the social, economic and political spheres. Over half of all Panamanian children, and 95% of the indigenous population live in poverty.

A minimal amount of arts education exists in Panama for the general population, let alone disadvantaged girls who are of indigenous and Afro-Panamanian descent. Our mission expands access to arts education to reach marginalized socioeconomic classes, seeks to provide physical education and emotional support to orphans in extreme poverty, and provides an opportunity for collaboration with international volunteers, Panamanian artists, and other youth. Movement Exchange is bringing awareness to the marginalization of these communities and providing an avenue for the ostracized to speak for themselves.