Our Mission
To provide an avenue for dance artists to participate in an international exchange that fosters cross-cultural understanding, self-confidence, leadership and community building through movement and service.
To provide an avenue for dance artists to participate in an international exchange that fosters cross-cultural understanding, self-confidence, leadership and community building through movement and service.
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What We Do
- Movement Exchange currently runs 8-10 day dance exchange programs to Panama focused on service by holding open calls and customizing programs for established university groups, dance companies, and studios.
- Participants teach, learn, and perform dance through collaboration with at-risk youth and local professionals.
- Financially support biweekly dance classes in 3 Panamanian orphanages on a year-round basis ensuring the SUSTAINABILITY of our programming
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How We Do It
Movement Exchange is a volunteer service experience where dancers of all skill levels travel abroad to empower at-risk youth to reach their potential through the medium of dance. Movement Exchange partners with local Panamanian organizations to create thoughtful programming drawing from the rich culture of the region. International volunteers are the catalyst of the programming by teaching and choreographing for at-risk youth. The dance exchange culminates in a final performance starring the youth we work with. Past performances have been held at the National Theater of Panama, the Malambo Orphanage, and in plazas throughout Panama City. Movement Exchange brings dance to the streets of Panama, and makes the joy and community of movement accessible to all.
What sets Movement Exchange apart is our effort to make the dance education programming in Panama sustainable. Movement Exchange and participants provide the funds necessary to bring local Panamanian professional dancers back to the same orphanages that the international volunteers serve, once the volunteers have returned home. Therefore, not only does Movement Exchange work hard to provide a culturally enriching, service-based experience for U.S. dancers, but we ensure that the impact goes beyond temporary, by supporting the dance education for the at-risk Panamanian youth year-round.
Impact:
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Why We Do It
Dance is an important element of cultural preservation and development in many communities, yet is most often overlooked and underfunded. A minimal amount of arts education exists in Panama. The programs that do exist rarely target disadvantaged youth (largely indigenous and Afro-Panamanian). Movement Exchange also sees a lack of utilization of dance as a vehicle for social change, cross-cultural understanding, and service in the U.S. dance community. The current dance environment focuses on performance, entertainment, competition, and social commentary. We hope to change this. Dance is a global language that helps heal, promote individual expression, improve self-esteem and improve communication. Through dance, the children and adults with whom we collaborate in Panama and our international volunteers create a community of trust, openness, and understanding across language and cultural differences.
How We Do It
Movement Exchange is a volunteer service experience where dancers of all skill levels travel abroad to empower at-risk youth to reach their potential through the medium of dance. Movement Exchange partners with local Panamanian organizations to create thoughtful programming drawing from the rich culture of the region. International volunteers are the catalyst of the programming by teaching and choreographing for at-risk youth. The dance exchange culminates in a final performance starring the youth we work with. Past performances have been held at the National Theater of Panama, the Malambo Orphanage, and in plazas throughout Panama City. Movement Exchange brings dance to the streets of Panama, and makes the joy and community of movement accessible to all.
What sets Movement Exchange apart is our effort to make the dance education programming in Panama sustainable. Movement Exchange and participants provide the funds necessary to bring local Panamanian professional dancers back to the same orphanages that the international volunteers serve, once the volunteers have returned home. Therefore, not only does Movement Exchange work hard to provide a culturally enriching, service-based experience for U.S. dancers, but we ensure that the impact goes beyond temporary, by supporting the dance education for the at-risk Panamanian youth year-round.
Impact:
- Volunteer hours donated to dance education: 8,980
- # of at-risk youth, local university students, and professional dancers reached per day of exchange: 110+
- # of at-risk youth, local university students, professional dancers, invited local dancers, and international volunteers who perform at Movement Exchange functions: 448
- # of community members in attendance at the National Theater of Panama to watch our yearly show starring the Movement Exchange youth: 500+
- # of dance programs in orphanages created that did not previously exist: 3
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Why We Do It
Dance is an important element of cultural preservation and development in many communities, yet is most often overlooked and underfunded. A minimal amount of arts education exists in Panama. The programs that do exist rarely target disadvantaged youth (largely indigenous and Afro-Panamanian). Movement Exchange also sees a lack of utilization of dance as a vehicle for social change, cross-cultural understanding, and service in the U.S. dance community. The current dance environment focuses on performance, entertainment, competition, and social commentary. We hope to change this. Dance is a global language that helps heal, promote individual expression, improve self-esteem and improve communication. Through dance, the children and adults with whom we collaborate in Panama and our international volunteers create a community of trust, openness, and understanding across language and cultural differences.
