Partner Institution:

Ballet de Santa Teresa

Project:

Classical Ballet, Spanish Dance, Music, Choral Song, History of Art and Dance, Psychomotor Development, Intellectual Recreation, Educational Reenforcement, Preventative Health Education, Folk Art and English Lessons

Program:

Ballet de Santa Teresa

Objective:

To promote the academically complimentary and grounding socio-cultural integration of children and adoclescents who live in areas of social risk, through artistic expression.

Locality:

Largo do Guimarães

PARTNER INSTITUTION AND PROJECT

The Santa Teresa Ballet is a program directed at children and youth who live in areas of social risk and has as its mission to promote academically complimentary and grounding socio-cultural integration through artistic expression. Directed by Vânia Farias, professionally trained classical ballerina, the BST also aims to create a center for entertainment and culture in an area lacking such enrichment. Factors such as the existing predjudice between social classes of the neighborhood have previously prevented the creation of a cultural center. Onehunded and fifty youth ranging in age from 3 ½ to 18 years old attend the ballet school, which is divided into six classes. Ninety four percent of the students are youth from neighborhoods of social risk in the community, while 6% of the students come from traditional neighborhoods of Santa Teresa (children of intellectuals, artists, foreigners and residents interested in promoting social responsibility). This breakdown of class composition is intended to promote the integration of favela communities with communities bordering favelas and has produced excellent results in recent years.

The Santa Teresa Ballet is completely free of cost, including class uniforms, performance constumes and transportation to and from activities and events away from the studio. The BST does not require entrance tests and the only requirement for matriculation is pre-confirmation of class attendance and an official medical exam from the Santa Teresa Health Office. With regular class attendance, the BST is able to provide a uniform cultural education and solid mechanisms with which each can improve his/her lives, opportunities and citizenship.

ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE DONE BY THE VOLUNTEER

Volunteers can teach or assist in teaching any of the following skill sets at beginner and/or advanced levels:

	Classical Ballet
	Spanish Dance
	International Dance, Choreography
	Music
	Intellectual and creative recreation
	Art and Dance History
	Preventative health education English and/or foreign language classes
	English and/or foreign language classes

In addition, the Santa Teresa Ballet is open to suggestions from potential volunteers that are interested in formatting a unique project that caters to the volunteer’s unique skills and fulfills the organization objectives. Such projects will need to demonstrate formative progression for the students or to the infrastructure of the organization, like a mural, or a costume wardrobe, or other.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

	Introduce new dance and cultural activities and educational approaches particular to volunteer’s culture and background
	Volunteer artistic contribution to ballet resourses through set design, costume design and/or choreography.
	Develop a ballet performance with increased community celebration, raising funds through attendance to support the BST.
	Volunteer integration capacity with communities, staff, children, and youth.
	Volunteer interest level.
	Increased cross cultural knowledge of intern and of BST students and management.

Other indicators may be developed according to the specific program and activity performed.