The girls at Aldea María Reina love to dance.
So with Christmas around the corner and the opportunity for an audience during the holiday celebrations, a navidad-themed baile was in order. With the song chosen and the dance choreographed, the only thing left to do was to recruit some dancers. This can be harder than it sounds at the hogar. Housing around 45 teenage girls, the girls moods change constantly affecting whether they want to participate in the days activities or not. Myself and the other volunteers have found usually the best source of motivation to get them to join in comes from the girls seeing others enjoying themselves and not wanting to miss out on the fun!
True to form we started the day with one girl and ended with six, with another three more wanting to join in tomorrow. A week went by filled with rehearsals, and new girls asking to join in each day. The girls worked hard together, and it made me really happy to see their long term commitment to putting in the time and effort to make their dance look the best it could.There were girls who struggled with a particular step one day, who after some one on one time would turn up the next day and have it perfect. I saw older girls helping the younger ones, and others taking the initiative to solve choreographic problems, or encouraging the others around them to keep practicing. It was nice to see sides of girls personalities I had not seen before, girls who usually had no interest in dance who put themselves outside their comfort zone to try something new.
Well the big day arrived, and after coordinating costumes and a last minute rehearsal out on the cancha they were ready as they would ever be. Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas" came through speakers and they began their routine. While some had shy smiles across their faces and others threw themselves into it, the cheers, applause and encouragement from the audience was well deserved. I truly felt proud of each and every one of them as I snapped away with my camera happy to see all their hard work finally paying off.
Again I am amazed at the energy and spirit of the girls I work with every day and what they are capable of if they put their mind to it.
So with Christmas around the corner and the opportunity for an audience during the holiday celebrations, a navidad-themed baile was in order. With the song chosen and the dance choreographed, the only thing left to do was to recruit some dancers. This can be harder than it sounds at the hogar. Housing around 45 teenage girls, the girls moods change constantly affecting whether they want to participate in the days activities or not. Myself and the other volunteers have found usually the best source of motivation to get them to join in comes from the girls seeing others enjoying themselves and not wanting to miss out on the fun!
True to form we started the day with one girl and ended with six, with another three more wanting to join in tomorrow. A week went by filled with rehearsals, and new girls asking to join in each day. The girls worked hard together, and it made me really happy to see their long term commitment to putting in the time and effort to make their dance look the best it could.There were girls who struggled with a particular step one day, who after some one on one time would turn up the next day and have it perfect. I saw older girls helping the younger ones, and others taking the initiative to solve choreographic problems, or encouraging the others around them to keep practicing. It was nice to see sides of girls personalities I had not seen before, girls who usually had no interest in dance who put themselves outside their comfort zone to try something new.
Well the big day arrived, and after coordinating costumes and a last minute rehearsal out on the cancha they were ready as they would ever be. Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas" came through speakers and they began their routine. While some had shy smiles across their faces and others threw themselves into it, the cheers, applause and encouragement from the audience was well deserved. I truly felt proud of each and every one of them as I snapped away with my camera happy to see all their hard work finally paying off.
Again I am amazed at the energy and spirit of the girls I work with every day and what they are capable of if they put their mind to it.
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