Featured Story May 2007
transcenDANCE Youth Arts Project
by Olaina Anderson
"A student will tell me something like, 'My brother got sent to [juvenile hall], my mom is moving next week and I'm going to live with my grandmaä I have to find a job to pay for my college application fees, and my best friend just told me she's pregnant," Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of transcenDANCE Catherine (Cat) Corral said. "And that all happened in the same week. Then that person will take a deep breath, put on their dance shoes, work hard and sweat, and move through what they need to deal with."
transcenDANCE (always written with a lowercase t) is more than a Youth Arts Project. It is a refuge, a family, an inspiration and a motivational force for teens who live in the City Heights, San Diego, CA, community.
Drawing primarily from Hoover, Crawford and Gompers High Schools, this ethnically diverse community merges dance, drama, and spoken word performance art with youth activism for social change. Their mission is to "empower multi-cultural, inner-city youth to create healthier communities through the transforming and life-affirming power of the arts and performance."
The students will showcase their new 2007 production at their community opening night showings of "Door to Door" on June 7 & 8, at 7 p.m. at Hoover High School before they tour to 15,000 audience members at schools, conferences, community festivals and events.
While audience members may assume, or hope, that the students choose the subject matter of their dance and spoken word performances after studying the news or current events, these students are putting their real lives on stage.
"Our youth are survivors of abuse of all kinds. They have all grown up in low socio-economic environments facing [challenges such as] high rates of crime and violence, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, gang activity and [an alarming school drop-out rate]. Almost all of them live in single-parent households. Many of them take care of their younger siblings and have not really had the opportunity to experience 'childhood.'
"Some have lived in homeless shelters with their family members. Some have experienced foster care, welfare and house hopping. Some are refugees and immigrants. All of them who are going to college are the first ones in their family to do so. I'm not trying to create a sympathy case here. I just want to bring awareness to their resiliency, strength, courage, determination and commitment to reach their highest place of self-actualization," Corral said.
Freshman Patricia Sandoval decided to audition for transcenDANCE after they performed at her middle school when she was in seventh grade.
"I wanted the experience and I want to be a choreographer or dancer when I grow up. It's a good free club," she said. "I am more expressive now and not afraid to share my feelings with the group when other people are afraid."
As one of the youngest members of the group, she looks to her transcenDANCE peers and mentors to guide her through high school.
"Here we have certain days where we sit in a circle and express the way we feel and if we have any problems. They're there for you to listen to you and tell us what they think≠the whole group," Sandoval said. "Someone says, 'What are you going to do?' äit stays in the group, but everyone expresses themselves."
This outlet helped a "graduate" of the program and current senior at Hoover High School Jessica Che, "learn to express [her] emotions through dance rather than the self destructive behaviors [she] turned to in the past. This dance program has truly made me a better and much stronger person," she said.
A non-profit organization, transcenDANCE needs support in obtaining items ranging from bottled water to kneepads and dance shoes, a sound system, youth stipends and ultimately a dance studio to centralize their work.
As CEO, Corral is careful about keeping the overhead low and staying grounded in the dream she and co-founder Julius Capuchino had of "creating a grassroots, community-based, youth-driven organization.
"Ultimately, we want to create a sustainable project for our kids," Corral said. "We promote longevity: Kids moving through the program and having cathartic experiences that are life changing and then becoming mentors, leaders and ambassadors of the program to the newly entering youth."
Assistant Director Victoria Olango, a graduate of Hoover High School and current Grossmont College student, embodies the success of the transcenDANCE mission. Born in Uganda, her culture has been part of her life since she immigrated to the United States as a toddler. Still, she said, "I was a youth lost in the system of inner city schoolsä dancing and being with Cat gave me ground. Next I want to do everything! I still will be connected to transcenDANCE, finish college, teach dance to elementary school kids, do modeling≠I'll go wherever the wind blows me. I want to major in political science and go to law school, but I will always be in touch with the arts."
As transcenDANCE transforms the lives of the teens, it also moves the lives of the adults involved with the group. Acting Coach and Improvisational Theater Acting Teacher Phillip J. Sisson≠whom the teens tease because he is nearly three times their age≠professes to being changed by them.
"[They] have impacted my thoughts, my growth, my love, my awareness, my hopes, my dreams, my ability to feel againä my maturity!" Sisson said.
The true power of these performers was tangible at Activist San Diego's 5th Annual People's Ball in the Balboa Park Club Ballroom in January 2007. Hundreds of adults gathered to celebrate people's commitment to peace and progressive change.
The room was buzzing with conversation between members of various organizations, even while awards were presented to special guests. But when transcenDANCE took the stage everyone was captivated.
Victoria Olango began a poem about the president of a country taking advantage of his position and allowing death to reign. Many chatting audience members did not catch the first few words of Olango's poem, including the abbreviation "UAE," but a hush fell over the crowd as they recognized her clear anti-war stance. As she brought her poem full circle the audience was even more astounded by the teenager's astute understanding and comparison of political leaders throughout the world. One young woman silenced hundreds of adults≠and then they watched the group dance a story of abuse and growth.
Donors make it possible for transcenDANCE to exist. Bread for the Journey, an international non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing the natural generosity of ordinary people teaches a simple practice of neighborhood philanthropy. Its San Diego Chapter recently donated a grant of $1000 to fund dance shoes and shirts for the students. Working in a micro-finance system, Bread for the Journey is looking to help more San Diegans work to improve their neighborhoods.
"It's about generosity," Board Member Tom Stubberud said.
He and President Tarja Stoeckl were rewarded for their gift with hand-decorated frames and photos, plus a card from the transcenDANCE group, who were all smiles when they learned they would have new dance shoes.
Alternative Strategies is doing deeply discounted marketing work for the group. They have also received a grant from LEAD San Diego, who defines their organization as "a nonprofit organization focused on developing community leaders who can provide a catalyst for creating a better future for San Diego."
Donor Danah Fayman is credited as the lifeline of transcenDANCE and will also fund a trip for them to see STOMP perform here in June. Watching professional dancers further inspires the teens to hone their craft. On a recent Saturday night Corral took them to see "Seven" by the Travis Butterworth Dance Company because Rayna Stohl, one of the Butterworth dancers, provided a set of complimentary tickets.
"Seeing the clean techniqueä the incredible stamina, scenic, light and costume design really gets the kids going. They say, 'I want to do that!' They are then are more driven to work hard and can see the potential of where they can go as dance technicians and performers," Corral said.
The students virtually float above the ground when they talk about their upcoming trip to New York City where they will study at the Urban Bush Women Summer Institute. Inspired by the Urban Bush Woman's "Place Matters" performance at UC San Diego, which they attended through the donation of LEAD team member Reed Vickerman, the "youth were blown away by this all-female, internationally recognized dance theatre company. They, like us, incorporate deep emotional, socially relevant, community building themes into their work," Corral said.
Vickerman also hosted a workshop at Hoover High School where transcenDANCE shared their creative process with the Urban Bush Women.
"They recognized our 'family atmosphere' and the openness of our youth to take risk, be vulnerable and shareä through movement," Corral said.
The Urban Bush Women founder invited six youth and two staff to attend their 10-day summer institute.
Six youth. More than twenty members of transcenDANCE.
A democratic decision.
"To decide, we talked about it and saw who wanted to go. There were eleven of us, so we heard why they wanted to go and what they would take in. Then we [secretly] voted on six people we thought would represent transcenDANCE well," senior Ivette Bolanos of Hoover High School said. "We had a tie for four people, so Cat asked us to flip a coin. That's when Seiha [Vor of Crawford High School] and I gave up our spots."
Vor summed it up when he grinned and said, "You do crazy things for family!"
Bolanos, who went to New York City in eighth grade, gave her spot to Sacara Northard of Hoover High School.
"We are really good friends, and knowing where she's at in her life, I felt like it would be best for her to go because she's staying in San Diego after we graduate. I want her to learn more about herself and to grow to help the people she meets when she comes back to San Diego. She would be able to help them because she would be able to heal and grow and help herself from this awesome opportunity," she said.
Bolanos will be attending the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, a performing arts school in Los Angeles next year.
"Four of our graduating seniors are going off to college this fall. A year ago, none of these girls thought about college or even considered being in this situation," Corral said.
Volunteer and Board Member Parminder Randhawa spent hours coaching the students on college readiness. Rebecca Barajas and Elizabeth Cervantes are going to San Diego State University, and Angelica Lopez will attend Long Beach State University. All four are seniors at Hoover High School.
For more information about transcenDANCE and to learn how to keep their program flourishing through donations of any amount or items, see www.transcenDANCEyoutharts.org or call 619-255-3812. Hoover High School Theatre is located at 4474 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, 92105. There is a $10 admission for their June 7 & 8 opening shows, both beginning at 7 p.m.