(Canada)

In May, SQX Dance Company, a project founded by Carmen Moreira, visited LILHA from Calgary, Canada.  The group was composed of Kaitlyn Bass, a choreographer and dancer from Ryerson University’s BFA in Performance Dance program, and Josephine Craig, a dancer from the London Contemporary Dance School and the Saskatchewan Youth Ballet & Contemporary Dance School.  The Alberta Ballet School of SQX-Dance Company is a professional dance company that offers itinerant dance programs for public schools, conservatories, and art venues. They focus on working with children and adolescents, especially from indigenous communities with typically low resources.  SQX uses dance to make the world a better place.

Carmen’s methodology proposes the exploration of one’s body and its skills as well as the development and stimulation of intense physical preparation and constant movement. While promoting participation, integration, and the assimilation of values such as care, respect, ‘fair play’ and cooperation, participants are encouraged to learn compassion and create friendships through active anti-bullying work.

During Kaitlyn and Josephine’s visit, intensive and interactive workshops were carried out. A Mover el Bote pa’ Mover la Pila (To Move the Boat to Move the Pile) used a process of kinetic experimentation, rigorous physical activity and the use of the imagination to develop a contemporary dance. A very important message existed throughout the process: teamwork.

Children and young people from 18 de Marzo, a primary school, Imari, a free training center, and Zubuya participated. In addition, our residents visited the La CasaClu Community Center in San Ignacio to teach children a bit about their art.

Children from 6 to 14 years worked together. The sessions were spent intertwining games with dynamics of mental agility, thus promoting integral development, always concluding with reflective talks about the children’s attitudes and emotions about the project.  Young children became aware and more responsible for their actions in the world.

The final staging was held in the Plaza del Sol. All those who participated in the workshops joined together to recreate the movements learned together; in the presence of parents and curious spectators; taking advantage of the dates to celebrate all mothers and all the teachers, offering as a gift, the movements and smiles with passion.