JUNTOS spring 2011 newsletter

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After another successful trip to Guatemala,
JUNTOS pushes forward to continue work in looking forward
   
Mexico. Thank you to all those who
supported the Guatemala trip financially! You May 6, 2011 12pm
make our tours possible. We are happy to say San Francisco
that we will return to Guatemala next year JUNTOS performs repertoire at
eager to teach and build upon community Dominican University – email for more
that’s already sprouted. Please read below on information!
Guatemala, Mexico, safety concerns in Mexico,
and more news! May 29-June 12
Mexico
moving ahead Dancers perform in Mexico

JUNTOS goes non-profit! November 2011

JUNTOS is now incorporated! With the help of Simpson Thatcher & Bartlett, we will be our New York
own 501(c)3 non-profit organization! Visit our website or facebook page to follow this! JUNTOS invites San Miguel de
Allende’s Ollin Yolitzli Ballet Folklorico
dance company from Mexico to New
traveling to Mexico: York for a week of workshops and
our 3rd annual tour approaches! performances. Stay tuned for more
information!
We prepare to take off as the date to take off to Mexico approaches! With a smaller group
than the previous year, JUNTOS anticipates an intimate two-week group experience. On May
29, eight dancers from New York and California will unite in Mexico City, kicking off their tour fundraisers
with outreach performances in the capital’s outskirts in addition to classes and workshops by    
modern dance Mexican choreographer Jaime Camerena. We are thrilled to once again
perform at Alonso Barrera’s La Fabrica in Querétaro, teach movement to girls at Don Bosco
stay tuned for fundraising
Orphanage in San Miguel, dance with Monse Ramirez’s Ollin Yolitzli ballet folklorico dance events!
company in Guanajuato, as well as participate in other activities. We look forward to the third greeting cards and t-shirts
JUNTOS: Mexico trip! Follow our twitter or facebook for events in Mexico.
We are now selling cards and t-
shirts for JUNTOS! Visit our
violence in Mexico: website for designs and ordering
will our dancers be safe? info
JUNTOS has conducted annual successful trips to Mexico since 2008, and since the beginning
has had to tackle the inevitable issue of safety in Mexico, beginning with H1N1 (‘Swine Flu’) contributions
and progressing to drug violence. What friends of JUNTOS fail to acknowledge is that we    
travel to central Mexico – a popular tourist destination, highly American populated, and
JUNTOS is a fiscally-sponsored
relatively untouched by drug cartels. Yet how can one verify safety in Mexico with such
collective of artists, and as such we
threatening media?
greatly appreciate donations of all kinds
A new report from the University of San Diego* best captures the facts of violence in
to help us travel and achieve our goals
2010: out of over 15,600 drug-related homicides, 84 percent occurred in four of Mexico’s 32
of building communities, uniting
states – Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Guerrero and Baja California. Additionally, most drug-related
cultures, and spreading the arts.
killings occurred only in five major cities – Juarez, Culiacán, Tijuana, Chihuahua, and Alcapulco.
Donations are tax deductible. JUNTOS
JUNTOS travels nowhere near these cities or states. Furthermore, at the beginning of each trip
also seeks grants to support our
all participants are cautioned that if violence does occur in states they travel to, the director
projects. Please visit our growing
will re-evaluate the trip with a possible cancellation.
For more information on violence, read Trans-Border Institute Releases Report on Drug Violence in Mexico
website for more information and
by Viridiana Ríos (*referred to above), or follow CBN news correspondent Chuck Holton. contact if you would like to get
involved or support JUNTOS.

juntoscollective.org
 artist’s corner
building more community in Guatemala    
On March 12th, 2011, 7 dancers, 1 Fordham Professor of Theology, 2 Guatemala- Day 7- March 19, 2011
JUNTOS Board Members, and Teddy (friend of JUNTOS) arrived in As Dr. Maureen O'Connell put it- we are doing so much
Guatemala City. After spending a short night waking up to crowing roosters more than just building houses. This is ten times more
(who would of thought there was a large group of rooster in a city), we left personal and it resonates throughout an entire community,
at 6am for Retalhuleu. Accompanied by Sussan Horzek and Cristian Barrios rather than just one family. Dance, and art in general, is a
(who organized our tour), we arrived by 10am at a water-amusement park universal language. How much more of yourself can you
give if you're not dancing? I feel like it is the ultimate
called ITRA to spend our one free day in the sun. We had been invited to portrayal of self. There is no canvas to hide behind, no
teach the dancers who put on a show for the amusement park guests instrument to hide your face- dance is a full body art form.
throughout the day. In return, we were given free access to the water-
amusement park and even spent
Katie Berry said last year that "the
best me is the dancer in me." I
“No more me
the night in their theater. can't agree with her more. When against the
Monday, we began our first I'm on stage, I am in my most world. Instead it
workshop with the dancers of vulnerable state. I attack it with
open arms and wide eyes just the is me dancing
ITRA. We taught them floor
barre, ballet, and Horton, and
way I was welcomed into this WITH the world,
country and these people's lives.
then after a lunch break, a You must remain vulnerable and FOR the world
section of one of our pieces. We open-minded and welcome to and everything
change. These are the things that
ended the day performing for make the world go 'round. in between.”
them. It was hard to leave after These are the things that make the sun rise and set each
such a short time, but we were scheduled to leave for Xela, the second day. We had our last performance today in Antigua. It was
largest city in Guatemala. Tuesday morning and afternoon we performed in at a retirement home near our hotel. The sun was so bright
a Children’s Hospital and an Orphanage before beginning a two-day and the sky was crystal clear. It was beautiful to see how
appreciative they were of us, even at that age.
workshop with some local dancers in the evening. Wednesday morning we
went to Zunil (also the director’s We have performed for dancers and non-dancers, children
and families, the elderly and nurses all over Guatemala now
father’s hometown), a town outside of and in each place it was the same response. Awe,
Xela, to perform in the courtyard of admiration, appreciation, recognition, inspiration, and
the local school. We were able to take continuation are just a few of the words I can think of to
a quick trip to the hot springs nearby describe the atmosphere in each location. We are in awe of
each other and the beauty we see. We admire everyone's
before finishing day-two of our
efforts, hard work, and dedication. There is an appreciation
workshop in Xela. Thursday, we for dance, art, and our involvement in this area of expertise
traveled to Totonicapán to teach a and this project. We recognize what is important to us and
workshop in the morning and then the talent and wisdom that surrounds us. We are inspired
perform in their beautiful colonial over and over again from watching each other, experiencing
the culture, and looking at our surroundings. Finally, we see
theater. Friday was our big growth and continuation of this project and ourselves in the
performance day. We began with a future. This year was a continuation of the past. Someone
10am performance in El Teatro mentioned at one point that we had added on and
Municipal of Xela. We filled the house expanded on what they had accomplished last year.
with 800 students from public schools I can't wait to return to this family. This whole experience
in the area. Friday evening, we had our has brought me closer to my own roots too. Although I am
first out-door gala performance in the Cultural Center Casa No’j. Saturday, Nicaraguan and have only visited twice when I was young,
my journey to Guatemala has given me a new outlook and
we left for Antigua and performed in the patio of a retirement home. We appreciation for what I saw in Nicaragua all those years
finished the day buying souvenirs, eating our last meal together at Casa ago. I hope to return to my home in the near future.
Santo Domingo, and seeing As far as my dancing goes, I feel like I have reached a level
the small eruption of an where it's not just me out there. No more me against the
active volcano. Sunday, world. Instead it is me dancing WITH the world, FOR the
March 20th, 2011, we said world and everything in between. I hope I am strong enough
our tear-filled good-byes, to never forget these feelings. I can capture memories by
taking pictures and writing things down but the hard part is
but are not soon to forget remembering those feelings especially with everything that
our life-changing goes on in our "busy" and "selfish" New York lives. I'm
experiences – friendships determined to channel this energy as often as possible.
made, communities I am so thankful to have had the chance to do this for
created, and a larger myself and the beautiful people of Guatemala. Thank you
JUNTOS family. Joanna, Sussan, Cristian, mom and dad and everyone else
for allowing me to find a new sense of self for the better. I
can only hope to continue the path I am on and keep giving
back to those who need it most. 'Til next year...
love always, alicia delgadillo