June 20, 2017
transcenDANCE Youth Arts Project Presents United We Move Dance Performance
SAN DIEGO, CA – transcenDANCE Youth Arts Project proudly presents United We Move, a teen dance performance to be held July 21st and 22nd at 7pm at the Lyceum Theatre in downtown San Diego. Dancers and artists will bring together original and contemporary dance forms with video and spoken word to engage and inspire cross-cultural and intergenerational audiences.
The production is the culminating event to a unique program for San Diego youth that combines a reflective curriculum with months of intense dance training. “Each year, youth in underserved San Diego and National City communities audition for our ‘CREATE’ program,” explained Catherine Corral, Co-Founder and Executive/ Artistic Director, “and selected students become part of the transcenDANCE Performance Group and embark on an unparalleled mental and physical journey.” Teen dancers explore social justice and personal growth themes, undergo rigorous dance training, work with professional choreographers, develop critical leadership skills, and ultimately co-create original dance pieces.
This year’s theme, United We Move, was chosen in response to a highly publicized, tragic shooting last summer that alarmed an entire community and personally affected a transcenDANCE graduate. Students examined themes of race, bias, power, privilege, and the layers of inequality that exist in today’s culture and transformed their work into a compelling dance theatre experience. The performance shares personal narratives, celebrates diversity, and creates an inspiring vision for moving toward equality. “Audiences will witness unity, strength, and authenticity through creative expression,” said Corral about this year’s production.
For the past 11 years, transcenDANCE has been a leader and trailblazer in the growing field of Creative Youth Development. Their mission to guide youth to transcend barriers, expand their ambitions, and create positive change through dance and performance is robust and Corral’s distinct approach is effective. “Our assessment data demonstrates clear results in dramatically improving the social emotional resilience in the young people we serve,” Corral said, citing results from Harvard’s PEAR (Program in Education, After School, and Resiliency) assessment tools. transcenDANCE has been the recipient of various grants and awards, and most recently was selected as the 2017 Performing Arts Group in Residence for the San Diego International Airport.
“I am continually impressed and inspired by the change I see in transcenDANCE students from the time they enter the program to the annual performance and beyond,” said Pat Zigarmi, transcenDANCE Board Chair, “The safe environment transcenDANCE offers students allows them to take positive risks, build trusting relationships with adults and peers, and engage in changing the world they live in.”
On Saturday, July 8th at 5:30pm, transcenDANCE will give a sneak peek performance at the San Diego Museum of Man, this year’s community partner, which offered dancers early inspiration for their theme through the museum’s permanent exhibit on race.
For more information or to donate to transcenDANCE, please visit www.tdarts.org. Follow transcenDANCE on Facebook or Instagram @tdartsyouth and find inspiring videos on YouTube under transcenDANCE Youth Arts Project.
Tickets are on sale now through the Lyceum online or by calling (619) 544-1000.
United We Move Performances $15 to $25:
Friday 7/21 at 7pm
Saturday 7/22 at 7pm
United We Move Experience:
Saturday 7/22 at 5:15pm – Interactive Reception & Performance – $100
The United We Move Experience VIP reception for friends of transcenDANCE will be held in the Lyceum Theatre lobby prior to Saturday’s performance with cocktails, catering by TOAST, a short program, and live music by Calling Rio, a Bossa Nova/ Samba/ Jazz group. The United We Move performance will immediately follow.