Bolivia 2020 - 2022

Bolivia
2022

During the pandemic, Battery Dance realized a multi-faceted program of cultural diplomacy in close cooperation with and funding from the U.S. Embassy in La Paz. Promotional video available here


Dates

  • September 30, 2020 – September 11, 2022

    Sponsors

  • U.S. Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia

    Program Activities

    3 Virtual Dancing to Connect Programs

  • 20 hours of workshops over 8 sessions
  • 44 Virtual Dancing to Connect students

    30 Dance Classes recorded in Spanish and broadcast over Bolivian satellite television

    3 Arts Management Seminars via Zoom, 70+ participants

  • Three elements were included in the project:

    30 DANCE CLASSES FOR YOUTH were recorded, edited and framed in Spanish by three American master dance teachers. These programs were designed to support young Bolivians, many of whom were sequestered in their homes during the worst spread of COVID 19. The Embassy shared the programs with Bolivian Satellite Television which, we understand, has disseminated the programs several times to homes throughout the country and to bordering countries as well. Classes are linked here

    3 ARTS MANAGEMENT SEMINARS were held on Zoom, led by Battery Dance COO and VP Emad Salem with participation by Battery Dance Founder and President Jonathan Hollander. 70+ Bolivian arts managers across a wide range of disciplines, ages and experiences attended each of the sessions

    3 DANCING TO CONNECT VIRTUAL PROGRAMS, 8 SESSIONS EACH were held with students who varied from experienced young dancers from the private dance studio All That Jazz to others who came from less privileged backgrounds. For all of them, the experience provided an opportunity to unleash their creative abilities, to build teamwork skills as well as boosting self-confidence. The choreographic material derived in the workshops, with Battery Dance trainers projected onto the wall of the All That Jazz studios, were captured by an Embassy-sourced videographer who sent the raw files back to Battery Dance. Our Teaching Artists edited the material into discreet and highly original video dance works, which can be seen here: Group 1, Group 2, Group 3

    Participant feedback can be seen here.