Local students overcome major life challenges through Gitana Productions’ Global Education through the Arts program
ST. LOUIS, MO – A diverse group of students ages 7 to 17 from diverse backgrounds in Ferguson, South St. Louis City and the Hodiamont neighborhood will present Gitana Productions’ “Living the Dream,” a one-hour music, dance and drama program promoting nonviolence and acceptance. Free performances will be presented throughout the region in March and April (dates and times below) at the Carpenter Branch of the St. Louis Library, University City Library, the Missouri School for the Blind, the St. Louis City Juvenile Detention Center and the St. Louis County Juvenile Detention Center.
Many of the students in “Living the Dream” have dealt with major life issues such as domestic violence, parental drug abuse, and integrating into society as a first-generation immigrant from a war-torn country. They have grown and blossomed into talented performers through Gitana Productions’ Global Education through the Arts — a community arts project that uses dance, poetry, drama, and cultural diversity to cultivate social skills, team building, cross-cultural communication, and conflict resolution.
“These young performers are truly role models, having struggled to overcome violence and cultural prejudice in their own lives,” said Cecilia Nadal, executive director of Gitana Productions. “They are remarkably astute about issues of suffering, prejudice, intolerance and survival, and they present a truly heartfelt message promoting nonviolence, acceptance and love in the home, schools and community.”
“Living the Dream” uses four one-act plays, song, dance and slam poetry to explore issues of sibling and Facebook bullying, domestic violence, and the challenges facing young immigrant children. This year’s “Living the Dream” was scripted by Lee Patton Chiles and directed by Jessica Alvarado and Thomasina Clarke, with choreography by Alandryia Jones and Keith Williams. The program is followed by a Q & A session.
The “Living the Dream” tour is a program of the Gitana Productions’ Global Education through the Arts, a community arts project that unites economically disadvantaged students with diverse backgrounds from South St. Louis City, Ferguson and other neighborhoods in the St. Louis region. Funding from the Regional Arts Commission, Missouri Arts Council and Monsanto Fund makes Global Education through the Arts available at no cost to economically challenged youth.
Young performers in “Living the Dream” who have overcome major life challenges include:
• A 12-year-old girl who nearly died of kidney failure at age 7 and has dealt with a kidney transplant and dialysis. She enrolled as a shy, quiet singer who was very self-conscious about her body and has grown to become a well-rounded artist who challenges herself and her body to express feelings and emotions through dance.
• The child of a convicted drug addict whose grandmother legally adopted her and seeks out positive experiences, role models and discipline. The challenges of maintaining a household with a drug addict resulted in both granddaughter and grandmother becoming homeless. As she put it, “the police were knocking on the front door as stolen household objects were going out the back door.” Through Global Education through the Arts, the young girl has flourished creatively in dance, acting and singing.
• A 14-year-old African immigrant girl whose family survived war in Kenya and now lives in fear of gunshots in their new St. Louis neighborhood. She transformed from a quiet and passive onlooker into an excited and enthusiastic teenager, anxious to share the songs she has learned in four languages.
Over the past 10 years, “Living the Dream” performances have reached more than 6,500 young people in the St. Louis region.
DATES/LOCATIONS
St. Louis City Juvenile Detention Center*
Saturday, March 19, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
3847 Enright Ave., St. Louis
St. Louis County Detention Center*
Wednesday, March 16, 6 p.m.
501 S. Brentwood, Clayton
Missouri School for the Blind
Wednesday, March 23, 7 p.m.
3815 Magnolia Ave., St. Louis
Immanuel United Church of Christ
Saturday, March 26, 1:00 p.m.
221 Church St., Ferguson
University Library
Wednesday, March 30, 6:30 p.m.
6701 Delmar Blvd., University City
Carpenter Branch Library
Saturday, April 2, 1 p.m.
3309 South Grand, St. Louis
* Reservations are required for performances at the detention centers. Call (314) 721-6556 to RSVP.
Global Education through the Arts is a community arts project that promotes intercultural competence among economically challenged youth living. The 16-week after-school program welcomes ethnically diverse youth to learn dance, poetry, drama, and cultural diversity as a way to cultivate social skills, team building, cross-cultural communication, and conflict resolution. Participants who successfully complete the program have the opportunity to be involved in one of Gitana’s professional main stage productions.
ABOUT GITANA PRODUCTIONS
Gitana Productions, Inc. is a not-for-profit arts and education organization dedicated to increasing cross-cultural awareness and collaboration by bringing international music, dance and drama to the St. Louis community. Gitana events present a rarely seen diversity of international and local artists exhibiting an array of traditional and innovative artistic expressions. For more information, visit www.gitana-inc.org or call Gitana Productions at (314) 721-6556.
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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
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314.961.9772