At the summer intensive I worked this year, a group traveled from Nairobi, Kenya to dance with us in South Carolina. They came with the organization Artists 4 Africa, and their ages ranged from 12 to 27. For many of them this was their first flight away from home, and their first time in the US. Many of them were sponsored or on scholarship. All of them worked hard. They were genuine, grateful, respectful, resilient, and kind-hearted. They worked hard in the classroom and always tried to rally their peers when the group energy wavered.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with 2 other groups of dancers from Artists 4 Africa before, but something about this year was different. Maybe it was the group as a whole, maybe it was the environment. As the dancers became more and more comfortable, we got to know them a little better. Some things we learned directly from them. Their personalities broke through any shyness, and language barriers were broken with smiles, laughs, and dance moves. They answered our questions about home, what they thought of our country. We answered whatever questions we could, tried to make them feel at home, and shared our culture.
Some things we learned from the older dancers, their amazing teacher and mentor, and the inspiring individuals that run and support Artists 4 Africa. We knew that many of these dancers came from the slums, and that their dance training opened up opportunities and provided them with a new life. But we learned new details we could have never imagined and wished weren’t true. Two of the boys, the youngest out of the men of the group, both came from large families. But one of the boys was his mother’s last child, all his siblings had passed. We could all tell he was mature for his age, and had a quiet strength. But we didn’t realize how strong he had to be. Both of these boys also went to a school that regularly practiced corporal punishment. Although both are bright, hard-working students, they were still subjected to beatings. The same boy that already had experienced so much pain and loss, had endured permanent retina damage from a beating at school. My heart broke when I learned all of this, it’s hard to think of someone you love hurting.
Their lifestyles, and daily school experiences are something I can hardly wrap my brain around. They are truly some of the sweetest, strongest, gentlest, young men I’ve ever met. And yet in their young lives they’ve experienced so much.
Fortunately, through their teacher, who never ceases to amaze me with her generosity and determination, they have been able to move into a boarding house so they can focus on their dance training, and will be attending a private British school where they will be in a safer learning environment. The same woman has worked countless hours so all her students can succeed, no matter where they came from. She has students who earned summer intensive scholarships to various other American ballet companies. She has a student studying at the English National Ballet. She has students who work with her at her studios to make sure the younger dancers have what they need in order to just focus on dancing. One student has been accepted to a teaching school in South Africa, another is planning on attending UofSC in a year.
Three weeks spent laughing, loving, and learning with the young artists made me realize some things.
Dance has the power to heal and bring people together. No matter who you are, or where you come from, you can dance. Always be kinder than necessary, and practice patience.
I realized after these three weeks that there’s more I want, and can do. These dancers are not just a group of kids that I supervised. They are my friends.
So in what might seem like an impulsive move, I, along with 10 of my fellow counselor friends, have decided to organize a trip to Kenya. In our eyes, these young artists and their mentors have given us so much, maybe without realizing it, and we want to give back. Our goal is to raise money in order to bring always needed dance supplies, like leotards, tights, and shoes, and help send George and Shamick to their new school. While we’re there we hope to get to know their home a little better, like they’ve gotten to know ours, and volunteer teaching dance and various arts classes. Sharing our love of the arts with others who have the same passions.
Because at the end of the day, we’re all just artists trying to help other artists.
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