Esperanza Dance Project

Esperanza Dance Project (EDP) is a community-based collaboration that uses dance performances to educate about the issue of childhood sexual trauma and deliver a message of hope, strength and empowerment. 

EDP performs two separate age-appropriate shows that integrate dance, music, and narrative. House of Hope, our high school show, was created to spread awareness and educate about childhood sexual abuse. The show discusses challenges that are faced by survivors in their healing process and delivers a message of hope. Our middle school show, ProjectRIS: Respect, Inspire, Support, focuses on issues of concern brought up by youth between the ages of 11 and 14 including unhealthy relationships, substance misuse, poor mental health, body image, safe social media, and bullying.  All performances and programming are free for schools, and every student who attends a performance receives a copy of our comprehensive curriculum which corresponds with each of our two shows. The curriculum was developed by professionals from the Tucson community in the areas of education, school counseling, dance, language arts, and behavioral health. It includes journaling prompts and local resources to help students navigate issues that are addressed in our performances. 

When EDP is booked for a performance, we collaborate with school contacts to determine the best possible way to meet their students' needs. Our shows were created with the flexibility to be performed in a variety of unconventional spaces such as cafeterias, basketball courts, and meeting rooms. Both our high school and middle school performances run for about 40 minutes. Before each performance begins, students receive index cards and are invited to share written questions or feedback. Immediately after the performance, the dancers, who are trained peer advocates, facilitate discussions inspired by the audience's anonymous index cards in a Q&A style conversation. 

In addition to our performances, EDP also offers Peer Advocacy Trainings to schools that we work with and hosts a weekly dance club at Mansfeld Middle School. At our Peer Advocacy Trainings, students learn how to identify healthy and unhealthy relationships and are provided with resources so that they can create positive change within their school community and beyond. The students in Esperanza Dance Club at Mansfeld participate in dance classes, writing workshops, and an age appropriate Peer Advocacy Training. The club aims to create a safe space where students feel like they belong. 

Testimonials

THE CHOREOGRAPHY IS BRILLIANT. THE STUDENT NARRATION WAS A GREAT IDEA AND THE MUSIC WAS MOST APPROPRIATE. YOUR AUDIENCE REALLY RELATED TO THE PIECE... THE STUDY GUIDES PROVIDED VALUABLE INFORMATION."
-Joan Ashcraft, Ph.D., Tucson Unified School District Director of Fine and Performing Arts/Opening Minds through the Arts

"THE ESPERANZA EXPERIENCE IS PROFOUND FOR ALL STUDENTS: PERFORMERS AND AUDIENCES ALIKE. ALL INCREASE THEIR LEVEL OF COMPASSION FOR AND THEIR ABILITY TO SUPPORT THE EMPOWERMENT OF SURVIVORS AND COME AWAY WITH TOOLS FOR HELPING VICTIMS OWN THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT."
-Kirsten Cook, MA, LPC, retired counselor, University High School

"THE AUDIENCE ASKED SUCH INSIGHTFUL QUESTIONS: 'HOW CAN WE BE ALLIES TO SOMEONE WHO HAS SUFFERED CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ASSAULT?' 'HOW DO WE TALK TO OUR FRIENDS ABOUT THIS?' 'WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE KNOW SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE SUICIDAL?' I WAS SO INCREDIBLY HAPPY THAT WE GOT PEOPLE TALKING, AND EVERYONE IN THE AUDITORIUM SEEMED TO BE GENUINELY INTERESTED IN WHAT WAS BEING DISCUSSED. I FELT VERY HUMBLED THAT DAY."
-Nic Varela, dancer

"IDENTITY AND PERSONAL BOUNDARIES, ABUSE AND HARASSMENT, ADDICTION AND TRANSFORMATION, HOPE AND HEALING WERE NOT GENERALLY TOPICS OF DISCUSSION OVERHEARD IN THE CAFETERIA AT LUNCH. ESPERANZA CHALLENGED AUDIENCE MEMBERS TO ENGAGE, NOT RUN AWAY FROM, THESE IMPORTANT TOPICS … THE ESPERANZA DANCE PROJECT BRINGS HONESTY, HUMAN CONNECTION AND A SENSE OF PURPOSE TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT A TIME WHEN THEY NEED IT THE MOST. MY EXPERIENCE WITH ESPERANZA WAS TRANSFORMATIVE - BUT I AM JUST ONE OF MANY WHO HAVE BEEN TOUCHED, STRETCHED AND MOVED BY THE ESPERANZA DANCE PROJECT."
-Allyson Yoder, alumna