Dance

Powerful Partnership Provides Free Classes

The Jane Stern Dorado Community Library, located in Dorado, Puerto Rico, is more than just a place for reading books. Since January 2022, the library has been offering free ballet classes for children, thanks to the support of Trifecta Arts, a nonprofit organization that aims to promote and improve arts education for children in underserved communities worldwide.

The classes are available to children between the ages of 7 and 13 and are taught by Anne Koho, Trifecta Arts’ founder, who is a retired businesswoman and a professional ballet instructor. Koho uses a combination of English, Spanish, and French ballet terminology to teach the classes. As many of the children only speak Spanish, pantomime is occasionally used to communicate the dance moves.

The ballet classes offer an excellent opportunity for children in the community to learn a new skill and to engage with the arts. Moreover, they provide an outlet for physical activity, which is especially important in the era of video games and smartphones. The classes also help to promote multiculturalism by teaching a mix of languages and dance styles.

The Jane Stern Dorado Community Library’s free ballet classes are an excellent example of how libraries can serve their communities beyond their traditional role. By partnering with organizations like Trifecta Arts, libraries can offer opportunities for education, physical activity, and cultural engagement. The ballet classes are a valuable resource for children in the Dorado community and an excellent way to promote the benefits of the arts.

Dancers Charm Audience in Debut Performance

The debut performances of two ballet classes hosted by The Jane Stern Dorado Community Library were pure magic. Held in a community auditorium, the group from Dorado impressed with their graceful moves, while the Toa Baja students brought unique energy to the stage. Both classes performed on May 26, 2022, with less than 4 months of weekly classes under their belts, and left a lasting impression on the audience.

For information on each performance and more photos, please follow the links provided: [Link to Dorado Ballet Class Performance] and [Link to Toa Baja Ballet Class Performance].

Workshop Delights New Dancers

To add a little variety and engage new students, a 4-day workshop was held in April 2023 featuring Guest Instructors from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The energetic pair of volunteers are sisters who grew up dancing at the school founded by their mother and have both pursued careers as dance teachers, amassing more than 50 years of combined experience. A room full of new dancers learned a little bit of Ballet, Jazz and Lyrical dance styles and had a blast! Of course, the highlight was a mini-performance for the families and library staff.

For more information and photos, please follow the links provided:
[Link to Workshop Article]
[Link to Guest Teachers Article]

Second Annual Showcase Success

The second annual Trifecta Arts ballet performance, held on May 25, 2023, and sponsored by The Jane Stern Dorado Community Library, showcased students from underserved communities who dazzled the audience with their graceful moves and infectious energy. Dressed in classical ballet attire provided by generous donors, these students not only delivered a mesmerizing performance but also highlighted the transformative power of arts education. As the performance concluded, the thunderous applause underscored the importance of ensuring all children have access to such opportunities and recognized not only their individual achievements but also the collective spirit of resilience within this community.

For more information and photos, please follow the link provided: [Link to Ballet Class Performance]

If you’re a dance teacher who would like to volunteer your time (you won’t regret it!), please contact us at info@trifectaarts.org.

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