Casco Viejo Panama

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Hogar de Infancia and Casco Antiguo Dance Program

At the entrance of Terraplen, there is a “Harry Potter” looking building. Behind their grey exterior, inside a nice, well run school is hidden. The Hogar de la Infancia is mainly an orphanage, but also takes care of children with working parents that don’t have the means to take care of their kids while they work during the week.  The school is run by the Bethlemitas nuns.

Last year, a special program took headquarters at the Hogar: a pilot dance program started at one of its classrooms. The goal: to take the experience gained by the last Dance Festival (Sobresaltos) when they put together “Colectivo Diez”, a dance troop made exclusively by children of the neighborhood with no dance experience whatsoever. After two months of training, this mini troupe was able to take the stage side by side with professionals and in front of a wide audience that broke into applause if not tears or pride.

This program isn’t the first one of its kind, Colegio del Cuerpo, one of the professional troupes that attended the festival was born at the core of one of the poorest towns in Cartagena, Colombia. Today, they are a well known modern dance group with stunning international shows. Their story and experience inspired Analida Galindo, a professional dancer and teacher in Panama and the Oficina del Casco Antiguo to try to put a similar program in the neighborhood.  The perfect combination of infrastructure and students was found at the Hogar de la Infancia.

To learn more, about the Hogar de la Infancia, volunteer or donate contact: 212-0102. Hermana Maria Elena Villota.

To learn more about the Dance Program, volunteer or donate contact: Analida Galindo (399-8825/26 or 270-1350)

Address: Terraplen, Hogar de la Infancia.