*Guest blog by Michael Tomascik, Public Affairs team, Ottawa
Since as far back as historical records seem to reach, dance has always played some sort of pivotal role in the lives of people. Not only providing us with a great source of physical activity and exercise, but also an excellent outlet for creativity.
When I found out that the Canadian Red Cross, French Red Cross, and Haiti en Scène had joined forces to provide a performing arts program for youth in Haiti, I couldn’t help it and had to find out more. Being a dancer myself I was curious as to what sort of style and creativity the youth of Haiti would serve up. I was amazed to find everything from hip-hop numbers to Michael Jackson songs to elegantly choreographed contemporary pieces. And while you’re probably not going to find So You Think You Can Dance’s Mary Murphy screaming her head off telling these dancers they should be on the ‘hot tamale train’, it is without question that these young, talented individuals CAN indeed dance!
Haiti en Scène is a Port-au-Prince based organization that reaches out to youth who may not have the opportunity to go to school or engage in leisure activities. Through providing programs in the performing arts, such as theatre, song, and dance, Haiti en Scène can offer the comfort and psychosocial support desperately needed by young individuals following a traumatic event. Haiti en Scène has reached out to well over a thousand Haitian youth and puts on regular performances throughout the year. Sponsoring and researching the program, the Canadian Red Cross and French Red Cross hope to gain a more precise understanding of the impact artistic engagement has on aiding youth recovery from traumatic events such as earthquakes and hurricanes.