Movement Exchange unites dance and service. We are a growing community of dance diplomats—movers and shakers, activists and global citizens, dreamers and achievers, teachers and learners, volunteers and friends. We believe that when we move the world, we move to change.
MISSION
Movement Exchange unites dance and service through its network of university chapters, international dance exchanges, and year-round programs in underserved communities.
VISION
We envision a world in which:
• Dance education is accessible to all
• Dance is synonymous to service
• Dance enables all to achieve their optimal mental, social, and physical well-being
VALUES
• Cross-cultural understanding
• Civic engagement
• Social equity and inclusion
• Creative expression
• Sustainable dance education
IMPACT
Since 2010…
2,495
dance diplomats
4,956
dance classes
27,829
youth participants
58,133
volunteers hours
State of the Movement Address
Each month, Movement Exchange releases video updates featuring recent events, interviews, international dance exchanges, and news on our university chapters.
Annual Theater Shows in Panama
Movement Exchange organizes annual performances at the National Theater of Panama and Teatro Anita Villalaz for over 80 students. Guest performers from the community are also invited to dance on stage with our students. Shows are free to the public, further supporting our mission to make the arts accessible to all.
SUSTAINABILITY
Movement Exchange creates a sustainable impact through dance and service by supporting year-round, locally staffed dance programs. We have dance programs at two orphanages and an at-risk youth foundation in Panama. Additionally, Move-Ex university chapters provide free weekly dance classes at various institutions in the U.S. including domestic violence shelters, youth programs, nursing homes, and refugee centers.
WHERE WE SERVE
UNITED STATES
Our network of university chapters provide free, accessible dance education in their own communities throughout the U.S.
PANAMA
We organize international dance exchanges and year-round classes at orphanages and foundations throughout Panama.
BRAZIL
Our international dance exchanges to Rio de Janeiro provide the opportunity to explore and discover Brazil through dance.
TEAM
Dana was introduced to Movement Exchange in 2014 as an undergraduate student at Indiana University right at the moment she decided to stop pursuing her professional ballet training due to a series of chronic injuries. Getting involved with Movement Exchange, as both a member of the IU chapter and as a contracted member of the organization's administrative team, helped her discover how to translate her passion for dance into a passion for exploring and advocating for the power of dance to empower individuals and communities. During her time with Move-Ex at IU, Dana attended three international dance exchanges to Panama and became highly involved in leading the chapter's local dance service initiatives in Bloomington. All of these experiences led Dana to pursue an integrated BA/MA degree in International Studies at IU where she did research on the role of dance in generating social change. She is now a PhD student of Social-Cultural Anthropology at Indiana University where she hopes to continue her academic research on themes of dance, reconciliation, and environmental justice. She is thrilled to return to Movement Exchange as its Executive Director and looks forward to bringing her expanded knowledge about dance service and empowerment back to the organization that started her on this life changing journey. Move to change!
dana@movementexchanges.org
Isi became involved with Indiana University’s Movement Exchange chapter in 2017 and was immediately drawn to the organization’s goal of fostering community engagement, social outreach and cross-cultural understanding through the language of dance. Isi’s involvement with IU’s chapter fell closely in line with her studies at IU as an International Studies major, along with minors in Dance and Spanish. She has had the incredible opportunity of doing dance service in the Bloomington community as well as to have participated in the December 2017 exchange to Panama. Isi is currently a yoga teacher in Bloomington, IN and is thrilled to continue exploring the benefits of bringing dance and movement to communities locally and internationally. She is excited to return to Movement Exchange as Communications Manager, and is eager to work alongside Dana to spread the power of dance in the US and abroad, and most importantly to Move to Change!
isabel@movementexchanges.org
Violeta Martinez joined the Movement Exchange team as our Panama Country Director in 2019. She has Bachelor degrees in Dance (Classical Ballet) and Psychology from the University of Panama. She began her dance studies at the National School of Dance in Panama and was part of the university dance company called “Coraza.” Violeta has participated in dance congresses in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Guatemala and has danced for contemporary dance companies in Panama, The United States, and Italy. She also represented Panama at a conference entitled “Female Hip Hop Dancers in Latin America" in Guatemala in 2012.
She has received additional training from: the Festival of Contemporary Dance and Physical Theater (Colombia, Bogotá), and completed summer intensives with the University of Panama, the New York City Ballet, and the Finish Ballet (in residency in Las Vegas, Nevada). She loves dancing because it is a way to express herself and experience the creative process with her body and she loves Movement Exchange because it gives her the opportunity to use dance to serve!
She has received additional training from: the Festival of Contemporary Dance and Physical Theater (Colombia, Bogotá), and completed summer intensives with the University of Panama, the New York City Ballet, and the Finish Ballet (in residency in Las Vegas, Nevada). She loves dancing because it is a way to express herself and experience the creative process with her body and she loves Movement Exchange because it gives her the opportunity to use dance to serve!
violeta@movementexchanges.org
Movement Exchange is the culmination of Anna Pasternak’s desire to integrate her passion for dance, public service, and international experiences. Anna’s work has been featured in the Harvard Magazine, as a young artist on National Public Television, among other international publications. Anna has danced professionally in an array of styles, although her most outrageous dance experience to date was dancing on tour in Japan with a samba company from Rio de Janeiro alongside Kenyan human pyramid makers and a Japanese mariachi band. Her work with Global Brigades in the rural and indigenous regions of Panama connected Anna to the dance community of Panama, and subsequently inspired her vision for Movement Exchange. Anna received her BA from Harvard University. She previously studied dance at the San Francisco High School of the Arts, the National Arts School of Cuba, and received her early training with Shely Pack-Manning. In 2011, she was a Fulbright Scholar in Mexico City. You can currently find Anna surfing the Northern California coast and dreaming of the days when she lived in places where she didn’t need to own a wetsuit.
anna@movementexchanges.org
Jose is the breakdance instructor for Barrio Activo in El Chorrillo. Jose began dancing breakdance in 2011 after seeing a group of bboys. Since he began dancing, he has participated in a number of competitions in Panama City, such as “507” and “Back to the Scene.” He is continually striving to improve and evolve in breakdance and he enjoys working with Movement Exchange because he believes that accessible dance education is a wonderful resource. Working with the children in El Chorrillo, where there is a lot of hostility, dance can be an alternative and an exit to all the problems that are present in their daily lives. He believes that dance is a means of artistic expression that allows you to peacefully release all the negativity we carry with us.
Andrea is Movement Exchange’s ballet instructor at Malambo Orphanage. Andrea began dancing when she was 11 years old. She began her training at the National Dance School and has participated in a number of notable works by both Panamanian and foreign choreographers. She is currently working independently, teaching and performing with a variety of dance projects in Panama and developing herself as a dancer and choreographer. Andrea believes that the Malambo community benefits greatly from dance as the majority of the girls come from dysfunctional families, domestic problems, and self-esteem issues. More than just learning technique or discipline, dance can help these girls find a sense of community at Malambo and provide them a sense of purpose and importance. Andrea’s favorite part about teaching dance is watching her students evolve both in and outside of the studio.
Hernan is the Move-Ex breakdance instructor at Malambo Orphanage. He began dancing in 2005 when he saw a group practicing breakdance outside of a school. The movements he saw that day had a huge impact on his life and from that moment, he decided to start dancing. At first, breakdancing was a hobby, but after a few years of training, it became a part of his way of life. He believes that dance provides an opportunity to keep children away from drugs and violence, while also giving them tools for personal growth and development. He enjoys watching his students perform choreography and movement that they once saw as difficult and impossible. He is inspired by seeing his students learn, grow, and evolve.
Ashley is the contemporary instructor at Aldea SOS Orphanage in Panama City. Ashley has been dancing since she was fifteen and immediately found a sense of community thanks to the dance world. She credits her style and knowledge of dance with being surrounded by so many inspiring colleagues and friends who have inspired her movement. Together with her crew, she has participated in contests such as World of Dance. Ashley believes that dance is important because we all need movement in our lives. Movement has the ability to change or transform lives on a social and spiritual level.
Board of Directors
United States:
Lider Sucre
Zachary Jones
Alan Sussna
Panama:
Lider Sucre
J Michie
Anna Pasternak
Advisory Board
Blair Brown
Juan Carlos Claudio
Kirsten Torchalski
Megan Maggi
Alyssa Quicquaro
Alice Lu
Kimberly Lucht
Angie Pan
Andie Duong
PARTNERS & SPONSORS
U.S. Embassy in Panama
The U.S. Embassy has been a supporter of Movement Exchange since its conception. With the support of the U.S. Embassy, Move-Ex organizes yearly performance starring over 100 at-risk youth at theaters throughout Panama.
Malambo Orphanage
Movement Exchange teaches weekly dance classes at Malambo. Dance diplomats also teach at Malambo during international dance exchanges. 95% of the orphanage are Afro-Panamanian or Indigenous girls, many of whom have been sexually or physically abused. Over 100 children live there full-time.
Aldea SOS Orphanage
The Aldea SOS Orphanage receives weekly classes from Movement Exchange’s Panamanian team in addition to classes from our international volunteers during dance exchanges. Over 60 youth live at Aldea.
Barrio Activo
Barrio Activo provides classes and workshops in hip hop culture including breakdance, rap, and graffiti. Barrio Activo works mainly in and around Panama City, serving children in El Chorrillo and Curundu.
University of Panama
Movement Exchange teaches and takes class with the dance department at the National University of Panama. The dance department offers concentrations in ballet, modern and Panamanian folklore.
National Dance School
The National Dance School offers affordable dance education to children and teenagers in Panama City. They offer classes in an array of dance styles including Panamanian folkloric, flamenco, ballet, modern, and more. Movement Exchange offers classes to, and takes class from the school.
Escuelita del Ritmo
Escuelita del Ritmo in the historic town of Portobelo is an after school music program created to preserve the Afro-Panamanian traditions of the Colon region. Movement Exchange teaches dance classes at the foundation and takes folklore classes from their pupils.
Viva Rio - Brazil
Viva Rio works in underserved communities throughout Rio de Janeiro providing health and education services. Movement Exchange provides free dance classes to the community of Pavao/Pavaozinho.
PRESS
General Press
- Dance Spirit – We’re Obsessed with this TEDx Talk on Dance Diplomacy (January 6, 2019)
- Instituto da Criança – ONG Movement Exchange leva a dança para instituição da rede do Instituto da Criança (August 16, 2018)
- La Prensa – La unidad que da la danza (July 19, 2018)
- The Breakfast Show with Gerry D – Movement Exchange (July 12, 2018)
- Giving Compass – Movement Exchange Changes Kids’ Lives Through the Power of Dance (March 28, 2018)
- La Prensa – Cuando la danza une a dos países (June 30, 2017)
- Newsroom Panama – Talent in Movement an Inspirational Dance Experience (June 22, 2017)
- La Estrella de Panamá – La Danza que Transforma al Mundo (February 11, 2017)
- Half Moon Bay Review – Coastside dancers make strides around world (March 7, 2013)
- Half Moon Bay Patch – Founder of Movement Exchange Returns to Martin’s Beach (February 18, 2013)
- Dance Magazine – Making it Happen: Dancing to Change (December 1, 2012)
- La Prensa – Danza Para Niños (July 22, 2012)
- La Opinion – Movement Exchange Dicta Taller de Danza (July 20, 2012)
- Sport and Dev – New Dance Organisations (September 21, 2011)
- Napa Valley Register – Napa Man Brings Dance to Panama Orphanage (August 21, 2011)
- La Prensa – Niños: Danza y Expresión Corporal (June 19, 2011)
- The Visitor/El Visitante – Inter-Cultural Dance Week Culminates on July 4 at Teatro Nacional (July 2010)
University Chapter Press
- Saint Louis University (SLU) – Making the Spirit Move Them: SLU Group Uses Dance, Culture to Connect with Kids (January 10, 2019)
- Western Herald (WMU) – RSO Spotlight: Movement Exchange (November 17, 2017)
- Fairfax County Times (GMU) – ¡Bailamos! (May 12, 2017)
- The Finer Points (Utah) – Panama Movement Exchange: School of Dance Students Engage in Arts Advocacy (May 3, 2017)
- @theU (Utah) – Empowering Youth Through Dance (March 27, 2017)
- The Daily Utah Chronicle (Utah) – U Students Travel to Panama to Teach Orphans to Dance (March 23, 2017)
- Her Campus (FSU) – Adele Switzer: Moving Feet and Feelings (October 7, 2016)
- Western Michigan University Magazine (WMU) – Moving to Serve, Page 28 (September 2016)
- The Fine Print (WMU) – The Power of Dance (June 30, 2016)
- FSU News (FSU) – Students Travel to Panama to Teach Dance to Orphans During Spring Break (March 2, 2016)
- IU Newsroom (IU) – IU Students Share Universal Language of Dance in Panama with Movement Exchange (February 8, 2016)
- Indiana Daily Student (IU) – Students dance in worldwide movement (February 15, 2015)
- Studio (Utah) – Dancers Without Borders, Page 16 (March 27, 2014)
- The State Press (ASU) – Students Plan to Help Children through Dance Group Movement Exchange (March 2, 2014)
- The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah) – U Dancers Raising Money for Panama Exchange (January 29, 2013)