University of Utah, Department of Modern Dance launches its First International Community Service...

Salt Lake City, UT- Eight students in the Department of Modern Dance at the University of Utah will embark on their first service learning partnership with the Movement Exchanges Organization in Panama City, Panama.

During a weeklong residency in the cities of Casco Viejo and Arraiján; this group of dedicated and talented dance students will be teaching modern dance technique, improvisation, choreography and creative movement classes to all ages in five orphanages throughout the City of Panama.

The partnership was established by Assistant Professor/Lecturer Juan Carlos Claudio to enhance the service and teaching experiences of the students in the department of modern dance. The exchange provides an avenue for future community leaders in the arts to participate in the global community through their art form -dance- serving in cross cultural settings. Thus, helping to promote awareness and self-esteem through movement. The experiences this group of students will gain will be invaluable; the fact that they will be changing the lives of people of all ages half way around the world, while exploring and immersing themselves into a new culture is extremely commendable.

These students will also be teaching and taking classes at the University of Panama, the National School of Dance and master classes with Panama National Ballet Company. Professor Claudio, and students Lynn Bobzin, Scotty Hardwig, Jamie Myers, Camilla Gardner, Aiko Johnson, Eiby Lobos, Emily Weaver and Melissa Williams would like to thank all of the private donors, family and friends, as well as, the incredible support of Stephen Koester- Chair, Department of Modern Dance, Brent Schneider- Associate Dean and Raymond Tymas-Jones- Dean, College of Fine Arts for their invaluable support on this great adventure.

Stay tuned as the group continues to blog about their daily activities and adventures in Panama during the week of April 15-22, 2012.