During the year Barbara Delgado founder of the MDP, and Company donate their time and talent to assist Dade County School students with choreography and technique at several different Dade-County Schools where art programs have been removed or downsized. A practice the Company continues today. Barbara’s’ history includes teaching for the Dade-County Public school system and she continues to assist her fellow school teachers providing her expertise in modern dance.
In December 2006 the MDP became familiar with the Kristy House, a place for abused children, teens, and young adults and was honored to perform at their Christmas Party. The MDP members enjoyed collecting and donating toys used to comfort children entering the Kristy House program. The MDP Company, Junior Company and officers are excited to maintain a relationship with the Kristy House through offering therapeutic and different style dance workshops for the children and their families, as well as performing at Kristy House events.
The MDP Company, Barbara Delgado, and Pamela Mekras will be providing a whole new area of service when we incorporate music and dance to children and young adults with autism.
Assisting a family give their child an opportunity to attend a summer dance camp, train in a yearly dance program, progress into a junior dance company, advance to a professional dance company with prospect of advancing, a college education, and employment is the Miami Dance Projects contribution to our community in preservation of the cultural arts.
Summer Dance Camps
The beginning of the Miami Dance Projects yearly Summer Dance Camps was in June 2006. Full, half and partial scholarships are given to children/young adults, who meet the above mentioned scholarship criteria, between the ages of four and fifteen years old. MDP Summer Dance Camps are held at New Image Dance Center and run between six and eight weeks with operating hours from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. In our 2007 camp before and after care were provided and added as a part of the scholarship, in 2009 transportation to and from camp was added with three pick up locations in low income neighborhoods.
The summer camps provide education in a variety of dance styles taught by professional instructors. Campers also participate in musical theater, stage make up and costume design. They go on field trips for cultural events, and fun events like bowling. With each year more programs are added such as yoga, cultural dances, stage management, and more. Because our scholarships primarily go to individuals from low income/ at risk neighborhoods, nutrition programs, dental health education and basic physicals are offered and given by Board Certified MDs, as well as guidelines to maintain better health.
In February of 2009 the MDP officers were pleased to be invited and participate in Baptist Health System Summer Camp Fair for families with special needs children that have siblings that do not, and to provide for both. As well as offering classes for the parents.
The 2006 camp began with eighteen campers, 2007 twenty five campers, 2008 thirty three campers and increasing. Each year we grow we are able to reach more neighborhoods providing positive support and encouragement to individuals and families who need assistance. Our summer camp future goal is to provide scholarships for 100 children/young adults.