At Risk Children Dance for Social Change

We still remember the day when Angel decided to be a dancer.

We had been invited by the Panama International Film Festival to see "Yuli", the story of Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta that portrayed his childhood as a rebellious child and adolescent, undisciplined, with a wonderful talent, who fully lived the contradictions that arise from the rigor that demands to grow up in such demanding art as dance.

Through the power of representation in the Cinema, Ángel could see himself reflected in that black dancer, coming from an impoverished neighborhood, who loved and shunned his talent at the same time. But the most important thing that night was that, for 115 minutes, he had a window into what his future could be.

With eyes wide as saucers, and shacked to the bone, at 14 years old Angel communicated to his teachers his ardent desire to be a dancer, just like Yuli.

 From then on, Angel worked hard, very hard. In addition to taking his classes at Enlaces, he received a scholarship to study in a high-level dance academy in Panama and accepted all artistic challenge that crossed in front of him. He won awards, leading roles and at the age of 17 he was invited to participate in the Panamanian Professional Dance company COCO, which allowed him to fulfill one of his dreams: To travel to New York to perform at an international festival. It was his first time on a plane.

The opportunity Angel worked for came. Today Ángel is in Barcelona studying through a scholarship at the International High Training Center for Dancers Barcelona Ballet Project.

 Although even the impetus and passion that make Angel an exceptional dancer can still challenge the patience of his teachers, and even though the road he must travel is still extensive, we are proud that our Yuli is living the dream that was born that movie night.

Eli has the gift of patience. All her actions carry a characteristic parsimony that is only interrupted by the ease of her smile, by the speed with which her very fine and sharp sense of humor emerges, and by the exercise of her immense creative capacity, on stage and in life.

Eli came to Enlaces when she was 9 years old. Quiet, solitary, she preferred to distance herself – as a good impartial observer – from the pranks of her classmates.

"Eli speaks little, but when she does, she is really wise" one of her peers said about her in a dialogue circle, a few years ago.

Like many of her peers, she faced the challenges of an educational system that is exclusive and incapable of responding to the needs of the most vulnerable boys and girls.

Despite her enormous talent and creativity, she struggled to complete her high school within a rigid and anachronistic educational system.

A tireless team of teachers accompanied Eli on a long journey through a roller coaster of emotions, with ups and downs, extensive conversations, and family meetings to create strategies and ways to achieve the common goal, always convinced of Eli's great potential and possibilities.

In the year 2021 Eli, just turned 18 years old, and finished her high school education. What for others may be a milestone of little importance is for Eli, and for us, one of those daily wonders that dazzle us, an invitation to celebrate, to wear our fineries, and to live the pride of seeing this first goal crossed by an extraordinary girl, who had to swim against the tide for so many years.

Eli approved her admission exam to the University, and It's about to start her dream career: Social Work. Eli wants to touch the lives of children who like her, have within them an enormous potential waiting to be discovered through love and patience.