Press Kit 2010

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JUNTOSthe power of dance to educate, liberate, heal, and build communities

8/7/2019 Press Kit 2010


About JUNTOS JUNTOS was founded in 2008 by Ailey/Fordham student Joanna Poz-Molesky (FCLC ’10). Originally intended for a one-time

international trip to Mexico in 2009, JUNTOS quickly expanded to an organization bridging performance, community outreach,

and intercultural exposure. JUNTOS established their New York community outreach program in January 2009, teaching and

performing in Manhattan elementary schools and retirement homes. In August 2009, twelve dancers from The Ailey

School/Fordham University, The Juilliard School, and SUNY Purchase engaged in a successful tour to central Mexico for twoweeks of performance and intercultural exchange. Shortly following this event in March 2010, JUNTOS traveled to the

Guatemalan highlands for nine days to teach, perform, and share dance in schools, orphanages, retirement homes, and other

communities that seldom encounter modern dance.

JUNTOS continues with its New York community outreach, expanding its program to other communities lacking performing

arts. The company has repeated each trip annually. JUNTOS continues growing each year: outreach trips, artists involved, staff,

and workshops among many more aspects. JUNTOS aims to bring young peoples of diverse backgrounds together and bridge a

young generation of leaders internationally by verbally and artistically exchanging cultural differences. Through the collective,

dancers build friendships across borders, create community, and provide projects of hope for surrounding communities.

Mission JUNTOS, a community-based organization, seeks to educate, heal, liberate, and build community through dance. Weoffer students opportunities through their creative discipline to bridge insights from the classroom and dance studio to

become artists educating and serving others. As dancers, our art form enables us to identify, transform and celebrate therange of human experience. We expose all participants - collective and partner organization members - to new cultures

and languages, using dance to create a neutral space for the expression of diversity, and as a reminder of equality. This

neutral space in turn, allows us to create a community that transcends borders.

We strive to build lasting relationships with local and global partners, communities often unrecognized and seldomexposed to the professional world of modern dance. Through dance, JUNTOS hopes to identify a shared humanexperience found in all cultures and ways of life.

dancing together

to identify a shared human

ex erien e

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Projects and Opportunities

New York and San Francisco (Current)

JUNTOS: New York is comprised of professional student performing artists whowish to integrate performing art and community outreach. The collective

teaches and performs in various locations, focusing on communities that are

not granted much art exposure. Artists engage and dialogue with newaudiences while sharing their gifts with others.

Mexico (Current)

This project offers a select group of dancers the opportunity to travel and

tour for two weeks to central Mexico for an international and interculturalexchange through dance. Artists perform in cities and present their

choreography beyond New York’s boundaries. Members explore both

traditional and contemporary dance cultures: they train and learn repertoirewith groups and choreographers like Jaime Camarena’s company Apoc Apoc , a

professional modern dance company in Mexico City. Participants engage in

exchanges with ballet folklorico groups (Monserrat Guitierrez’s Mexican

youth baile folklorico company Ollin Yoliztlin) as well as perform at internationaldance festivals. JUNTOS dancers are encouraged to initiate leadershipparticularly while teaching movement in orphanages and to the local

community. Through JUNTOS: Mexico, artists combine their professional dance

world outreach in local communities, orphanages, and retirement homes.

Guatemala (Current)

JUNTOS: Guatemala focuses on what art can offer in a

third-world country. Dancers travel for nine days throughthe Guatemalan highlands, engaging in community

outreach in Mayan villages and urban centers. JUNTOS

participants teach dance workshops in public and privateelementary schools and perform for communities

unfamiliar with contemporary performing arts. In addition,

dancers exchange with other artists in Quetzaltenango,exploring various traditional and contemporary

expressions. JUNTOS: Guatemala offers dancers venues to

perform for large public audiences.

California (Future)

Coming August 2012, twelve JUNTOS members travel toCalifornia mixing the professional dance worlds of both

the East and West Coast. Members engage in workshopswith San Francisco dance companies then sponsor

movement opportunities in Salinas Valley for children of

agricultural workers. JUNTOS performs for communitiesthat seldom experience modern dance as well as for the

general public in the Bay Area.

integrating dance with outreach to create community

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JUNTOS Visionaries Joanna Poz-Molesky, Founder/Director

Joanna, born in Berkeley, California, began dancing at Berkeley Ballet

Theater in 1991. She co-founded En Pointe Youth Dance Company in

1999, initiated and organized its Mexico summer immersion trip in 2005,

and directed the company through 2006. In 2008, she founded JUNTOS,

and in 2009, Joanna directed and organized JUNTOS: Mexico,

collaborating with New York and Mexican artists for performance andintercultural exchange. She continues to organize and direct outreachprojects internationally. Joanna graduated from The Ailey

School/Fordham University’s BFA dance program in 2010. Joanna has

been awarded with several special recognitions for her community

outreach and leadership (Hitachi National Award, 2006-07; Guardian Girl’s

Going Places Award, 2006; Berkeley Community Fund for Leadership and Community Service, 2006; City of Berkeley Mayor’s Award, 2006).

David Claps, Financial Manager; MarketingDavid, a New Jersey native, is an NYC-based dancer, choreographer and

arts administrator. David is a 2010 cum laude graduate of The Ailey

School/Fordham University BFA in Dance Program along with a minor inBusiness Administration where he had the privilege to perform repertory

by Lar Lubovitch, Paul Taylor and Bill T. Jones, among others. David hasbeen a member of Kazuko Hirabayahi Dance Theater, ZviDance

apprentice and performed with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in

“Memoria” during their 2009 New York City Center Season.

Additionally, David has interned at many arts organizations such as Mark Morris Dance Group before assuming his current role as Fiscal

Administrator for Pentacle/Danceworks, Inc. where he services notable

organizations such as Buglisi Dance Theatre and Shen Wei Dance Arts.

Adrienne Cousineau, Business Initiative CoordinatorAdrienne started dancing at age 9 in Salinas, California. She trained in San

Francisco with Richard Gibson and Zory Karah at the Academy of Ballet

in addition to dancing at SpectorDance in Marina, CA. Adrienne has

performed several original works choreographed and set by CharlesAnderson, Lawrence Pech, Michael Lowe, and Fran Spector Atkins. Sincemoving to New York City, Adrienne has continued to dance at The Ailey

School. After studying abroad in Paris, France and Santiago, Chile,

Adrienne was excited to join JUNTOS on its first trip to Guatemala,

since it allowed her to combine her love of languages, interculturalexchange, dance, and outreach. She holds a BA in French Studies and

Philosophy and a minor in Spanish from Fordham University. Adriennefinished an interim administrative position at Alvin Ailey, and is currently

pursuing a career in dance while freelance translating, tutoring, and

babysitting.

Student LeadersSelect students are encouraged to take on leadership positions and assist

in company management. These students are chosen after demonstrating

passion and commitment to the company and its vision. They must first

perform well in academic and dance classes then accomplish theirassignments for JUNTOS. Current Student Leaders include:

Alicia Delgadillo (Ailey/Fordham ’12), Event Coordinator Maia Dunlap (Ailey/Fordham ’13), School Coordinator

Helen Hatch (Ailey/Fordham ’11), Rehearsal Director Marisa Martin (Ailey/Fordham ’11), Student Program Coordinator

Amy McMurchie (LINES/Dominican ‘13) California Program Coordinator

Scott Willits (Ailey/Fordham ’13), New York Coordinator

Kelli Youngman (Ailey/Fordham ’11), Fundraising & Budget Management

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Artist Statement: the Artists’ Calling A Note from the Director and Founder of JUNTOS

My aunt always told me we are what we do in our childhood. One of my cousins used to construct buildings with blocks in his

early years and is now an engineer; another one of my cousins used to investigate every plant and animal – he’s now a biologyresearcher. I, on the other hand, took yarn and wrapped it around everything I could reach: doorknobs, chair legs, the sofa, my

bed. I created large nets throughout the house. I loved weaving.

I’ve graduated from weaving household objects together to bridging communities. I love people and diverse cultures. Yet if I’m

so passionate about different people and cultures, why pursue art? As a young woman and artist interested in social justice, I’vequestioned the importance of dance multiple times. I must ask myself what purpose art has in the global context? Why shoulddance be important when food, shelter, and clothing aren’t evenly distributed in the world?

In my years before college at the Ailey School/Fordham University, my years before JUNTOS, I founded a youth dancecompany. During my six years as director, En Pointe Youth Dance Company developed into a solely youth-coordinated pre-

professional dance company where youth explored effective leadership styles. All aspects of the diverse company, from

choreography to the design and production of costumes, from lighting and sound to set design, from fundraising (at least$8,000 per year) and publicity to dancing, were organized by youth. I slowly began to experience art as bridging differences and

creating community. The company has been distinguished for its originality, technical excellence, aesthetic success, and youth

leadership in the San Francisco Bay Area and was featured in U.S. magazines, newspapers, and television stations.

Two years after graduating from Berkeley High, I founded my second dance group. Inspired by a theology course at FordhamUniversity in 2008, I founded JUNTOS. It emerged from a child that constantly traveled back and forth from Guatemala to visit

family, a girl with a voice in art, a teen placing her bi-cultural heritage into her place in segregated communities, a young woman

weighing the importance of art versus social justice on a global level. At its core, JUNTOS works to build community and share

everything art can offer: expression, inspiration, healing, and unify among many other qualities. Utilizing my acquired skills frommy past and a new, clear articulation of dance as sharing truth, I began to build a base for artists to learn, teach, and share their

art in various communities. A year later, this collective (dancers from the Ailey School, The Juilliard School, and SUNY

Purchase College) was traveling to Mexico for two weeks of performance and intercultural exchange.

I understand that being an artist is not a career; it is a calling. Using art as my expression, I have developed my own voice as

one screaming for justice, community, and unveiling truth. As an artist, I strive to bridge communities and cultures so we canshare and learn from each other as oppose to combining them. Using social justice and community outreach in art, I hope to

offer expression, inspiration, healing, sharing, and most importantly, love.

Sharing Love: Our Responsibility as Artists

Spring semester sophomore year of college, I took a class titled, “Mysticism and Social Justice.” In spiritual beliefs, mysticism isan experience of God. From this, a deep yearning emerges, then prayer, and an interdependence developing in God and the

universe. This leads to a mystical consciousness in which the individual, now mystic, embraces action and justice. In my class,

however, I recognized that it was not only people of religious backgrounds who were granted this gift of divine love. In The

Silent Cry Dorothee Soelle writes, “Whether someone believes in God or assumes the existence of a higher being seemsirrelevant in the face of a real experience of “swimming” in God” (28).

Dancing, I realized that we experience moments of God every day. How often do we recognize this gift? Inquiring into this new

understanding of mysticism helped me illuminate dance as liberating for all participants, whether dancers or audience – we are

sharing our true selves with one another, a form of God, or divine Love.

Love. Being in love does not consist of loving everything; being in love with life and with what you do exerts kindness,

imagination, drive, and how you live your life. Being in love can lead to a compassionate and honest world. I propose to offer a

piece of this love with JUNTOS. I hope to inspire others to share love, weaving communities, people, and differences together

to create a more peaceful world.

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The Power of Dance: What participants say about JUNTOS…

Excerpts by JUNTOS Members to the Director, Guatemala 2010

This trip has ignited a spark in me and I have this overwhelming desire to do more… I feel as though I can

conceptualize my place in this big world and know that I can use my art to inspire and motivate others… Dance

has the ability to transcend race, religion, ethnicity, and gender and enables us not as

Guatemalans or Americans but as human beings to connect on the most essential level.Despite the language barrier, I saw the power of dance and its ability to promote creativity, confidence,

and individuality… Interacting with the people of Guatemala and being immersed into their way of life has been lifechanging… I have come to realize there is so much excess baggage in my life that I concern myself with that is

completely superficial and a waste of time. …This is something that I would never have learned sitting in aclassroom at Fordham, listening to a professor lecture. These revelations only come from face to face cross-culturalencounters. This trip has been one of the most valuable and influential experiences of my life. I was able to see how much I have to give and share with the world to create a powerful, positive impact. … Although we leave tomorrow,I am bringing back with me new memories, friends, and a profound appreciation for the power of dance, as well as

the power of our dreams!- Katie Berry, FCLC ’11

From you and from these trips, I have witnessed the true power of art form: its ability to transcend languages,

cultures, customs and to bridge people together. … The great thing about JUNTOS is that it takes

this idea [that the understanding of different cultures is what will bring peace to the

world] and connects it to concrete actions… Something inside me has really changed. I feel so inspired

to do more because there is so much to be done.- Marisa Martin, FCLC ‘11

I am going home with an entirely different perception of the world, the power of dance,

and of myself… I never understood the power of dance. When my brother passed away, it really made me

hate myself for dancing. For being so “selfish” and I struggled so much with my feeling of needing to do more, to

help the world become a better place and I just didn’t see dance in that way. JUNTOS seemed to be a great outlet… I always used to believe “everything happened for a reason” in a sort of magical way, but since my brother’s passing its been really hard for me to see the world in a positive way or be able to think good things canhappen. This trip has made me be able to accept the way things are and realize things happen the way they are

supposed to if we are open to them. … My heart is now open and wanting to do so much more.- Kelli Youngman, FCLC ‘11

Before this trip I wanted to think dance was important, because it’s so important to me, but deep down I didn’t believe that it was. In a world with so many problems, I thought that dance and art were almost indulgent. Idefinitely didn’t think dance was something worth dedicating my entire life to, and this left me torn between what Ilove and what I thought was important, diminishing both. This trip completely changed all that. Through teaching theworkshops and performing at the places we did, I realize that dance and art hold a place in the world that cannot

be underestimated. I saw that the power of communicating through movement, of having dance as a tool to express

yourself and share, is extraordinary. Dance and art bring a light into the world that is essential.

Even, maybe even especially, in places of tremendous poverty and hardship, where so

much other work needs to be done, dance cannot be taken out of the equation.- Maia Dunlap, FCLC ‘13

I think I finally saw the power of dance. I’ve slowly been learning that I love dance because it humanizes

whoever performs it. Yet, I finally saw here how much I can give of myself through dance. I also saw how much each

member of our group was able to give through dance as well. Finally, it wasn’t about anyone’s technique and ability to execute steps, but it was about each person’s personality and humanity. I finally stopped judging and was able toappreciate and receive what everyone had to offer. I let go of judging myself as well, and for the first time in my life,

I performed without being nervous and most importantly without any filter… I finally found out how to perform.- Adrienne Cousineau, FCLC ‘10

Performing, teaching, and living in Xela for those few days gave me so much of this culture, its generosity, and passion. I realize how this place has given me an entirely new outlook on what is important in life…the people youshare it with, and the beauty that you share to the world.

- Helen Hatch, FCLC ‘11

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Outreach Partners

New YorkChurch of St. Paul the Apostle

The Esplanade Retirement Home

FaceAids at Fordham Lincoln Center

Hearthstone Alzheimer’s Care

Momentum ProjectPS 191

West 74th St. Home

San Francisco Bay AreaSt. Mary’s Center

MexicoApoc Apoc (Mexico City)

La Casa de Ancianas (Guanajuato)

La Fábrica (Quéretaro)

Ollin Yolitzli (San Miguel)

Hogar Santa Julia (San Miguel)Hogar El Mexiquito (San Miguel)

Hogar Don Bosco (San Miguel)El Sindicato (San Miguel)

GuatemalaAsilo de Ancianas Santa Luisa de Marilac

Atrezzo Marketing

Barrios La Transfiguracion

Centro Cultural Los ChocoyosCentro Cultural Casa No’jEscuela de Dr. Rodolfo Robles

Escuela Fray Bartolomé de las CasasHogar de Protección y Abrigo

Teatro Municipal de Quetzaltenango

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Current Upcoming Events

April 2011, Easter WeekendNew York

JUNTOS performance and workshop St. Paul theApostle

May 6, 2011 12pmSan Francisco JUNTOS performs repertoire at DominicanUniversity

May 29-June 12

JUNTOS: MexicoDancers perform in Mexico

Past Public Events

March 12-20, 2011: JUNTOS Guatemala

March 17: Teatro Municipal, Totonicopan. Daytime performace

March 18: Teatro Municipal, Xela. Daytime performance

March 18: Centro Cultural Casa No’J, Xela. Evening performance

February 12, 2011: New Jersey

Church of the Sacred Heart: Performance

October 24, 2010: New York City

St. Paul the Apostle, Performance and Teach-in

May 31-June 15, 2010: JUNTOS Mexico

June 12: Teatro Principal, Guanajuato. Full Performance

June 10: Radio UNAM, Mexico City. Full Performance

June 5: La Fábrica, BILATERAL, Querétaro. International dance festival June 4: El Sindicato, San Miguel de Allende. Performance

June 2: El Jardín, San Miguel de Allende. Evening Performance with Ollin Yolizlin

May 7, 2010: New York City

Fordham University, JUNTOS Performance: Performance and Presentation of Mexico Project

April 18, 2010: New Jersey

Church of the Sacred Heart : Performance

March 13-22, 2010: JUNTOS Guatemala

March 17: Teatro Municipal , Quetzaltenango. JUNTOS full performance

November 21, 2009: New York City

Fordham University , Fundraiser: Performance, slideshow, and discussion of JUNTOS: Mexico 2009

August 3-17, 2009: JUNTOS MexicoAugust 15: Teatro Principal , Guanajuato. Full performance with baile folklorico company Ollin Yolizlin

August 10: Plaza Civica, San Miguel de Allende. Performance with baile folklorico company Ollin Yolizlin

August 9: Cineteatro Rosario Solano, Querétaro. International dance festival

August 8: La Fábrica, BILATERAL: Querétaro. International dance festival

May 10, 2009: New York City

Pope Auditorium, Full performance

February 27, 2009: New York City

Fordham University , Evening of Inquiry: Dedicated to presenting the project

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Current Press

“Danza por amor: ‘Juntos Collective’ de Nueva York, llega a

Quetzaltenango”El Quetzalteco, March 13, 2010

http://www.elquetzalteco.com.gt/13.03.2010/?q=sociales/danzan_por

_amor

Across the Floor: “Bridging Cultures & Campuses” Dance Magazine, January 2010http://www.dancemagazine.com/issues/January-2010/TeachLearn-

Connection

“Fordham Conversations” (last three minutes)WFUV: December 12, 2009

http://wfuv.streamguys.us/archive/9651.asx

“Art as Exchange: Director of JUNTOS Reflects After Mexico

Trip”

Fordham University Observer: September 23, 2009http://media.www.fordhamobserver.com/art-as-exchange-director-

of-juntos-reflects-after-mexico-trip-1.1910203

“Ailey/Fordham Dancers Explore Modern and TraditionalCulture in Mexico”Fordham eNEWSROOM: August 2009http://www.fordham.edu/campus_resources/enewsroom/archives/ar

chive_1631.asp

“JUNTOS: From NYC to Mexico City”Fordham University Observer: April 29, 2009

http://www.fordhamobserver.com/juntos-from-nyc-to-mexico-city-

1.1738820

“Trabajan JUNTOS por la comunidad”El Diario: April 7, 2009

http://www.impre.com/eldiariony/noticias/2009/4/7/trabajan-juntos-por-la-comunid-118146-1.html

“A New Dance Program Comes to Fordham”Fordham University Observer: February 25, 2009http://www.fordhamobserver.com/a-new-dance-program-comes-to-

fordham-1.1573259

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Dance Magazine, January 2010

Across The Floor: Bridging Cultures & Campuses By Siobhan Burke

“Maybe you guys should take your socks off, if you’re going to do this full-out. I just don’t want you to slip and

fall.” It’s a Thursday night at the Ailey studios in midtown Manhattan, and Joanna Poz-Molesky, a senior in theAiley/Fordham BFA program, is overseeing a rehearsal for Juntos (meaning “together” in Spanish), thecommunity outreach group she founded in 2008. Her tone couldn’t be more easygoing, but beneath her low-keydemeanor is the drive it has taken to rally a group of college students, raise thousands of dollars, and makeJuntos a reality.

“Joanna is a sweet, quiet, polite young woman who you don’t realize has this steel inside of her,” says AnaMarie Forsythe, Poz-Molesky’s advisor in the dance program (and this month’s “Teacher’s Wisdom”; see p.182). “When she first approached me about this project, full of ambition, it seemed like something she might be

able to do 5 or 10 years from now. But she really pulled it off.”

In March, Poz-Molesky will lead eight dancers from three New York conservatories—Ailey/Fordham, Juilliard,and SUNY Purchase—on Juntos’ second international excursion: a weeklong trip to Guatemala, where they

plan to teach at a school in the city of Quetzaltenango and perform in several nearby towns. During their firsttrip—a two-week tour of central Mexico last August—a group of 14 led workshops at two orphanages and afolkloric dance camp; performed their student-directed, student-choreographed show in all kinds of venues,from a retirement home to a public plaza to more conventional theaters; and studied with the contemporary

company A Poc A Poc in Mexico City. This was only after raising $20,000, a grassroots effort involving garagesales, car washes, and benefit concerts.

Poz-Molesky has a track-record for spearheading large-scale projects with a resourcefulness beyond her years.

At 12, the Berkeley, CA, native co-founded her own youth-run dance company, En Pointe (see “TeenageImpresarios,” Aug. 2002), which she directed throughout high school. Her commitment to cultural exchange

stems from a childhood spent traveling between Berkeley and the Guatemalan village of Zunil, where her father was born. “I was part of two clashing worlds from a young age,” the 22-year-old says. “My mother is from a

white European middle-class family, my father from a poor Mayan community. The people in my dad’s townlive very, very differently. Many have almost nothing materially, but they give you everything they have tooffer.”

Out of these experiences, Poz-Molesky became interested in “bridging different communities,” using dance asher tool. She stresses that Juntos, which also does outreach in NYC public schools, fosters two-way exchanges.

“I think that dance has such a power to bring people together, to help people understand each other,” she says.“With Juntos, the idea is to share our gifts, to leave people with a little bit of what we know, while learning what

they can teach us.”

Many students came away from their Mexican travels with a renewed sense of purpose. “At school, going toclass every day, it’s easy to lose sight of your reason for dancing,” says Ailey/Fordham senior Kile Hotchkiss.

Through seeing “the appreciation, the exuberance” of the children he taught, “I was reminded of why I enjoydoing what I do. It reinvigorated my need to pass on the information I’ve been privileged to receive.”

By joining forces with Juilliard and SUNY Purchase, Poz-Molesky has bridged not only cultures but campuses.

“It’s rare to get each school to break out of its individual shell,” says Forsythe, “but Joanna has managed to doit.” See juntoscollective.org.

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Press Kit 2010