Violeta participates in San Pedro City Ballet’s DancEd Steps Up after school educational program, which provides free dance classes. In 2017, Violeta became homeless and has been living in the car with her mother. This situation made it difficult for her to feel worthy and she had a complete loss of self-esteem. Our instructors mentor her on a daily basis, as well as provide her quality, professional dance training 25 hours per week. Violeta’s peers and close friends at the dance studio are her extended family who support her emotionally.
With tremendous dedication, Violeta has excelled in dance. After performing in several theatres in Los Angeles, a festival in Palm Springs, and modeling for dance photographers, Violeta blossomed and began working with younger DancEd Steps Up participants as a mentor and student teacher. She has that special quality that puts the students at ease as she helps them with self-confidence and technique. This is Violeta’s final year with us and we are excited that she is actively applying to colleges. Her self-confidence has made it possible to excel in school as well as dance and she is trying to make a better path forward for her mother and herself.
The generous grant from Henry L. Guenther Foundation helped San Pedro City Ballet continue to provide quality dance instruction to 1,800 students in underserved schools in South Los Angeles and to continuing students in the after-school program.
Together we are changing lives.
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