Legal Name Of Organization
Spanish Dance Arts Company, Inc.
Purpose Of Funds
Project Olé offers students a unique experience of flamenco, an art form which boasts a history involving a wide range of diverse cultural influences, including Spanish, Judaic, Arabic, and Gypsy. Through the vehicle of flamenco, students are given the opportunity to learn geography, history, language, and culture as we integrate our programs into the school curriculum. We serve an average of 17,000 New York City public school students each year with our residencies, lecture-demonstrations and school shows and expect to serve more in the coming year. Our overall Arts Education program costs approximately $200,000 and we receive funding from a variety of government, corporate and private foundations to offset the costs.
Population Served: Manhattan Bridges High School
Opened in September 2003, Manhattan Bridges is a small, high school that caters to recent immigrants from Spanish speaking countries. All students are English Language Learners with varying degrees of fluency. Flamenco Vivo will work with the classroom teachers, all of whom are bilingual, to incorporate flamenco into class work. At this specialized school, Flamenco Vivo is uniquely positioned to expose students to aspects of their own heritage while aiding their transition to the United States. At Manhattan Bridges High School, Project Olé will include a lecture demonstration for the entire student body and in-depth 10-week residency activities for 3 classes (90 students). Manhattan Bridges serves a population of 465 students in grades 9-12. The demographics of the student body are 98% Hispanic, with 2% African, Asian, and Caucasian. 90% of the population qualifies for the free school lunch program.
Population Served: PS 111
Set amid the housing projects of Hell’s Kitchen and the luxury of Central Park West, where most children are sent to private schools, PS 111 serves a poor and largely distressed population of students going through severe difficulties outside of school. Large numbers of children from local homeless shelters are sent to the school. Flamenco Vivo will provide a 10-session residency for two Kindergarten classes of up to 30 students each. In addition to the Teaching Artist, a guitarist will be present at ever residency class. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to see Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana performing on tour at a local venue in lower Manhattan. The student body at PS 111 includes 67% Hispanic Students, 12% White, 14% Black, and 7% Asian students. 65% of students qualify for the free lunch program.
