The Latino Theatre Youth Troupe
This is an innovative youth theatre program. The Program Director meets with youth every week, leading them in a participatory creative process. This process begins with discussions and role-plays focusing on the young peoples’ hopes for the future and how they want to attain their goals. The Program offers performing arts workshops, theater exercises, dramatic movement, improvisation techniques and creative expression to help our young people focus on role playing and building self-esteem.
The group is funded by Syracuse Model Neighborhood’s Community Based Pregnancy Prevention Program, Cultural Resources Council and the Department of Justice Weed & Seed Program. The main educational tool through which we have been able to reach our teens is the theater and other forms of art. Fun learning is very effective when addressing behavior patterns. Through creative activities like role-plays, focusing on their hopes and their plans to attain their goals in the future, we address prevention measures, consequences, and responsibilities. We offer workshops where they can explore different aspects of who they are and who they want to become.
The program Director is José Miguel Hernandez. José Miguel is originally from Cuba and has lived in Syracuse for 12 years. For 10 years he has worked the Spanish Action League as a theatre dance instructor. He has a degree in nursing from The National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology in Havana, Cuba, and a theatre degree from Teatro Estudio. In 1999 the Spanish Action League founded La Joven Guardia del Teatro Latino (The Latino Theatre’s Youth Troupe). He is a true asset and great leader to all of the children that perform in the group.
Eligibility Requirements:
Participants must be between the ages of 5-20 years old.
Interested participants need to audition; they need a willingness to learn various styles of performing arts and to make a commitment to attend sessions as well as performances throughout the year.
Participants must commit to attending the group four times per week, for a period of 4 hours each session, depending on performance schedule.
