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About us

JUNTOS Collective is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that uses dance to develop leadership and collaboration building in vulnerable communities. JUNTOS provides free dance workshops and dance performances from professional and pre-professional dance volunteers in select communities nationally and internationally. Each year, JUNTOS works with numerous organizations in Boston, New York, San Francisco/Northern CA, and internationally in Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, and Nicaragua. We collaborate with organizations such as orphanages, migrant safe houses, public hospitals, retirement homes, centers for HIV+ children, homeless shelters, and more.

History

JUNTOS was founded in 2008 by Ailey/Fordham BFA student Joanna Poz-Molesky. Originally intended for a one-time international trip to Mexico in 2009, JUNTOS quickly expanded to an organization bridging performance, community outreach, and intercultural exchange. Today, JUNTOS conducts six volunteer programs from one-day outreach opportunities to year-long leadership work. JUNTOS continues growing each year: outreach trips, dance volunteers involved, collaborators, and workshops among many more aspects.

Mission

JUNTOS cultivates international community through shared dance experiences. Our professional and pre-professional dancer volunteers invest in our programs to provide dance opportunities to underserved communities. Working primarily with Latin-American based organizations, JUNTOS uses the art of movement to inspire confidence, self-esteem, and collaboration.

Vision

JUNTOS aims to provide all participants with tools to explore the capacities of their creative expression of dance in a safe space that fosters individuality, diversity and unity.

We strive to offer our volunteers an immersive experience, fostering globally-aware, service-oriented leaders. We target pre-professional dancers who are exploring the role of dance in society, and provide these volunteers with a platform to develop their language of dance within a global community.

With these volunteers, JUNTOS aims to provide dance exposure primarily to Latinx underserved communities, local and international, such as women’s safe homes, migrant and immigrant centers, foster homes, retirement centers, hospitals, and youth programs. Through movement workshops, we hope participants discover new creative expressions that invite and encourage confidence, self-esteem, and self-expression.

We seek to foster an international community by developing and sustaining ongoing relations, and by building a network of people from different backgrounds who will become creative leaders.

Community Alliances

JUNTOS works with many organizations in the United States, Mexico, and Central America. Listed are organizations JUNTOS currently has strong relationships with or are working on creating more in depth relationships with. This list does not include the various hospitals, small communities, or retirement homes we work with.

National

California
East Coast

International

Guatemala
Mexico
Nicaragua

Staff

Julia Horner - New York, NY

Managing Director

Cristiana Cavallo - New York, New York

Director of Programs + Finance

Sussan Hrozek - Xela, Guatemala

International Program Director

Nailah Ramcharan-Gibbs - Toronto, ON

Communications + Marketing Manager

Christian Barrios - Xela, Guatemala

International Programs Manager

Anniela Huidobro, Mexico

International Programs Manager

Joanna Poz-Molesky - Oakland, CA

Founder

Board Members

Read full bios here –>

Catherine Van Ness, President 
Daniel Glaser, Board Member
Willard (Will) Mariano, Board Member
Joanna Poz-Molesky, Founder

In the news

Dance Teacher Magazine, June 2017

“In Training: Beyond the Footlights”
Dance Magazine, March 2015
Read the full article here

“Dancing Across Borders”
East Bay Express, 19 November 2014

“Connecting Cultures through Dance”
San Francisco Chronicle, 24 January 2014

“Presentan colectivo de danza contemporánea”

El Quetzalteco, 19 January 2013

“Compañías de Oaxaca y Nueva York en intercambio”
Noticias, 28 May 2012

“Fordham Conversations”
WFUV: 12 December 2009

“Art as Exchange: Director of JUNTOS Reflects After Mexico Trip”
Fordham University Observer: 23 September 2009

“A New Dance Program Comes to Fordham”
Fordham University Observer: 25 February 2009

Other:

“Dancing’s an International Language”
San Jose Mercury News, 27 September 2010

Across the Floor: “Bridging Cultures & Campuses”
Dance Magazine, January 2010

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

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