“Family” from Ariane Michaud, dancer from Boston Conservatory

It is the beauty of sitting in a car with people that I may have just met, and singing; Dancing with someone who does not speak the same language, and understanding; sharing a meal, and getting to know a stranger; seeing friends from the past and remembering the moments that we shared.

As we embark on this trip to Guatemala, returning to this country and seeing friends that I have only had the privilege to communicate with through the internet, has made me feel very nostalgic and yet excited. I think back to the numerous hours I have spent with JUNTOS dancers in the past, rehearsing, talking, sharing, I am reminded of the beauty of human connection through movement, and the communication that evolves from this alone. JUNTOS brings us together in ways I can never truly grasp, friendships are formed so quickly and I am reminded of how vital sharing these experiences are to being happy and to understanding why we do what we do.

No matter what trip I am on, where I am or who I am with, JUNTOS feels like nothing less than family. There is a comfort in knowing that this family extends to numerous countries, schools, hospitals, and people who all understand the same idea. JUNTOS is human connection, sharing, giving, learning, loving. So here is to another week of working hard, making friends, eating well, creating memories and dancing with family.

“Collaboration” from Yoshie Fujimoto Kateada, dancer from LINES/Dominican

It has been an overwhelming and incredible two days. This is my second trip, and I feel that JUNTOS has taught me so much, and has so much left to teach me. A part of this experience that feels so incredibly powerful is the ability to facilitate collaboration and cultural exchange.

Teaching workshops always makes me very nervous at first, but as we taught today I remembered the incredible joy that comes with sharing dance. I remembered that teaching is not a solitary act, it is completely collaborative in nature. Taking the workshop was an amazing reminder of this as well. Being immersed in a different culture reminds me that humanity is so much more than my single perspective. This knowledge of my smallness within the big picture makes me feel both more connected to the people around me, and to myself. I am reminded that collaboration is not only helpful; it is actually necessary to us as artists and human beings.

“Dance” from Brittany Hernandez, dancer from LINES/Dominican

Dance is a universal language. It is a special way of communicating that is often overlooked. I forget about this when I am at school, but when I am on a JUNTOS trip I am reminded what a blessing it is to be a part of something so much bigger than me. I witness so much joy in dance workshops and performances. People light up when they start to move and discover how much they can do that they thought they couldn’t. During performances, I can actually see the faces of those I am performing for, which makes it so much more personal. There are no walls built up, everybody is ready and willing to give and receive. It is a refreshing environment compared to the conservatory style dance program I partake in every day at home. The challenge is how to package all this fire for dance and community I soak in here and take it home to develop it even more.

“Amor y Belleza” de Mariana Laparra, dancer en Quetzaltenango 

Hoy la Directora de JUNTOS me preguntó porque JUNTOS es importante para mi. Mi respuesta: AMOR Y BELLEZA. El amor inicia consigo mismo, el amor propio. Pero es mas valioso aún cuando se puede manifestar a otros, al prójimo. El proyecto JUNTOS es muna manifestación de AMOR porque su pilar es compartir con otros..estar JUNTOS y es belleza, porque la creación de danza seamos como seamos, si lo hacemos con amor……. eso es BELLEZA. Gracias Juntos por transmitir su amor a travéz de una de las mas BELLAS artes.. La Danza.

“Greatness” from Joanna Poz-Molesky, JUNTOS director

Wajshakib B’atz’. The Maya new year.

I state the obvious when I say we all have moments of triumph and moments of defeat. Reality is however, we don’t always know how great we actually are – how triumphant we actually are. And those moments of realization hit us at the most unexpected times.

I was struck with a moment tonight. Xelajú Es opening night gala dinner – only the most important people for the festival are invited to this event. Of course, all U.S. JUNTOS dancers attend. The festival president begins his speech, shortly after calling upon the most important leaders and representatives in the room to stand beside him. He waves a beckoning hand in my direction. Must be someone behind me. Then again. And finally calls, “Joanna, por favor.” Startled, I join the group of eight middle-aged representatives, seven of them men. I  am a 26-year old woman. I represent the United States and JUNTOS, the president tells me. Standing there, I peer down at the reinas with their crowns representing the different areas, all texting on their phones. How as a child I wanted to be one! Now, standing here as one strong, young, beautiful woman among so many men, I am PROUD to be me – to have accomplished what I have, to be a leader. What a wonderful way to start the new year.

I think back at the girls from IFEBU middle school – their potential to create change, to lead, to inspire. I look around me at the beautiful JUNTOS women and see their sparks… How I can’t wait to see their fire. I am so excited to see what the world has in store for us – how so many of us can shape our future if we choose to. We are all capable of greatness.

Take time, be patient. Be defeated, stand up. Fight. Smile. Laugh. LISTEN. Let yourself be guided. Do this, and you will move mountains.

“Art and Humanity” from Holly Wilder, dancer from Boston Conservatory

When talking with new and old friends in Xela and telling them how much I love Guatemala they often ask me why. I have yet to be able to fully articulate my response but it always begins with: the people. There is an openness and a warmth here beyond just someone being eager to meet you. It is meeting a stranger and knowing from the first moment that they cherish you and acknowledge you and open their heart to you for no other reason that the fact that you’re a human and we are all here on this planet to be together. This is something that seems so obvious to me when I am surrounded and warmed by this culture of welcome, but is not so apparent back home when I find myself often in a culture that teaches us to be islands. The American value of being able to fend for yourself is so quickly swallowed by the Guatemalan ideal that we were all made for each other.

Coming to this country with the goal of meeting strangers to express something together through the art of dance creates a space where we feel safe enough to allow our own beauty to be seen and to be honest with each other from the first moment that we meet. The Guatemalan culture that is so a part of the people here heightens this safe space and allows us to instantly become juntos and celebrate our humanity together through dance. When I think about Guatemala I think about finding family everywhere that I go. I think about how big the world is, so big that it may seem like it’s trying to keep all of us separate. But JUNTOS has taught me that no matter how big the world tries to be, our hearts will always be bigger. We are not here alone, we are here JUNTOS and our family covers the globe.