Last night I had an amazing experience in Quepos. World reknowned for its beauty, national park, wildlife and authentic blend of local and international living, Quepos and most of the coastal regions of Costa Rica have never been hubs for rich art, culture or music.

To the joy of many of us who live here on the coast, this is changing.

When I first arrived here the overall lack of music, culture and artistic expression was evident and one simply focused on the overwhelming natural beauty to balance this lack of other creative outlets. Last night, I was brought to tears, quite literally, by the performance of the Saragundi Contemporary Dance team here in Quepos.

Led by their choreographer, mentor and current teacher of corporal expression at the Escuela Los Delfines (The Dolphins School) en Quepos, Carlos Ovares, this dance troop made up of adolescents from the area has managed a level of technical expertise and theatric expression that is quite difficult to convey in words.

Last nights’ performance, entitled “Hay lobos con piel de cordero!” or “There are wolves in sheeps clothing,” is a powerful social commentary on the sexual exploitation of boys and girls here in Costa Rica and around the world.

The performance is not a story, and is designed to provoke a discussion, commentary and a higher level of social awareness in regards this problem, its origins and possible solutions. The captivated audience watched in awe as the performance unfolded and then immediately embarked on an interactive dialogue about the dance team, how to expand its impact, and the subject matter and its relevance in the local and national society.

Though the subject matter is certainly emotion in its nature, what was most striking to me was the quality of the choreography and theatrical performance of the dance team aged 12-18. It was truly inspiration to see the youth of this area being exposed to such a high level of artistic training.

Most public outreach and education is in the form of dry education and lectures which most youths don’t respond to. The passion in this dance team and the men and women of the area who support them is contagious and I for one will be working to support their ongoing efforts with our donations and support.

If anyone is interested in learning where you can see their performances, having them perform in other areas or learning how you can help them with financial support to expand and continue their efforts, please contact me.

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