The majority of the youth from impoverished neighborhoods in the United States (17% of children live in poverty) search for a sense of identity, support and respect in the streets. Many underage children join gangs associated with drug dealing and violence, leading them towards a criminal life, prison and death. There are few alternatives available for these endangered youth.
The Konqueror, a young man from Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, found dance as an antidote and scape to his extremely challenging childhood.
Since his teenage years, he dedicates his life to empower the children from his community through the art of movement.
This unique “dance school”, that calls itself family, brings courage, inspiration, self-confidence to the children that attend. Dancing nurtures their body, spirit and mind.
Fifteen-year-old Xemel: “Without my dance family I would probably be outside, gang banging or selling drugs. Dancing is lifesaving.”
I met Konqueror and his students on February 2011 on the New York Subway. They weren’t dancing. They were just commuting.
Their lively energy lifted me up from my sit, I approached them… a connection sparked. I have been riding with them since that day.
This piece is a teaser from an extensive mixed media documentary project coming close to it’s birth.
Dancing to our Heart Beats honors the strength and talent of youth to overcome challenging lives and hopes to contribute to spread this inspirational message.”
Adriana Lopez Sanfeliu
Credits:
Dancing to our Heart Beats is the result of an intense collaboration between many talents, the love and generosity of extraordinary beings.
Among them, the dancers family; Konqueror, Dyrrel, Peto, DJ, Dice, Luis, Kareem, Xemel, Debbie, Sisi, Scooby, Choji, Jason, JJ…my mother Victoria Sanfeliu, mentor Gilles Larrain, Ross and Peter Kasovitz and many friends and colleagues that will be listed on the credits of the final piece.
Thank you!!