R.Evolución Latina’s ‘Dare To Go Beyond’ Camp
By: Kelly O’Neil, parent of RL camper Xela Caceres
This was Xela’s first time attending R.Evolución Latina’s summer camp. The camp was recommended by Jasmine, a parent from her school, Ella Baker. Xela and I both thought it would be a great opportunity for her to connect with her Latin roots and build community through artistic expression. Although Xela can be shy, she loves to act, sing, dance, and perform. R.Evolución Latina (RL) promised to provide all three in one week for free! I had no idea how truly amazing this camp would be. My expectations were simply that it would be good because I trusted Jasmine’s judgment. Their motto is “Dare to Go Beyond,” and that is exactly what everyone did—campers, staff, guest teachers, and group leaders. They exceeded anything I could have imagined!
Xela was a bit nervous on the first day since no one she knew was joining her. However, she made new friends, probably on that very first day. She enjoyed dancing in sync with her team, the blue group. R.Evolución Latina empowers their students to find their true potential, explore their passions, and challenge themselves to go beyond. They create a safe space where students can be themselves and feel represented, celebrating their culture. Students can also choose how “beyond” they wish to go. This was a nurturing experience, not a competition.
This year’s summer camp theme was Carnaval, one of my favorites! The kids were exposed to the diversity of Latino culture by dancing salsa, caporales from Bolivia, bomba from Puerto Rico, and even hip-hop with its roots in New York City. They went full circle. A special life-size Henry the Coquí puppet even made an appearance to perform with them! It was wonderful to see them smiling and performing on stage at Dorney Park.
The addition of performing and visiting Dorney Park was new to the camp this year. The excursion was well-planned and absolutely seamless. Upon arrival, the campers were able to rehearse in an air-conditioned theater space before their show on the main stage. Their performance was orchestrated by Luis Salgado, the founder and artistic director of RL. His presence and energy were exceptional. Different groups and individuals were called to the stage spontaneously, not in any specific order. The kids were ready to sing, dance, and give it their all!
After their performance, we had lunch, and free time in the park, and rejoined as a group to watch professional performers from Summer Nights at Dorney Park. The kids ended up dancing along with the performers and participated in a parranda, singing and dancing back to the main stage. It was high-energy, joyous, and a celebration of community. When I asked Xela about her experience with Rev Latina, she was glowing. She told me how happy she was to be a part of it. Xela can’t wait to attend next summer!
Words from our Purple Group Camper – Natalia Rodriguez
R.Evolución Latina didn’t just feel like a regular summer camp or a studio but it felt like a place I was always looking forward to going every day and I was interested in being part of the performance and learning different dance styles and acting improvisation techniques. I hadn’t been to R.Evolución Latina in a couple of years and it felt very welcoming to be back and see all the people I knew when I was younger.
Estoy muy orgullosa de que R.Evolución Latina ofrece estos programas que nos permite aprender más de nuestra cultura y expresarnos a través del arte. Una de mis pasiones es la actuación y el baile, y tener la oportunidad que gente tan talentosa nos enseñe sobre esto es maravilloso. Conocer los diferentes ritmos latinos de cada país y poder bailarnos y tener que aprenderlos en tan poco tiempo fue una gran experiencia. Agradezco la oportunidad que se nos ha dado a cada uno de nosotros. Me encantaría que R.Evolución Latina tuviera muchas semanas más de campamentos de verano y siga con sus programas tan maravillosos para todos nosotros. La oportunidad que se nos dió para ir a ver la obra de teatro “Moulin Rouge” fue espectacular, poder ver estos espectáculos te hace soñar que algún día cualquiera de nosotros podemos estar ahí! Quiero mucho a R.Evolución Latina y a todo su equipo por enseñarnos el amor al arte!
Words from our Blue Group Camper – Lorena Ramos
Hi! I’m Lorena Ramos, I’m 11 years old and I’m a proud Mexican American. I was one of the participants in R.EVOLUCIÓN LATINA’S Summer Camp! I dare to go beyond! R.Evolución Latina was one of the best summer camps I have ever had. I was so excited to be in the blue group because we were going to be challenged. That’s why we dare to go beyond. The meaning of the phrase “I dare to go beyond” is that we must face our fears. For example, I dared to go beyond the time I sang a solo in Dorney Park.
After that I felt great and so that phrase is now what keeps me shooting for the stars. In R.Evolución Latina it is all about teamwork. We all work together and help one another dance and sing and act. And what I’ve seen most is friendship. Everybody was so welcoming and kind that I felt like we were all a big family. The past week has been great and so fun with all the new things I learned like the salsa, mambo, and so much more. It is also a great learning experience for people who are new to Latin culture. I am just so happy I could share my dance with the world and show people what Latin culture is all about. I learned to always Dare to Go Beyond. Thank you for reading this and I hope you dare to go beyond too. Sincerely, Lorena Ramos
