Transcendance Youth Arts Project

OUR MISSION IS TO GUIDE YOUNG PEOPLE IN UNDERSERVED SAN DIEGO COUNTY COMMUNITIES TO TRANSCEND BARRIERS, EXPAND THEIR AMBITIONS, AND CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES, THROUGH DANCE AND PERFORMANCE.

TRANSCENDANCE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE DELIVERED THROUGH A UNIQUE THREE-TIERED PROGRAM MODEL: CONNECT, CREATE, CONTRIBUTE. THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS PARTICIPATE FREE OF CHARGE WITH A SMALL PORTION PAYING NOMINAL FEES DUE TO OUR TRUST BASED SCHOLARSHIP/ FEE STRUCTURE.IN OUR CONNECT PROGRAM, WE SCRIPTED AND FILMED SIX SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) VIDEOS FOR ELEMENTARY AGED CHILDREN. THE SEL VIDEOS WERE SHOWN IN SAN DIEGO UNIFIED AND LEMON GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS (APPROXIMATELY 2500 STUDENTS). WE ALSO LAUNCHED A FOUR WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM AND YEAR LONG RESIDENCIES IN LEMON GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WITH THE BUILDOUT OF OUR NEW STUDIO COMPLETE, WE ALSO LAUNCHED OUR FIRST CONNECT SERIES DANCE CLASSES FOR AGES 7-18 AS WELL AS ADULT CLASS OFFERINGS IN THE SUMMER OF 2021.IN OUR CREATE PROGRAM, WE PROVIDE GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, COACHING, COMMUNITY BUILDING, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN ADDITIONAL TO OUR CLASSES AND REHEARSALS. IN SUMMER 2021, WE LAUNCHED 7-WEEK CAMPS FOR YOUTH AGES 10-13 AND 14-18 YEARS. IN OCTOBER, WE LAUNCHED OUR CREATE PERFORMANCE GROUP WITH TWO COHORTS (JUNIORS AND TEENS) WITH 42 STUDENTS ENROLLED.IN OUR CONTRIBUTE PROGRAM, WE CONNECT GENERATIONS OF TRANSCENDANCE STUDENTS THROUGH OUR ALUMNI NETWORK, PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND EMPLOYEE FORMER STUDENTS AS PRESENTERS, TEACHING ARTISTS, TEACHING ASSISTANTS AND VIDEO CONTENT PRODUCERS. IN ADDITIONAL OUR ALUMNI PARTICIPATED IN OUTREACH PERFORMANCES FOR THE PORT OF SAN DIEGO WATERFRONT ACTIVATION, PROJECT NEW VILLAGE EVENT, CITY OF LEMON GOVE HOLIDAY EVENT, AND FOR A SMALL DONOR EVENT IN OUR STUDIO.TRANSCENDANCE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO DEEPLY ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE IN CREATIVE EXPRESSION THROUGH DANCE AND PERFORMANCE. THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE PROMOTE PERSONAL WELL-BEING, CONNECTION TO A NETWORK OF SUPPORT, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RICH COLLABORATION WITH PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS WHERE PERSONAL NARRATIVES AND SOCIAL ISSUES WEAVE WITH ORIGINAL DANCE AND THEATRE.DATA COLLECTED IN OUR HARVARD UNIVERSITY/MCLEAN HOSPITAL ASSESSMENT TOOL DEMONSTRATED INCREASED RESILIENCY FROM STUDENT PARTICIPANTS IN ALL OUR PROGRAMS IN THE AREAS OF EMOTIONAL CONTROL, ASSERTIVENESS, TRUST, REFLECTION, AND OPTIMISM. STUDENTS ALSO SHOWED AN INCREASE IN LEARNING INTEREST AND CRITICAL THINKING.