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"Dance is the hidden language of the soul"

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Contributed by: Christina Gomez on 10/4/2006

(A quote by Martha Graham)

I am writing to nominate a nonprofit that I have just recently become acquainted with and have grown to admire.

I met Cathy Maestas thorough a friend. My friend said her own daughters do Mexican Folklorico dancing and told me new applicants were being accepted at this dance group they went to. So I decided to attend a dance class to see what the group was all about.

Cathy was so welcoming to our new faces observing her class. The night of open enrollment she got up in front of all the attendees and spoke about her group. She teaches her class at The North Side Community Center in an old North Denver neighborhood.

It is located on 36th and Pecos and in the gym. She spoke of how she started the group a few years ago after her son was killed for his Denver Broncos jacket. His name was Geronimo "Mo" Maestas.

She mentions how he was not a gang member and how violence touched their lives. As part of her healing process she began dancing.

That is when she was inspired to make a difference. She wanted to do something to help keep kids off the street and away from violence. So she started her own dance group in honor of her son. Her group is called "The No 'Mo' Violence Cultural Dance Group."

She teaches kids from 2 years old to adult. In her group you can learn Mexican Folklorico Dancing, Hip Hop Dancing and Breakdancing. She does it all once a week in this Northside gym.

My daughter has attended the classes regularly since joining. I honestly only ever paid attention to my daughters beginner class. It wasn't until their very first performance that I was truly inspired and honored to belong to this dance group.

She gets up in front of the crowd and tells her story just like I heard that first night in the gym. Then her show begins.It starts with the beginning folklorico dancers followed by the experienced ones.

Next comes the hip hop dancers, followed by the breakdancers. I watched the show in amazement at how it all came together. I also took notice of Cathy as the performers danced. To see the pride and joy in her eyes was amazing.

To see the dancers enjoy what they are doing was amazing too. Then in the middle of the break dancers, Cathy comes out and dances right along with them in her own way.

Her happy face made me clap and yell and maybe brought a tear to my eye. She is amazing. The determination, energy, and joy that she brings to this group is unbelievable.

Each week there are several groups practicing at the same time. And it was just an enormous experience to see it all come together that very first time.

The cost to enter her dance group is very small. She understands the struggles of working families. She is not there to make money.

That is not the purpose she had in mind. But I know money could help to pay for new equipment, or maybe new costumes for her group.

These are just a few of the reasons why I wish to nominate Cathy Maestas and her "No 'Mo' Violence Cultural Dance Group" to the YourHub.com Community Grant Program.

Christina Gomez
Denver

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Christina Gomez

Wheatridge , CO

Christina Gomez has posted 1 story and 0 comments since joining on 10/4/2006. Christina Gomez 's average story rating is 0.

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