BLOGGING FROM THE YUCATAN - ERYC TAYLOR DANCE TOURS MEXICO

With suitcases full of costumes, I arrived with my dancers yesterday morning at LaGuardia Airport in NYC to begin the first leg of our journey to the state of Yucatán. We are excited for our tour, and to be to be working with young people in two Mexican cities - Chocholá and Mérida.

Chocholá is a city steeped in Mayan culture with little exposure to the outside world - their indigenous population still speaks the Mayan language. We will be conducting dance workshops for local children, introducing them to contemporary music and modern dance technique, followed by a performance in the local square in which the children will participate. In Mérida, we will be working with young residents of Refugio Casa Crisal AC, an orphanage for girls who were violated, mistreated, or abused. Using our ETD Outreach workshop programs, we hope to use movement as a tool to inspire and heal.

We also will be teaching professional dancers during our visit, which is great. We will complete our tour on Nov. 18 and 19 with performances at Teatro José Peón Contreras in Mérida, Yucatán's capital, participating in the International Dance Festival Avant Garde. Many thanks to Cristobal Ocaña, director of Umbral Danza Contemporánea (Umbral Contemporary Dance Company A.C.) for arranging our company tour of the Yucatán.

I am beyond excited to be here and thrilled to share this journey with my amazing dancers. We couldn't be happier. We made it! Can't wait to tell you more!