July 6, 2005: Headlines: COS - Honduras: Service: Dance: Dallas Morning News: For the last five years, RPCV Carl Youngberg has volunteered with his church in a Honduran village
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July 6, 2005: Headlines: COS - Honduras: Service: Dance: Dallas Morning News: For the last five years, RPCV Carl Youngberg has volunteered with his church in a Honduran village
For the last five years, RPCV Carl Youngberg has volunteered with his church in a Honduran village
"I believe that one of the most important gifts we can give is to bring hope to them though faith and action," said Mr. Youngberg, a motivational counselor and member of the Richardson Arts Commission. He wants to introduce ballet into the lives of the children of the village.
For the last five years, RPCV Carl Youngberg has volunteered with his church in a Honduran village
Missionary's next gift: ballet
Richardson man wants to introduce dance to kids in Honduran town
06:11 PM CDT on Wednesday, July 6, 2005
By WENDY HUNDLEY / The Dallas Morning News
For the last five years, Richardson resident Carl Youngberg has volunteered with his church in a Honduran village.
He and other members of the Church of the Incarnation have helped build a well, create a women's sewing cooperative and minister to the spiritual needs of the people of Santa Cruz Arriba.
Now Mr. Youngberg hopes to feed their souls through art.
"I believe that one of the most important gifts we can give is to bring hope to them though faith and action," said Mr. Youngberg, a motivational counselor and member of the Richardson Arts Commission. He wants to introduce ballet into the lives of the children of the village.
On Sunday, he'll return to Honduras with used ballet costumes and other items donated by Texas Ballet Theater and other arts groups in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Mr. Youngberg said his inspiration came from watching a 6-year-old girl in the village look at an illustrated book about ballet.
"I watched her sit there and read that book and thought, 'There's a good chance she will never see a ballet,' " he said. "She'll never have a chance to see herself beautiful.' "
Santa Cruz Arriba is a town of about 500 families near the capital city of Tegucigalpa. The average family income is about $1,800 a year. Most residents live in one- or two-room houses that generally don't have toilets or electricity, according to the Church of the Incarnation.
When Mr. Youngberg returned home from the mission trip, he began sending e-mails to friends, including Gary Wortley, executive director of Texas Ballet Theater. The dance company offers free ballet lessons and attire to disadvantaged children in North Texas through its City Dance program.
"This is an extension of that type of outreach," said Mr. Wortley, who contacted the company's wardrobe director, Jeania Phillips, about gathering used costumes and other items. The Creative Arts Theater School and The Dance Shop, a Fort Worth retail store, also contributed.
The donated items will include ballet books, leotards, tights, used costumes and 30 T-shirts from a production of The Nutcracker.
"Children like to dress up and imagine themselves in a different situation," Mr. Wortley said. "I hope this helps the children develop their imagination and a vision for themselves that takes them beyond poverty."
Mr. Youngberg, who served in Honduras in the Peace Corps in the 1960s, said some other participants in the upcoming mission trip have dance experience. He hopes to incorporate a ballet program into a "celebration of faith" planned for the trip's last night.
While he knows that these children aren't likely to become professional dancers, he hopes that the experience will help enhance their self-esteem and inspire them to dream of a better future.
"Art comes from God," Mr. Youngberg said. "I hope some of these kids will know that people care."
E-mail whundley@dallasnews.com
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Story Source: Dallas Morning News
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Honduras; Service; Dance
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