Creative Borders is a team of dancers, actors, and musicians from The Juilliard School dedicated to offering free workshops designed for people of all ages. In June of 2018, for the the third consecutive year, a new Creative Borders team will be traveling to Gaborone, Botswana with the hope to inspire communities that crave artistic outlets, opportunities, and training through the universal language of the arts. This year we are proud to announce that we are including workshops in Jazz music, as well as, Drama and Dance. Our program aims to provide people with the tools to express themselves through art beyond our three-week visit.

Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, is a small and vibrant city right above the South African border that lacks arts education. The people pride themselves in pursuing an education in math and science. At the Maru-a-Pula school, an exception has been created, which is why it has become the perfect fit for Juilliard students to foster a cultural exchange through the arts.

During our time there, our schedule includes teaching creative movement and rhythm to children with special needs, conducting Dance, Drama, and Music classes every afternoon to the students of the Maru-a-Pula school, as well as teaching older members of the community each evening. On some mornings, the team gives workshops to younger Primary Schools, and on the weekends we give our time to health organizations that help people affected by HIV/AIDS.

The program ends with a performance at the Matisong Theater, the only theater in all of Gaborone, located on the Maru-a-Pula campus. Tefo Paya, Director of the Maitisong Theater declares the project, “…a much needed catalyst in the process of growing the creative industry here and inspiring people and artists who have lost hope.” The performance is a true culmination of the cultural exchange between young professional artists and the community of Gaborone.

For more information, please visit www.creativeborders.org or email us at contact.creativeborders@gmail.com.