HISTORY OF THE RESURRECTION          DANCE THEATRE OF HAITI THE ROLE OF THE ARTS Because children on the street rarely see beauty in their lives, it makes it almost impossible for them to see the beauty in themselves, their country, their history or their culture.  Once they find themselves in a place where their souls are nourished, the beauty is easier to see and appreciate.  It was out of this desire for the children to appreciate the beauty of their country and themselves that the Resurrection Dance Theatre of Haiti (RDTH) was formed, and the arts program was begun. The mission of the Resurrection Dance Theatre of Haiti is to teach the children of the St. Joseph’s family that they have a special gift to offer the world.  From the earliest days of the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys, theatre played an important role.  It gave the boys a sense of accomplishment.  It nourished their creativity.  It lifted up their self- esteem and self-confidence.  It taught them about their history and their culture.  It became a part of their prayer. CULTURAL ROOTS The creation of RDTH has allowed the children to share their stories with others.  The Dance Theatre performances feature several stories written and choreographed by the children and many of the dances have themes relating to various incidents the boys experienced when they were living on the streets.  Some dances highlight Haitian culture, while others reflect the boys’ faith, dreams and hope for the future.  The choreography and structure of the dances are based on traditional Haitian and African movements, all supported by the rigorous rhythms of traditional Haitian drumming.  Performances feature brightly colored costumes, imaginative props and audience participation. There are currently 13 dancers and four drummers who appear regularly with the RDTH.  There are also approximately 17 apprentice members of the company, who range in age from 9 to 26 years old.   ON TOUR WITH RDTH The Resurrection Dance Theatre of Haiti has toured in the United States and Canada several times since 1987, performing mainly at schools and churches and fulfilling the role of cultural ambassadors of their country.  In the United States, the Dance Theatre has performed in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.  Members of the RDTH participated in the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Institute in Denver in 2001, serving as guest instructors of Haitian dancing.  Members of RDTH attended the American Dance Festival at Duke University in the summer of 2003.   The RDTH was featured at Denver Black Arts 2001 and World Youth Day 2002, in Toronto, where they were invited to dance for Pope John Paul II.  In October 2003, RDTH performed at Dance Africa Chicago and in May 2004, the company was featured in Dance Africa 2004 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City. COLLABORATIONS The RDTH has received support from and collaborated with dance professionals from around the world, including Dr. Chuck Davis (founder and choreographer of the African American Dance Ensemble), Cleo Parker Robinson, and Elisio Pitta, a professional dancer from Brazil who served as artist-in-residence for the RDTH in November 2002.  Dr. Davis serves as a mentor for members of RDTH. THE VISUAL ARTS AT ST. JOSEPH’S The visual arts also play an important part in the lives of the members of the St. Joseph’s family.  The three homes are filled with art, sculpture and stained glass.  The abundance of Haitian art reflects back to the children that they, like the art surrounding them, are beautiful, valuable and treasured.  Because of this in-house influence, several of the children have begun studying painting with a well-known Haitian artist, Ralph Allen.  The boys’ work has received rave reviews from all who have seen it and it is eagerly purchased and collected by visitors to the St. Joseph’s Guest House.   Their paintings are featured in the book “A Gathering of Angels,” and a promise of an exhibition at a Haitian gallery has been extended to these budding artists.