Willie Sanchez: Phenomenal People who encourage and support their communities

by Michelle Weston

With the encouragement of fellow colleague, Marlene, I have been afforded the opportunity and experience of a lifetime to work with an Emmy award winning television producer Willie Sanchez, whose show Images/Imagenes has covered cultural events and issues facing New Jersey’s Latino community since its premiere in 1972. Whenever I have free time aside from the kids' activities, and my work, I seize any opportunity to support Mr. Sanchez and his cause through volunteerism.

Images/Imagenes is the longest running Hispanic affairs program in the PBS system and one of the longest running television programs of its kind in the country. In conjunction with the series, NJN produces the annual Hispanic Youth Showcase, a talent show where Latino youths from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania compete for scholarships. The showcase is aired on the network.

On May 26, 2011 the showcase was held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center's (NJPAC), Victoria Theatre. The performances were in categories such as dance (solo, duo and groups), instrumental music, and vocal performances. Those that write and perform published songs, instrumental music, choreograph and/or perform dances, are artistically translating tangible and intangible works of art of the "original" content creators. That evening, there was a mix of original and previously published pieces.

My reverence and deep respect for Mr. Sanchez's thirty years of dedication to these young performers stems from my appreciation and study of the arts and sciences over the years.

Prior to being a content creator (that creates intellectual works), I was a content performer of other people's intellectual works such as:

*movement

*choreography

*sound recordings for radio, television, vinyl records and cassette tapes, compact disk, etc...

Drawing on my own studies and experiences, my goal was to capture the essence of the human body through symbolism and expressionism.

The performers were in categories from tiny tots to young adults. That night the youth displayed solid examples of the hard work and dedication that goes into developing as a performer. The dancer's body (this includes voice work to strengthen the diaphragm learned in ethnic dance, and vocal training) needs strength and flexibility exercises to prevent injuries and to develop technique: Kinesiology

Dance is very much about human anatomy including the intense strengthening of the skeletal and muscular systems. A dancer's first experiences and introductions to the form includes geometrical concepts such as symmetry, physical properties such as motion, and other scientific concepts such as space, time, matter, and harmonics.

Because it is a rare phenomenon, to find this many talented, kids and consistent, dedicated, self-less parents all encompassed under one roof I was determined to, even with the lighting restrictions, to get good content.

The dancer's in this showcase were truly amazing. I was extremely impressed by the contestants, especially, the tots who had technique, placement, alignment, etc....Awesome!!!

Check out the form:

Past Contestants

Many of the professionals that have received exposure from the showcase, who have gone on to flourish in their own careers, include Caitlin Sanchez The Voice of "Dora the Explorer".