Thursday, September 23, 2010

Hispanic Heritage Month San Antonio Profile 2010

Eres Gomes, Alamo Arts Ballet

The Alamo Arts Ballet Theatre is taking strides to make sure that this brilliant art form is able to broaden its sphere of influence. Ballet is an empowering form of self-expression with numerous benefits, and is alive in San Antonio. The Alamo Arts Ballet Theatre's mission is to touch every sector of San Antonio, reaching youth across the city.

Eres Gomez is a testament to how allowing a child to explore an interest in a challenging yet constructive environment, such as ballet, can benefit their development.

Eres' admiration for ballet started as a child from watching the Nutcracker on TV. From then on, each Halloween she dressed as a ballerina. When her mother put her in ballet at age eight, Eres became the first and only dancer in her family.

At age twelve Eres was prepared to move to the next level of her classes. This move would mean more classes, higher tuition, and expensive shoes. As a single parent, Eres' mother couldn't afford the classes, so Eres had to leave the formal ballet setting.

Those four years of ballet affected the outcome of Eres' life, allowing her to internalize lessons that would help her self-esteem. Eres displays a freedom to be the unique person that she is. She sees herself as someone with potential, who looks forward to putting that potential to the test each day. That is the basis of her ability to be successful while maintaining her self-expression. She says ballet has been instrumental in empowering her to do that.

Even though Eres missed what she calls “some of the most crucial years” of ballet, rather than abandon what she loves, she started back at the age of twenty-one with a new dance school, the Ballet Arts School. After refocusing her attention on ballet, she auditioned and achieved performing status with the Alamo Arts Ballet Theatre. Now she is one of a few Latina American dancers performing with the theatre.

Eres appreciates ballet – from the artistic merging of the body with the music, to the almost meditative state involved in finding her center and balance. In addition, ballet is her social life. Due to their commitment to practicing up to six days a week, she says the class is like a family with which she‟s created an emotional bond. Also, Eres testifies that ballet is an awesome workout that would physically challenge an athlete from any sport.

However, her appreciation for ballet goes beyond those factors. Eres says ballet teaches important lessons in life. She believes that ballet makes a person stronger and more confident in who they are. “Every time it pushes me to do more than I think I can,” she says.

In order to illustrate the significance of the character one can build in ballet, Eres compares ballet to life. “They both can be a fight. In ballet, when you want to do a turn or a combination, you've got to fight your body for it because it's so hard to the point that your body wants to give in. Life is the same way, but ballet teaches you to fight through.”

The lessons that Eres has learned through ballet can be beneficial to all children in society. However, when it comes to ballet, it seems society has built cultural fence lines. Many children are unwilling to cross the lines despite the fact that they have the potential and opportunity. Eres urges youth to be open-minded beyond the image of ballet that's built into society.

Seeing Eres in action might be the liberating factor that gives youth permission to step past cultural fences and into that arena. Following Eres‟ lead could allow many more underserved youth to develop their self-esteem and confidence.

Eres says to those young people that are interested in dancing, “Don't let finances discourage you. If you are interested, there may be ballet schools that offer scholarships. And don‟t worry if you can't afford the workshops or dance camps, just make sure to get the most out of the classes that you do go to.”

To make finances even less of an issue for youth interested in ballet, Alamo Arts Ballet Theatre chairman, Christopher C. Herring, who is the Chief of Strategy for Air Force Recruiting Service, says, “We are exhibiting ballet lecture demonstrations in schools in the community, and if a young person comes to like ballet after trying it, the theatre will work with corporate sponsors and generous individual donors to insure financial backing.”

Attorney Patricia Davila, who was recently voted on the board of directors, indicates, “It is our civic responsibility to support the future generation of San Antonio and enable each young person to achieve their dreams to be successful.”

Herring adds, “as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, it is great to be able to celebrate role models like Eres who inspire her peers and young children to reach their fullest potential…we would love to have many more, 'Eres success stories' and more community supporters to continue the purpose of the nonprofit organization.”

About the Alamo Arts Ballet Theatre:
The Alamo Arts Ballet Theatre is approaching its 5th year anniversary, executive director and founder Judith Gani, and creative director, Julie Morton-Simpson were recently recognized, as finalist, by the United Way of Bexar County at the 2010 Volunteer of the Year Awards. Additionally the organization was accepted into the San Antonio Area Combined Federal Campaign, an annual federal employee giving program, to benefit nonprofit organizations. More information can be found on the organizations website www.alamoartsballet.org or call 210-775-1138 to volunteer or contribute to the future of ballet in San Antonio.

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