The Hispanic American League of Artists (HALA) is an interdisciplinary ensemble of dancers, actors, vocalists, instrumentalists, visual and media artists dedicated to nurturing creativity and developing young and adult Latino artists into viable amateur, semi-professional and professional performers.

Since its formation in 1994, HALA has served as a link to area arts organizations, encouraging and creating multicultural projects and bringing Latino artists together for their mutual benefit. Through workshops, performances, exhibitions, recitals, collaborative partnerships and audience participation, HALA teaches and promotes the appreciation of Latin American cultures and folklore. HALA's serves as an incubator for the development of talented youth of diverse cultures and challenged socioeconomic backgrounds and encourages community pride and achievement among those children and their families. HALA serves as a link to area arts organizations, thereby encouraging diversity and multicultural projects which will further enhance the quality of life for all of the citizens of the Lehigh Valley. HALA's target audience is the Lehigh Valley community with a focus on young children of color, children at risk, families, and seniors. In addition, HALA is the only local organization providing Spanish speaking seniors with Latino interdisciplinary performances by members from their own communities.

HALA is composed of six artistic "divisions": dance, theatre, voice, instrumental music, visual arts and media arts, all led by trained professional artists. Each week, over 150 young people from Allentown, Bethlehem and the surrounding region in the Lehigh Valley, participate in after-school classes focusing on dance, theatre, music and the media arts. HALA is the only organization in the Lehigh Valley currently providing free cultural, artistic & educational activities after school and/or year round for disadvantaged Latino Youth.

During the past ten years, HALA has served over 2000 Lehigh Valley youth. Research shows that engagement in creative arts activities makes a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child and has proven to help level the learning field across socio-economic boundaries. HALA students are provided with the opportunity to both stretch their creative limits and learn about their cultural heritage. Students are encouraged to explore, create, and perform in artistic venues flavored with the Latino spirit. HALA also provides youth with successful, positive role models who set excellent examples through their work as artists and their willingness to commit time and energy to the children of their community. HALA's academic and behavioral expectations motivate program participants to achieve in school and take responsibility for their actions and lives. HALA students begin to express themselves in positive, intelligent ways because they see themselves as valuable, creative beings with a specific purpose. Ancestry and culture become valuable aspects to share with their non-Latino neighbors in a non-violent, artistically creative manner. The development of pride, self-respect, ownership, and self-discipline for every student and audience member are the primary objectives HALA aspires to achieve through its programs and presentations.

Children participating in HALA classes and activities are required to maintain a "C" average in school. In addition, they must remain lawful citizens, avoiding criminal and/or destructive behavior. Girls and boys who are under the age of 18 and involved in HALA programs must avoid pregnancy. HALA youth participants typically go on to higher levels of learning after graduating from high school, stay drug and alcohol free, avoid unwanted teenage pregnancies, become teachers within the HALA organization itself, and are active members of the mainstream community, thereby effecting change on a grass roots level. Local government, community service organizations, and school officials have come to rely on HALA and its students as positive dynamic examples of what can be accomplished when Latino youth are supported and allowed to express themselves in healthy and creative outlets.

HALA workshops provide students with opportunities to develop artistic quality and confidence. Throughout the year, workshops, free to children ages 7-18, are open to the community. Through a combination of lectures, demonstrations with videos, live music and examples of native costumes and cultural artifacts, both students and the community learn how Africans, Caribbean and South American Indians, Arabs, Jews and Europeans were vital catalysts in the rich heritage of the Latino culture. Both Artistic Division and students actively participate in workshops and productions offered to the local community and abroad at schools, colleges, festivals, banquets, community events, cultural centers, and on radio and television.

As a cultural organization HALA has continued to promote the Latino arts through first-time presentations in the Lehigh Valley. In 2003, HALA brought Latin Jazz Legend, Johnny Pacheco to Symphony Hall and, in collaboration with the Allentown Art Museum, the museum's first exhibit of a local Latino artist, Raphael Canizarez. Now, in collaboration with Alliance for Building Communities, HALA is beginning the Valley's first Lehigh Valley Community Mural Project (LVCMP) integrating fine arts and community development. Future plans include the first Lehigh Valley Latino Film Festival to be held in collaboration with the New York Latino Film Festival.

Participation in HALA programs offers Latino youth a sense of purpose. As they work toward goals - performances at prestigious local festivals, writing and staging original works of theatre, shooting and editing a video - students learn that hard work and creativity lead to rewards that money can't buy, including self-esteem and a hopeful attitude toward the future.

Need:

The Latino Community and the mainstream community have had a turbulent history here in the Lehigh Valley. In many area schools Latino students are forbidden to speak Spanish or wear any flags or symbols of their heritage. However, slowly but surely our current HALA students are challenging the prejudices and current socioeconomic picture of Latino community as a whole. Our students typically go on to higher levels of learning after graduating from high school, stay drug and alcohol free, avoid unwanted teenage pregnancies, become teachers within the HALA organization itself, and are active members of the mainstream community, thereby effecting change on a grass roots level. Local government, community service organizations, and school officials have come to rely on our students and HALA as positive dynamic examples of what can be accomplished when Latino youth is supported and allowed to express itself in healthy, creative and positive outlets.

HALA's target audience is the Lehigh Valley community with a focus on young children of color, children at risk, families, and seniors. We believe HALA students can serve as positive role models and inspire other Latino youths. Families of HALA students are gratified to see their children succeed and see their culture passed on their children. HALA is the only organization providing Spanish speaking seniors with Latino interdisciplinary performances by members from their own communities. 'Talk backs' following performances indicate that students benefit from this type of intergenerational experience.

Mission:

Our mission is to educate, develop, present and refer Latino artists as well as to educate our community and ourselves about the Latino culture and to preserve our heritage.

Goals and Objectives:

- To act as an incubator for the development of talented youth of diverse cultures and promoting their recruitment and enrollment in performing arts colleges other cultural organizations o To develop discipline through the artist's experience o To build community pride in youth of diverse cultures from low income families in the Lehigh Valley. o To serve as link to area arts organizations, encouraging and creating multicultural projects and bringing Latino artists together for their mutual benefit.

Demographics:

1- 70% low-income

2- 10% male, 90% female

3- 90% Hispanic

4- 5% African-American

5- 5% Caucasian

Program Description:

- Dance (Cultural and Folkloric Dance from the Caribbean, South America, Africa and Spain, Hip Hop, Modern Dance, Contemporary Latin Dance

The Dance Division provides free instruction for youth (as do all divisions) ages 7 - 18 and adults at a fee of $65 per six week course throughout the year. The program includes Hispanic folkloric dance, classical Spanish dance with various Latin American ethnic roots as well as contemporary Latino dance styles, such as Salsa and Merengue. Choreographers and guest choreographers teach the history, dancing techniques and proper execution of the dance steps. Students rehearse three times a week throughout the year and perform for community organizations, schools, festivals and national and international competitions. Currently 85 students participate in the dance program, including fifty from Allentown and thirty-five from Bethlehem. The Dance Division has served over 300 individuals since its inception in October, 1997.

- Theatre (Acting Skills & Technique, Box Office Management, Creative Writing, Latino History and Folklore)

Students learn movement, acting and auditioning techniques, theater history, monologues, script-writing, musical theater, classic Latin American theatrical pieces and create original works which are presented on tour at local and out of state middle schools, high schools, festivals and in inner-city communities. Students rehearse 1-4 times per week depending upon the project. Currently the ensemble consists of ten students from Allentown.

- Voice (Vocal Technique, Music theory, Stage Methods, Latino Influences and Folklore)

Students learn vocal techniques such as breathing, enunciation and harmonizing. Each student is responsible for writing his or her own songs. Study is focused on pieces with ethnic roots to Latin America as well as to contemporary, popular Spanish and American music. Students from the Voice division tour and enter competitions. Currently, the division consists of eight students.

- Instrumental (Guitar, Piano, Percussion)

The Instrumental division of HALA performs traditional and modern cultural songs such as salsa and other rhythms from the Caribbean Islands and South America. Through this approach, new kids joining HALA's Instrumental Division learn more Latino Music and history. Guitar and percussion classes are offered to school age children with an emphasis on the Latino culture (culture awareness), creativity and understanding and learning leadership roles. Participating students are automatically involved in performances which can be viewed by their parents. o Visual Arts (Mural Arts, Methods and Styles, Technique, Latino Styles and Folklore)

- Media Arts (Film, Video & Sound, Latino Influences and Styles)

The Media Arts division teaches students direction, interviewing, sound and lighting, and editing techniques. Students create a pre-production schedule, learn how to research, how to use a camera and understand technical techniques. With the help of their director, guest directors and producers, students shoot on location and create their own documentaries. Post-production work includes tape editing, and submission of tapes and to national and international youth film and video festivals. Currently, 24 students are enrolled in the Media arts division.