Riverview Dance Center to Visit Bolivia in November
The Ruby Dance Center will host clinics for homeless youth in La Paz this November.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Dance
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The Ruby Dance Center in Riverview plans to travel to Bolivia in November 2026 to provide dance clinics and community service for homeless children. The initiative focuses on using dance as non-verbal communication for at-risk youth.
Why it matters
The program aims to bring support and creative engagement to children living in La Paz, connecting with the work of the long-standing Fundacion Alalay.
The fundraising effort has secured $300 of the required $8,000 goal for the upcoming trip. Fundacion Alalay has served 30,000 homeless children over the last 35 years under the leadership of its founder, Claudia Gonzalez.
The players
Ruby Dance Center
This is a Riverview-based studio that provides dance instruction and community outreach programming.
Dr. Melanie Van Allen
She serves as the Artistic Director at the Ruby Dance Center.
Fundacion Alalay
This is a non-profit organization focused on providing services to homeless children in Bolivia.
Claudia Gonzalez
She founded Fundacion Alalay in 1990 to support vulnerable youth.
The details
Artistic Director Dr. Melanie Van Allen is spearheading the effort to provide artistic outlets for children, including a group of 70 youth residing in a La Paz park. The team will travel approximately 3,000 miles to execute the project.
Timeline
Fundacion Alalay was founded in 1990.
Ruby Dance Center will host dance clinics in Bolivia in November 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This project continues the model of arts-based community outreach that has become a staple of global non-profit engagement. The program aligns its efforts with the infrastructure established by the 1990 founding of Fundacion Alalay.
Local supporters in Riverview can contribute to the $8,000 travel goal to help fund the dance clinics. The initiative provides a direct way for members of the dance community to participate in international service work.
The takeaway
Using movement as a universal language can provide vital support and stability for at-risk youth populations. Supporting international programs often requires consistent community fundraising to ensure travel and logistical success.
Further reading
Learn more about local performances and educational outreach in the Dance section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WFLA.
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