Mission
Empowering survivors of childhood sexual trauma by eradicating stigma and secrecy while inspiring hope for healing through our impactful dance performance, discussions, and advocacy.
We support survivors and educate communities through the transformative power of dance.
Your donation matters. A financial contribution to Esperanza Dance Project allows us to help others find support and healing from childhood sexual trauma, empower young adults as peer advocates and present multimedia performances to youth and the Arizona community at large.
Photography by Larry Hanelin
What's New with EDP
Founder and Artistic Director Beth Braun has been selected as the OnMedia Arts Hero for the 2023-24 performing arts season!
Shoutout Arizona interviews Artistic Director Beth Braun
Meet Beth Braun | Dancer/Choreographer, Dance Educator, Founder/Artistic Director
We had the good fortune of connecting with Beth Braun and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Beth, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
My mother was a true Ballet lover and when I was five years old she took me to see my first of many New York City Ballet performances. We took the train into New York City, ate at an outdoor café at Lincoln Center, and then saw the performance. It was love at first sight! I clearly remember the red velvet seats of the theater, the chandelier, the enormous crowd all dressed up in their finest clothing, the live orchestra, and the absolutely beautiful dancers.
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On the train ride back to our home on Long Island, my mother asked me if I wanted to learn how to dance and although I never did become a professional ballerina, here I am many years later still dancing, teaching, choreographing and using my art to help to make positive change in my community.
I attended State University of New York at Brockport and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance. When my father and I initially visited SUNY Brockport, we met with one of the Dance Professors to discuss careers in dance. My father was especially concerned regarding how I would be able to support myself as a dancer. The Professor talked a great deal about becoming a dance educator, which was not my plan at all. I only wanted to have a performance career, although I started teaching dance my sophomore year in college.
She had an anatomical heart with wings tattooed on her forearm with the Spanish word “esperanza,” which translates to “hope.” Was this tattoo her desperate attempt to find hope in her life when in reality, she had spiraled deeply to a place of complete hopelessness?
