The Bellas Arts

Former School of Dramatic Arts

To finish my previous post regarding my first encounter with Dominicans who actually embraced their culture proudly and freely was at the National School of Dramatic arts.  The theater department was pretty run down and not paid attention to like the music and dance department.  We were the black sheep of the school but that’s another story.

The students would read plays by Dominican authors and dance to Dominican afro music, it was refreshing.   I did not fit in at first, they approached me very carefully and analyzed me from afar, they immediately placed me in a different social group, the white privileged one and boy where they far from the truth.  In time they noticed I was just a regular white girl with no chauffeur or car who took public transportation and probably one of the very few students who worked while going to school.  You see no girl with a high monetary status would set foot in that school at the time because it wasn't private with renowned teachers or in a fancy neighborhood (but in all fairness it wasn't very hygienic either at the time) so I can’t really blame them completely.  I was also in a different age group, most of these kids just came out of high school and I was well into my twenties.  Thank god I looked younger than my age, always so modest. HA!

A few of my peers at School

I learned a lot more about my culture there than I ever did in school and for the first time I met girls who did not straighten their hair and embraced their afro features and were proud borderline defensive at that.  I never really fit in completely for many different reasons especially because I didn't have the time for it.  I couldn't stay after class and mingle or work on every single project with them; I was just trying to learn as much as I could and not fail, stay awake at work and take care of my home since I already lived independently.

I cherish that experience deeply.  It was one of my biggest challenges and I completed it to the best of my abilities.  I practiced one of the most beautiful crafts that exist and learned that creativity will flourish even when you are in the direst of circumstances; sometimes these are the best times to challenge your creativity.