BROWNSVILLE - By day, Ady Muņoz is a leasing consultant at the Tropical Gardens housing complex on Ash Street. But for two evenings every week she transforms into a superhero for the daughters of the low-income families that live in apartments there - she teaches them dance free of charge.
“It’s my passion,” says the 20-year-old Muņoz, who has taken dance classes herself for eight years. “I want to incorporate more arts here in the Lower Valley.”
Muņoz has long dreamed of opening her own dance studio. She decided to teach a few workshops when she began working at Tropical Gardens a year ago.
“I saw that the girls had talent - real talent,” she said. She doesn’t mind sacrificing the four hours a week that she teaches, or the extra nightly rehearsals she holds for the girls as they gear up for their recital at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College on Wednesday. “I try to have them learn something new every day. They’re really into it, they love it.”
Muņoz sees the classes as more than lessons in dance. She says she has watched the girls, who range from 5 to 15-years-old, gain poise and grace as they develop their skills and make friends.
“I think it helps them focus academically. They go to school, do their homework, come to dance class, and go home. They don’t have time to hang out or lose focus.”
The gym equipment in the Tropical Gardens fitness room is moved to one end every time the girls have class. They dance around to Christmas songs, with the 6-year olds faithfully keeping an eye on their teacher as they imitate her in matching pink leotards and tights.
Priscilla Moreno, at 6-years old, says the best part about dance class is their teacher.
“She gives us stickers,” she said.
“If you behave!” the other girls say in unison.
"Behaving" means having fun, following the teacher’s instructions, and getting along with the other girls.
They’re not nervous, they say.
“Because you don’t have to be nervous because you dance here all the time,” said Hailey Leal, 6.
“Cause this is like the stage,” said Natasha Gonzalez, 7, as she indicated the mirror the girls face as they practice.
The girls laughed and hugged Muņoz as they did pirouettes and releves.
“The smiles as they dance,” Muņoz said. “That’s my reward.”
The Tropical Gardens Ballet will perform “Dancing to the Joy of Christmas” on Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m., at the UTB-TSC Lecture Hall. A $5 donation is requested, which will go toward buying a ballet bar to help the girls practice.
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What: Dancing in the Christmas Spirit
When: Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: UTB-TSC Lecture Hall
