Broken Promises + Rejoice Diaspora Dance

Dmae Roberts features the world premiere play Broken Promises written by Olga Sanchez. We'll talk with Danel Malan, founder and artistic director of Teatro Milagro and actor Giovanni Alva from the show. And in the latter part of the show, we'll check in Oluyinka A. Akinjiola with Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater about their performance of Ancestry in motion. 
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You can hear Stage & Studio on: _______________________________________________________
Teatro Milagro presents the World Premiere of Broken Promises by Olga Sanchez. Teatro Milagro launches its national tour with the world premiere of Broken Promises by Olga Sanchez, based on local stories of teenage sex trafficking.

**Due to mature content, the play is recommended for teens and up. No nudity or graphic scenes are shown onstage.

WHEN:  January 14 – 23^rd, 2016
Thursday – Saturday, 7:30, Sunday 2PM
Thursday, January 14, 7:30 PM — Preview
Friday January 15, 7:30 PM — Opening night, with reception catered by Tortillería y Tienda de Leon

**Performances on January 21, 22, & 23^rd are running as part of the 2016 Fertile Ground Festival

El Centro Milagro, 525 SE Stark Street, Portland, Oregon 97214
ADMISSION: $5-$30. Tickets available at www.milagro.org or 503-236-7253. Discounts for students, seniors, veterans, groups 15+, and with Oregon Trail card through the Arts for All program.

MORE INFORMATION: www.milagro.org or call 503-236-7253

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ALSO FEATURED: 

Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater Presents Ancestry In Motion

Portland, Oregon: Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater will present their second full evening event, “Ancestry In Motion,” at Headwaters Theater on January 15, 16 and 17, 2016.  This much anticipated event follows their breakthrough premiere this past June, which consisted of three consecutive sold out shows.

“Ancestry In Motion” weaves the fabric of time from a single thread connecting the past to the present by exploring the African roots found in the modern vernacular movements of Jazz and House, and calls upon the African deity of the ocean to address the continuing epidemic of police brutality.  The evening will premiere choreographic works from Michael Galen, Dar Vejon Jones, and Jamie Minkus as well as solo works by the esteemed Oluyinka Akinjioa and the captivating Lin Lucas. Guest Artists include Okaidja Afroso and Rudy Slizewski.

Tickets can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com.  $16 in advance, $20 day of the show.

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MORE ABOUT BROKEN PROMISES: Teatro Milagro launches its 2016 national tour in Portland with Broken Promises by Olga Sanchez. This original work, created in collaboration with Planned Parenthood, is based on the true life stories of teen girls who are lured into prostitution. The play will provide an opportunity to discuss sexual health in underserved communities and will be paired with “Healthy Relationships” workshops that are currently being taught in such schools as Native American Youth & Family Center (NAYA) and Donald E. Long Youth Detention Center. Direction is by Francisco Garcia, who toured with Milagro is the mid 90’s, prior to his successful venture in Los Angles as a playwright, director, and equity actor. Olga Sanchez is the Artistic Director Emerita, currently working on her PhD at the University of Oregon. The cast includes Monica Domena, hailing from Washington, Shenekah Telles from New Mexico, Giovanni Alva from California, and long-time Milagro touring artist Ajai Terrazas Tripathi from Corvallis, Oregon.
 

Amidst the backdrop of urban Latin hip hop music, rhyme, and choreography, Broken Promises reveals the shocking truth of how quickly and easily teens are ensnared in the world of sex trafficking. Desperate for money, four teens living on the edge gamble their lives on internet porn and prostitution. Before she knows it, Adriana is trapped in a life from which she cannot escape, or can she?
 

SPECIAL EVENTS: Guest speakers and a free Women’s Health & Social Services Fair will accompany the two-week run at Milagro.  Before and after the Sunday matinee on the 17^th, non-profits such as Lifeworks NW, Planned Parenthood, and SARC will share information and resources in El Zócalo.  After each performance, representatives from agencies that provide services and resources for women, as well as attorneys at law focused on sex trafficking, will join the actors for a post-show discussion.
 

Thurs. Jan. 14 – Amanda McLaughlin Barreto, Education Programs Manager for Planned Parenthood of the Columbia Willamette. She has also served on this project as the Planned Parenthood representative in the development of the script for Broken Promises.

Sat. Jan. 16 – Youth Ending Slavery, a student-led 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon, whose mission is to combat modern-day slavery.

Sat. Jan. 16 – Student Night! Special invitation for high school and college students. Gift bags for first 25 students with tickets to arrive at the show.

Sun. Jan. 17 – Women’s Health & Social Services Fair 1-2PM, 3-4PM, See below for list of participating organizations.

Sun. Jan. 17 – Molly Franks, Multnomah County Health Department educator and co-founder of OYE, opciónes y educación, a Latino sexual health coalition co-founded by Milagro in 2009.

Thurs. Jan. 21 – Warren Binford, Associate Professor of Law and the Director of the Clinical Law Program at Willamette University, has done extensive work with victims of violence and sex abuse, specifically children.

Kendra Harding from Lifeworks NW will discuss services that their non-profit provides.

Thurs. Jan. 21- Sat. Jan. 23 – Broken Promises is presented as part of the 2016 Fertile Ground Festival, an 11-day arts festival showcasing new work from local Portland artists.

Fri. Jan. 22 – Joel Shapiro, a local Attorney at Law who specializes in combating child sex trafficking and violence against women will be joined by members of YES, Youth Ending Slavery.

Sat. Jan. 23 – Kelly Clark from LifeWorks NW, which provides critical access to mental health services, prevention, and addiction for those in need.