Once the intense ballet season is over all dancers rest a bit and then make sure they get back to class in time to be ready for the new season. But Ballet West Soloist Kate Crews took class, practiced/taught yoga and went to Honduras (she climbed a mountain the previous summer!) Below are a few excerpts from her Honduras Diary:

“Kensey is a 2 year old girl at the refuge outside of Tagucigalpa, Honduras. Her mom is 16 and was abused. They came to the refuge for safety………We did check ups on the babies and worked with the moms to have positive futures with their babies…….We took care of the babies so the girls could have some time of their own. They very rarely have me time since most of them breast feed and have to take care of the babies on their own. All of the mothers at he refuge are under 18 years of age, the youngest being 13.”

“In the village of Los Pinos we worked at the school, helped with many donations, and taught the kids to brush their teeth, many of them for the first time.”

“Above is my sweet little Marina. She is washing her food dish after coming down the hill to the church to get some food and a bath. She and her sisters bathe once a week with buckets of water at the church and can get clean clothes and food there. They cannot be given any help beyond that as their father sells everything for drugs and their mother is mentally ill.”

“This is me at the public hospital with a newborn. We helped moms with their babies and showers after birth….They are wheeled into a room containing 25 cots on either side of the hospital with very few nurses….. They are dropped off and have little or no help…….Most moms are made to leave after 24 hours, no matter what type of birth.”

“This is me with children of Los Pinos after we fed the breakfast and had a great teeth brushing session.”

Welcome home Kate and Brava! You are an inspiration!

-Mark