Written by Haylee Bowerman
Little feet wrapped in socks and ballet slippers pitter-patter on concrete floors, metal chairs as makeshift barres, a mix between French ballet terms and the Spanish language are used to communicate the beauty of dance to little girls. This is non-profit La Paz Chattanooga ballet, taught by professional ballerina Andrea Tankersley.
Despite fighting through a language barrier within her childhood dance classes, Tankersley found a love for dance she passes down by teaching young Latina girls the art of ballet in their first language.
“It’s important for the classes to be taught in Spanish because it brings a sense of culture,” Tankersley said. “Knowing what your background is and where you come from, it allows you to be more confident and more unique.”
Tankersley was immersed in vigorous dance classes in Mexico from a young age which continued when she moved to the United States at the age of nine through her senior year of high school. She continued her career in Nashville as a professional ballet dancer.
As a native Spanish-speaker, she encountered struggle after struggle when starting her dance journey in the United States. Luckily, ballet terms are universally in French so she was able to keep her head above water until she could understand English.
A language barrier is not the only personal struggle Tankersley overcame growing up in ballet classes. Tankersley was told throughout her dance career that she ‘had the heart of a dancer but not the body’. This is a viewpoint she strives to squash as a health and life coach; instead, she instills a more positive mindset into her students’ minds.
Tankersley received her health and life coach certification in order to improve her personal mindset and mental health, and in turn, is now able to help others with their mental health.
“I try to remind my students that each one of them is valuable. You are enough. You decide what you want to do. You have a voice,” Tankersley said.
To combat the strict and rigid composition of ballet she endured as a child, Tankersley always brings a fun and goofy twist to her classes. She believes that, especially at the age she is teaching, it is important to engage the kids with the fun aspects of dance rather than the cut-and-dry rules of the sport. Grande jetes across the floor turn into cartwheel contests, little laughs echo off the walls, and sweets are occasionally used as motivation.
“I’ve done a lot of class versus the teacher, and then we have cupcake parties if they win. You can have both things. You can have everything. It’s just your perspective and how you look at things,” Tankersley said.
Not only does Tankersley bring dance to La Paz Chattanooga, but with these classes comes a sense of community for the students and their parents.
“The parents have that community here, so while their kids are taking classes, they’re just talking amongst themselves.” Tankersley said, “It’s just adults making new friends, which is super hard.”
Tankersley, as well as many of the parents, hope to expand into more dance classes, as this program has been so successful and impactful for the community involved.
“It’s not just grown-ups that inspire the kids. Kids can also inspire us,” Tankersley said.
By breaking down the language barrier for these dancers, Tankersley is able and enthusiastic to reach the community of La Paz Chattanooga and bring the art of ballet into their lives.
“Dancing is communicating with the body,” Tankersley said. “In any language, anyone can understand it, but it also gives the sense of uniqueness to oneself and reminds you of what makes you whole, and it reminds you of what makes you, you.”
Empowering Community
Written by Abby White
Inviting bright colors fill the community room of La Paz Chattanooga. Gary the office dog trots up with a wagging tail to welcome in friendly faces new and old while Stacy Johnson, the Executive Director, works behind the scenes to keep the organization running smoothly.
La Paz Chattanooga, a nonprofit organization founded in 2004, stands as the longest-serving Latino organization in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Dedicated to empowering and engaging the Latino community, La Paz has emerged as a catalyst for positive social change.
According to Johnson, the organization functions within three principle pillars; individual and family stabilization, community education and engagement, and advocacy and placement. A fundamental facet of La Paz’s impact lies in fostering community integration. Through educational programs, language classes, and cultural events, La Paz offers resources that bridge the gap between Latino and non-Latino populations.
“It’s a space to connect with people who are like them, speak their own language, just to have a cultural space for them to come together with like-minded people,” Johnson said.
Education stands as a cornerstone of La Paz. The organization provides various programs through collaboration with local schools aimed at enabling Latino individuals through skill-building and education.
“Some of the advocacy work is civic engagement, making sure that the Latino community is aware of the elections, making sure that they have the knowledge on how to register to vote, what you’re voting on, the different elections and creating that knowledge and awareness in the community,” Johnson said.
La Paz Chattanooga plays an important role in advocacy, addressing issues impacting the Latino community at both local and national levels. The organization engages with policymakers to ensure fair representation and the protection of immigrant rights such as instructing members on how to vote.
Regarding community engagement, La Paz organizes events celebrating Latino culture, fostering pride and a sense of belonging among community members. These events contribute to the vibrant tapestry of Chattanooga’s multicultural identity. As La Paz continues to evolve, its influence holds the promise of creating a resilient and all-embracing Chattanooga.
By following the pillars of their mission statement, La Paz fosters community consolidation, welcoming both Latino and non-Latino populations. The welcoming and inclusive ambiance reflects the organization’s dedication to building a stronger, more diverse Chattanooga.
Meet the Storytellers
Abby White is a senior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and currently studies Communication with heavy emphasis on multimedia journalism. White’s ambition derives from a love for people, storytelling, and integrity, with aspirations of being an unseen voice for the overlooked. White is a section editor for Rising Rock, a staff photographer for the UTC Echo, and photographs other various organizations on campus, where she demonstrates her love for documentary photography. She finds herself consistently in high-adrenaline environments, with a passion for rodeo and sports photography. White can be contacted through her website: https://www.abigailwhitephoto.com/
Haylee Bowerman is a junior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga majoring in Communication and minoring in Creative Writing. She is a passionate storyteller through photography and writing, aspiring to create positive change in the greater Chattanooga area. Bowerman is driven by her love for community, spirituality, and the arts. She hopes to utilize her effervescent, uplifting personality to give others the comfort and confidence to share their unique stories. In her free time, she runs a photography business focusing on portrait and wedding photography. For any collaboration ideas or inquiries, email her at hayleebowerman@gmail.com.
Daniela Durán Pérez is a senior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a double major in Communication and Spanish. Durán works as the Communications Specialist for the non-profit organization La Paz Chattanooga, where she creates graphics and produces videos to reach Chattanooga’s Latino population. As a bilingual content creator, Durán aspires to become a video producer that creates stories the Latino community can empathize with and feel included. In case of assistance or collaborations, contact through email at cjz655@mocs.utc.edu.
Lexi Foley is a senior studying communication at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Find Foley with a camera and keyboard on the sidelines of any game, or on the track competing for UTC. Foley’s passions are not tethered to sports, however, as her heart belongs to illuminating stories hidden in the shadows of a spotlight. She is always looking to connect with new people and understand new perspectives. Her work can be found on the UTC Echo—where she serves as a staff photographer and Sports Editor—and https://foleyphotographs.smugmug.com/ . You can contact her at dmy375@mocs.utc.edu.
Ava Nessell is a junior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga majoring in Communication and minoring in Brock Scholars, the honors program. She loves connecting to people and telling their stories through photography. She is also skilled in crisis management and is a social media expert. Nessell is always eager to learn new skills. As an avid equestrian, Nessell is passionate about land conservation and agriculture. Coming from a small town, she is dedicated to uplifting communities underrepresented in the media. To contact Nessell, reach out to her at zlv928@mocs.utc.edu.