During her first year teaching at Melrose Elementary, in 2019, fifth-grade teacher Natalie El Amrani decided to start a group to offer dance experience steeped in cultural appreciation for young girls.
El Amrani recalls her childhood — centered on a passion for performing on a competition dance team. Recitals were the highlight, but she knew her mother struggled to cover the costs and ensure her continued participation. She started “Cultural Expressions” to provide her students the experience without the financial strain.
“I began Cultural Expressions 100 percent free of charge to families,” El Amrani said. “I write grants and pay out of my own pocket for all costumes and experiences for the girls.
El Amrani, who has a Moroccan background, volunteers in Jamaican schools several times a year and enjoys sharing her experiences with her students, teaching them about the multicultural spectrum within the Black race. Many of El Amrani’s students have backgrounds in Jamaica, Haiti and throughout the Caribbean. “Many of them are second generation, so they don’t truly know their identity because many aren’t being taught at home,” El Amrani said. “In my dance group, we explore different black cultures.” The dancing reflects the musical genres of Jamaican dancehall, Haitian kompa, salsa and merengue, Afro-beats, hip-hop and more.
