Empowering Youth Through Dance
For over 25 years, the Studio de Artes Espaço Aberto has protected and empowered children and young people through dance, community, and creativity. i Live and Rioca are covering 50% of the construction costs for a new cultural center. With your support, we will begin rebuilding the dance school in 2027.
The Story Behind Espaço Aberto
A Safe Place for 25 Years
For 25 years, the Studio de Artes Espaço Aberto has been a place of retreat and refuge in the heart of Rocinha. Under the leadership of dancer and educator Yolanda Demetrio, the studio has protected generations of children and young people from the harsh realities of violence, drug trafficking, and social exclusion — and given them something powerful: belonging, dignity, and hope through dance.
Here, children are not defined by where they come from, but by who they can become. Through movement, discipline, and creativity, they learn to believe in themselves and to imagine a future beyond mere survival.
The Destruction of the Building
A Place Is Destroyed. The Dream Remains.
In 2010, during a violent conflict in the area linked to drug trafficking, a grenade exploded inside the studio. The space was destroyed. Dreams were shaken. Fear entered a place that was meant to provide safety.
But they did not give up.
Sustained by Yolanda’s love, the dedication of volunteer teachers, and the courage of the students themselves, the project continued. Together, they kept dancing, teaching, and dreaming — renting a temporary space and refusing to allow violence to erase a place built on care, art, and belonging.
Today, Studio de Artes Espaço Aberto stands at a turning point. The rebuilding of its home is not just about walls and floors, but about healing, continuity, and protecting the next generation.
Facts
The Dance School
- Goal: 400 children and young people from the Rocinha favela per week
- Diversity: Free classes in ballet, jazz, Afro, hip-hop, samba, yoga, and more
- Dedication: All instructors are volunteers
- Non-profit & not profit-oriented
Scientific studies show that dancing reduces stress, releases happiness hormones, and brings us into a state of flow. This allows us to let go of worries and process negative emotions. We use these insights to provide children with a safe space through dance, where they can develop self-worth and build a positive future.
Partnership
Become a Partner and Create a Building Block with Your Own Message
FOR DONATIONS OF €1,000 OR MORE
We don’t ask for donations.
We invite you to become a partner.
The new home of the Studio de Artes Espaço Aberto is being rebuilt stone by stone — just like the future of the children who are supported there.
Each partner acquires a symbolic building block:
a piece of the wall, the floor, the stage, or the courtyard.
This brick bears your name, your logo, or your message — permanently embedded in the new space and visible to generations of students and families.
Your contribution becomes a lasting part of the building itself — a visible commitment to resilience, culture, and opportunity.
We help because you are worth it.
This mosaic will become part of the new dance school.
Every day, the children see here that there are people who believe in them.
Our Goal
Rebuilding
Estimated Costs
To make it possible for this protected place to be reborn, a total of €250,000 is required for reconstruction. i Live and Rioca are leading the way by contributing €125,000 together. The remaining €125,000 will be raised jointly with committed partners and many smaller contributions.
Implementation & Timeline
In 2026, detailed construction planning for the new dance school will begin. Construction is scheduled to start in spring 2027. One year later, the new cultural center is set to open its doors with a celebratory opening event, creating a new, safe space for dance, creativity, and community.
Estimated Costs
To bring this protected space back to life, approximately €208,000 to €250,000 will be needed for the reconstruction. This investment means far more than construction costs. It is an investment in safety and future opportunities for children and young people.
Implementation in Construction Phases
The reconstruction of the studio is deliberately divided into individual phases. These stages allow for step-by-step financing, enabling specific measures to be implemented in a targeted way and accompanied transparently.
