OUR WORK
We are passionately dedicated to promoting art and culture, working tirelessly to introduce innovative projects that enrich the community and foster creative expression. From organizing cultural events to implementing educational programs, our work focuses on inspiring, connecting, and empowering through art.
DANCE WITHOUT BORDERS
Dance Without Borders is an initiative designed to empower and recognize the talent of young dancers and single mothers who have made dance their profession and come from vulnerable communities in Colombia. This project focuses on Latin rhythms, where our dancers take on the role of instructors, sharing their knowledge with those eager to learn these styles. The foundation provides ongoing training to strengthen and enhance their artistic abilities, ensuring high-quality instruction and contributing to the cultural enrichment of the community. Additionally, the project offers psychological and emotional support, ensuring the holistic well-being of its participants. Currently, Dance Without Borders is being implemented in Cali and Medellín. The project creates an optimal environment for these talented dancers to develop their art, offering them growth opportunities and fair compensation, allowing them to improve their living conditions and make a positive impact on their families and communities, fostering meaningful social change.
SHAPING FUTURES THROUGH ENGLISH
In partnership with the Colombo American Cultural Center of Cali
Shaping Futures Through English is an inspiring initiative designed for young artists and single mothers who are part of the Melao Arts & Culture Foundation community. In collaboration with the prestigious Colombo American Cultural Center of Cali, this program offers access to high-quality English language education — from beginner (A1) to upper-intermediate (B2) levels — with the goal of achieving TOEIC certification. Since 2022, our foundation has maintained a strong and active alliance with the Colombo American Cultural Center to promote language learning as a powerful tool for opportunity. We firmly believe that speaking English opens doors to both personal and professional growth, especially for individuals from underserved communities. The Melao Arts & Culture Foundation is committed to supporting our participants not only emotionally and academically, but also financially. We cover a significant portion — and in many cases up to 100% — of tuition fees, depending on each student’s commitment and performance. This program reflects our deep belief in the transformative power of education. Through English, we help our community shape new paths, build confidence, and expand their future possibilities.
CULTURE AND LANGUAGE
In this project, we support and provide a space for university students specializing in foreign languages, starting from their sixth semester of study. Our initiative offers them a unique opportunity to engage in a linguistic and cultural exchange. How? By allowing them to teach Spanish in an innovative, dynamic, and diverse way to non-Spanish-speaking foreigners who visit our country and wish to learn the language. In addition to offering them this valuable opportunity to enhance their studies, we also provide financial compensation for the classes they teach. This way, university students not only gain practical teaching experience and cultural exchange skills but also receive recognition for their work. Join us and discover how this project can benefit you, providing an enriching experience while contributing to cultural and linguistic exchange in our country. We look forward to having you as part of this exciting initiative!
RESILIENT RHYTHMS
AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL IMMERSION IN SALSA AND ITS SOCIAL IMPACT
IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
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Between 2024 and 2025, Fundación Melao Arte y Cultura actively collaborated on the Resilient Rhythms research project, led by Danish anthropologist Emil Holst Godkin as part of his Master’s degree in Anthropology at the University of Copenhagen. The thesis was successfully defended and approved in 2025. This academic work offers an in-depth exploration of how salsa serves as a language of resistance, expression, and identity for young dancers in Cali’s Aguablanca District. Through a sensitive and well-structured approach, the research reveals how art, and dance in particular, becomes a powerful tool for building a future in challenging social environments. Fundación Melao contributed to this process by sharing our community-based, methodological, and cultural expertise, helping Emil connect with local artists, dance schools, and social organizations. Our programs, especially Baile Sin Fronteras (Dance Without Borders), inspired the early stages of the study and provided valuable insights that enriched its ethnographic perspective. “Learning to see the future through salsa.” — Emil Holst Godkin What does this collaboration mean for Fundación Melao? This project reaffirms our institutional commitment to culture, education, and the arts as instruments for social transformation. Being part of an international academic endeavor carried out with ethical integrity, cultural sensitivity, and analytical depth inspires us to continue building bridges between communities and academia, connecting knowledge born from lived realities with the insights of scholarly study. We believe in the power of art to change lives and in the value of partnerships built on trust, empathy, and mutual respect. To our friend and colleague, Emil Holst Godkin: Our warmest congratulations and heartfelt gratitude for your sensitivity, human insight, and dedication to the stories that emerge from movement, community, and the heart.
SOWING SMILES: Holistic Support for Indigenous Children
Melao Foundation, in collaboration with our partner Herminsul Otero Velasco, has been actively engaged in spreading smiles and providing ongoing support to Indigenous children in the rural communities of El Rosal, El Pital, Moterrilla, and El Tablón since 2023. Our project focuses on providing school supplies and clothing tailored to the seasonal and cultural needs of the children. During the holiday season, we also share special gifts, celebrating this meaningful time with joy and love alongside the families of these communities. We are deeply committed to this beautiful cause and look forward to continuing our efforts to bring hope and happiness to the hearts of the indigenous children who inspire us every day.
Humanitarian Support During the Pandemic (2020)
In 2020, during the global pandemic, Melao Arte y Cultura Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to the members of the Dance Without Borders project. We are proud to share how our community came together to support our beneficiaries during these challenging times. The foundation launched a crowdfunding campaign, receiving generous contributions from our international students and partners. Thanks to this support, we provided essential food supplies and groceries to the families of our Dance Without Borders members, as well as to other professionals within the arts community. Beyond food assistance and financial support, Melao Arte y Cultura Foundation introduced an innovative online teaching program. This initiative allowed some of our instructors to continue teaching, ensuring ongoing artistic development while also providing them with a source of income during this difficult period. This program was implemented exclusively during the pandemic, offering critical support to our community. This collective effort reflects our community’s strong commitment to well-being and solidarity. We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to this act of generosity and look forward to continuing to build a stronger and more united future together. Thank you for being part of this incredible network of support and collaboration!
TESTIMONIALS
