Share your dance, theater, and/or circus expertise by volunteering with a circus arts group that helps empower a community in Costa Rica’s Southern Zone. Specializing in areas such as acrobatics, mime, dance, juggling, and balancing, this group works with at-risk teenagers and foreign volunteers. As you contribute your own skills, you will give the group a great resource and a new energy. You will also develop your craft under their expert guidance and gain an exceptional understanding of Costa Rican performing arts and culture. Volunteer placement requires at least ten hours a week for a minimum of one week.

Experience the diverse culture of one of Central America’s most interesting and thrilling destinations. Costa Rica’s arts scene infuses every aspect of the country, from the influence of Afro-Caribbean rhythms to pre-Columbian dances to traditionally Spanish music. Theater, opera, ballet, and classical music are flourishing in the cultural center of San José, home to the National Theater, National Dance Workshop, and National Symphony Orchestra. On the country’s Caribbean coast, music and dance are an integral part of everyday life, with calypso and reggae, a maypole dance called the cuadrille, and an annual music festival. Outside of the realm of performing arts, this breathtaking destination leaves no shortage of activities to satisfy your appetite for delicious food, thrilling adventure, or unique activities. Observe the breathtaking views that make up the Southern Zone, with its banana trees and mist-filled mountains, and reside near some of Costa Rica’s most beautiful national parks. You will be hours away from cloud forests, beaches, and rainforests in one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world.

Complete your experience of Costa Rican culture and the Spanish language by living with a host family during the length of your internship. Located throughout the area, you will stay in a private room in a middle class home. Along with building relationships with your family, you will be provided with three meals a day and laundry service while living in your home stay.

Volunteering Length	Cost
One Week	$1450
Two Weeks	$1625
Three Weeks	$1800
Four Weeks	$1975
Five Weeks	$2100
Six Weeks	$2325

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dates:

Flexible start dates. Application deadline is two months before you would like your volunteering placement to begin.  If the two month deadline has passed, please contact us to see if an exception is possible.  For beginning Spanish speakers, PAA strongly recommends adding a one-week intensive Spanish language course in San Jose to the start of their volunteering program. Please note: Volunteering opportunities are available for longer than six weeks, and if you are considering staying in Costa Rica for four or more weeks PAA recommends considering an internship.

 

Includes:

• Airport pickup and drop-off

• Accommodation with host family

• Guaranteed volunteer placement

• Welcome orientation

• Cultural activities such as cooking, Latin dance, and Spanish conversation

• Tour of city including guided accompaniment of how to travel to internship

• Weekly individual meeting with program leader to ensure successful experience

• Free luggage storage, internet usage, and Costa Rican coffee and juice at program headquarters

• Optional excursions

• Professional, English-speaking on-site staff

• 24-hour emergency support

• Pre-departure orientation

• Post-program support

• Opportunity to add Spanish course for discounted price

 

Please note: Performing Arts Abroad reserves the right to alter fees at any time due to currency fluctuations and/or fee changes made by our partner companies.

Create a difference in the lives of at-risk teens by helping them work on specific performance skills and build self-confidence. Located in the Southern zone of Costa Rica, this project was created for youth in low-income areas to help them reach their full potential. New awareness and spaces for artistic expression are being created in Costa Rica for children in vulnerable conditions, which present great opportunities for volunteering and internships. You will work with approximately 20 teenagers teaching skills such as acrobatics, juggling, dance, and mime with local and other foreign volunteers. Every hour that these teens spend learning circus arts is an hour they are involved in a positive, structured activity that gives them self-esteem and empowers them.