Dance camp in Costa Rica precedes first ECU semester

Incoming ECU freshman Kristyn Tingelstad poses with a student in a dance camp created for children in Costa Rica. (Contributed photos)

Incoming freshmen Lauren Pavone and Kristyn Tingelstad, both from the Raleigh area, are coming to campus following a cultural exchange trip to Costa Rica organized by dance instructor Marilyn Chappel, a 1990 ECU graduate.

They were among five students in Chappell’s Holly Springs School of Dance who traveled to the village of Carrillos in early June. The students created a dance camp for local children and shared folk dances for audiences who had never seen a live performance, according to Chappel. The camp ran for nine days.

Pavone and Tingelstad also served meals to children and helped create a vegetable garden at a local church.

Incoming ECU freshman Lauren Pavone joined in a cultural exchange program in Costa Rica.