First Person: US immigrant dancer empowers with art

Alvaro Maldonado works to change the lives of youths at risk through dance.

Growing up in El Salvador during the civil war, Maldonado used dance as an escape from poverty and violence, and he came to the United States where he trained with the Washington DC Ballet and the world renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

He founded the BTI Dance Institute in DC - a studio offering dance education programs for adults and youths, and a non-profit community outreach programme.