Josh Meltzer | The Roanoke Times

Sisters of the Circle performers (clockwise from top left) Khamisey Mohamed, Batula Mohamud, Esther Scere, Madusso Toure, Halima Abuw Mohamed, Nurto Mohammed and Matenneh Keita rehearse Friday afternoon at Jefferson Center.

Sisters in the Circle

A show featuring dance, songs, stories and hip-hop poetry

• Jefferson Center Rehearsal Hall
• 3 p.m. Sunday
• Free

After an intense four-day practice, the 11 teenagers of the Sisters in the Circle educational program were tired Thursday afternoon.

Many lay on the floor in sweats in the Rehearsal Hall of Jefferson Center.

Some just sat on the floor drinking water and eating apples.

All groaned when they were told to practice their dance steps again.

But when the pulsating rhythms of a cowbell and the foot-stomping beats of an African drum began, the girls banded together, clapped their hands harmoniously and belted out songs of unity and power.

Eleven girls will raise their voices in song and move their bodies in dance Sunday in a showcase event for Sisters in the Circle.

The show marks the end of an 18-week educational program for refugee and immigrant girls ages 14 to 18, said Anne Elise Thomas, educational program coordinator for Jefferson Center.

The event will feature poetry and songs that the teenagers learned during visits from guest artists such as Toni Blackman and Elise Witt.

The girls will also perform Kpatsa, a Ghanian dance taught by the dance ensemble Kusun.

"It's a dance that celebrates womanhood," said Frederick KpaKpo Addo of Kusun. "They wanted a song that shows that they are women. This song shows that as well as speaks about bringing people together."

Formerly known as Las Hermanas de hip-hop, the program aims to help the teenagers gain confidence in a new culture.

The girls met once a week to learn dance, poetry and theater.

The girls in the program come from five different countries and have been in the U.S. for varying amounts of time and have different skill levels in English.

Ann Kilkelly, one of the program's coordinators, said many of the adolescents come from refugee camps and have difficulties adjusting to a new culture because of the language barrier.

"We want to give these girls empowerment," Kilkelly said. "You learn many new skills in dance, and it's very healthy in overcoming language issues."

Esther Scere, 16, said that before attending the program, she was shy.

"I learned how to be in front of everybody and overcome my fears," said Esther, a student at William Fleming High School who moved to the U.S. from Haiti two years ago. "It's helped me to learn English better and be a better person."

Kilkelly said the program, funded by a grant from Bank of America, was a success in its first year, and she hopes it will be around for a second year.

"It's all about finding out common ways of understanding each other," she said. "I do a lot of theater- and community-based projects, and this one is needed."

Stephanie Cheridieu, 15, said she has met many good friends at the program.

"It's fun when we do everything together," said Stephanie, another William Fleming student, who moved to the U.S. from Liberia three years ago.

"We are all friends here. This program has changed my life for the good."