The Nicavangelists, a traveling group of young, male athletic and talented dancers and trickers, from Nicaragua, performed at the Black Forest Community Church Nov. 10. They stayed in the Colorado Springs area for a week, talking to the community about their culture and what life is like in the barrios in Nicaragua. Jed Brien is the founder and director of the Nicavangelists. Brien said he had a successful career in Australia but wanted to do something more with his life. He felt compelled to go to a poor barrio in Managua, Nicaragua, so he moved there. Brien began his journey by praying in hospitals and with people on the streets; and, because he loves to teach, he eventually opened a school ó Capital Edge Community School.Brien said that one day he was at the mall and saw a teenager performing gymnastics and tricks. ìI knew who he was because he already had a reputation for being a great tricker,î Brien said. He approached the teen and asked if he would be the gymnastics teacher at his school, which eventually led to the launch of the Nicavangelists.The group writes and produces their own street theatre production; they perform folk dances steeped in Nicaraguan culture, along with tricking and gymnastics, Brien said. ìTricking is a combination of gymnastics, break dancing and a variety of athletic movements,î he said. One of the highlights of their show is the Miskito folk dance.The Nicavengelists began touring in the United States in 2013, and are hoping to take their show and message to Europe and other countries in the near future, Brien said. They stay at churches and with church-related organizations; they depend solely on donations to continue their mission, he said. They were traveling throughout Colorado the month of November. They usually stay in one place for about three to four days and then move on to the next venue, Brien said. Capital on the Edge is their American nonprofit name.At the Black Forest Community Church, they acted out the play ìJonah and the Whaleî and compared the play to trying to help the people of Nicaragua. There was a slideshow running in the background with pictures of the chaos and violence that many Nicaraguans are living with since dictator Jose Daniel Ortega Saavedra took over. Brien said, ìWe have boys 11 to 27 who canít go home to see their families or friends because it would be too dangerous for them to go back right now. Some of them havenít seen their mums for two years.îHe said for the poor families in Nicaragua, one meal a day is common; the children work at a young age for long hours a day; education is at a minimum; living amidst the violence and chaos has become the norm.Two of the teenage boys talked about how long they have been a Nicavangelist and how they joined. Eduardo said he has been in the group for six years, after a friend from the barrio told him about the group. He said he practiced for months before going to the center to audition and was excited when he was accepted.Joían said he has only been with the group for a few months and was asked to join after someone from the center saw him tricking. Joían said he loves tricking and seeing new places.In between performances, the Nicavangelists are homeschooled and also practice their routines and work out at the gym, Brien said. His father, Greg Brien, often travels with the group and helps homeschool the boys and provide support to Brien.ìI do this because I want to create a bright future for the boys, to educate them and help them have a better life,î Brien said.For more information or to donate to the Nicavangelists, visit their website at https://www.nicavangelists.com/the-story.
