Austin, TX - Project Schoolhouse, an Austin-based non profit, dedicated to building educational opportunities in rural areas of Latin America, will host a fundraising event at Copa Bar & Grill on November 16, 2008 from 7 pm – 12 am.  Project Schoolhouse hopes to raise $20,000 to fund the building of a much needed school in the remote village of El Aulo, Nicaragua.

The Project Schoolhouse Dance Party will feature six local Latin bands, dance classes, dance performances, and food. The purpose of the party is to raise $20,000 in one night to pay for the renovation of an entire school.  Performers will include Austin’s premier salsa bands such as Ritmo 3, O-Positivo, and Son 5, as well as, Brazilian music from Austin’s Funk Brazil, The Crying Monkies, and Seu Jacinto.  Salsa music will be on the indoor stage while the Brazilian genres will be outside. Both salsa and Brazilian bands are well known in the Austin dance community for their infectious rhythms, authentic sounds, and high-energy performances.

There will be dance performances by MoniTango, Xibuke Dance Company, and Street Salsa.   For those interested in learning to dance Salsa, Rhonda Peters and Cesar Vargas will teach a salsa class at 7 pm.

Copa Bar & Grill is located at 217 Congress Ave and is a well-known Austin venue for Latin and South American music, dancing, and cuisine.  Doors will open at 6:45 pm.  Project Schoolhouse will collect a $20 donation at the door.  There will be a silent auction and a book sale.   Donations can also be made at www.20000dollardanceparty.eventbrite.com.

Project Schoolhouse has built two elementary schools in Nicaragua since 2007.  The schools service 100 children and up to 30 adults.  Each school is located in remote rural regions in Nicaragua.  Nothing brings a community together like a well-constructed schoolhouse, a center of the community's identity. A village schoolhouse is the first structure in a community that can lead to improvements – in water systems and health initiatives and education. Project Schoolhouse has a track record of successful grassroots projects.

There has been a dramatic increase in proposals for partnerships from Nicaraguan communities. Six different communities are currently waiting for funding to begin schools built by Project Schoolhouse.

In 2009, Project Schoolhouse plans to build two more schools.   Recipient communities are generally in remote locations without electricity or running water.  Recipient communities donate the required manual labor while Project Schoolhouse donates building supplies and provides skilled supervision and instruction.

Each Project Schoolhouse site includes the installation of water systems and new sanitation facilities.

Event sponsors are Heineken, Half Price Books, Books Beyond Borders, Esquina Tango, Taco Journalism, Hot Mama’s, Copa Bar & Grill, Romeo’s, Austin Java, Casa, Feather’s Boutique.

For more information contact Thomas Barker at 512-853-9565 or email  info@projectschoolhouse.org with questions. You can also find us at www.projectschoolhouse.org.