When a young member of Borinquen Dance Theatre arrived late for a recent evening rehearsal, slipping silently into the spacious studio at Hochstein School of Music and Dance, artistic director Nydia Padilla-Rodriguez didn't let the tardiness go unchecked. In Spanish, she gently admonished the girl, then urged her to hurry and join the others in their warm-up. Likewise, when a dancer with an injured foot requested permission to only "mark," or walk through the choreography, Padilla-Rodriguez agreed, but quickly reminded the others that they were, of course, expected to dance full-out.

"Our youth are starving for structure," she said as she kept her eyes glued on the teenagers, ages 14 to 21, splayed on the floor stretching their young limbs, spring sunshine streaming in through the high glass windows. "Borinquen is about more than dancing. It is a vehicle to help students develop the discipline and skills they need to gain self-confidence and academic achievement. It is using the arts as a form of discipline."

Padilla-Rodriguez founded Borinquen in 1981 with the Ibero-American Action League (Puerto-Rican Arts and Cultural Center) to further appreciation of Latin American dance. When that league folded four years later, Borinquen joined forces with Hochstein, a partnership that still exists today. "Borinquen" is the original name of Puerto Rico, and means "land of brave people." Not everyone in the company is Puerto Rican, or even Hispanic, but demographically, many of them might be included in "at risk" groups. In fact, it was seeing the statistics for drop-out rates among Hispanic students that led Padilla-Rodriguez to focus on youth. Today, she boasts that 90 percent of the hundreds of students who have been involved in Borinquen Dance Theatre go on to attend college.

Ingrid Colon, 29, leads the warm-up at a recent Borinquen rehearsal. Colon spent her own adolescence dancing with Borinquen and now serves as an assistant and - perhaps more importantly - as a role model. Conversations dwindle as the rehearsal begins in earnest, Colon leading the dancers through several very different pieces.

"Bomba" is a dance that Padilla-Rodriguez choreographed to represent the African influence on Puerto-Rican culture. Colon counts aloud for the group as the dancers work to match their steps to the heavily rhythmic, percussive music. Another of Padilla-Rodriguez' pieces, titled "Eclectic," is just that. Faster and more energized, this piece is a juxtaposition of movement in Latin contemporary style set to music by Deep Forest, a group whose music could be described as somewhere between modern and hip-hop.

The 15 teenagers in the troupe are intent now, focused. They check their movements in the mirrors lining one wall of the studio, going back over challenging bits of the choreography. This weekend they will perform in one of Borinquen's most important concerts of the year, and a major fundraiser for the group. They mean to impress. They have grown accustomed to Padilla-Rodriguez's high expectations.

The group performs at events, festivals, colleges, evening school events - even Mayor Robert Duffy's inauguration. Rehearsals are three times a week, and students are required to maintain excellent school attendance and good grades (nothing lower than a 2.5 average). If a dancer is having trouble academically, Padilla-Rodriguez helps him or her connect with tutoring. As director of strategic community partnerships for the Rochester City School District, she is keenly aware of services available to students. She is also certified to teach in elementary bilingual education and served as vice-principal of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School No. 9, and holds a B.A. in dance education.

Padilla-Rodriguez sets no boundaries on her involvement in her young dancers' lives. If they need her, she is there. She embraces the concept of Borinquen as an extended family, a safe place, and hopes its members will gain self-esteem, respect for others, and pride in their shared cultural heritage. Recently, she arranged a workshop on nutrition for her dancers; other workshops have addressed teenage pregnancy, the history of Puerto Rico, and financial management.

Borinquen has been recognized by the Presidents' Committee on the Arts & Humanities as one of the top after-school art programs for youth in the United States. It is funded by the New York State Council on the Arts, Women's Circle, Wilson Foundation, Rochester Area Community Foundation, The Greater Rochester Arts Council, individual donors, and a grant from Wilmont Foundation.

"Many of my kids have had major challenges within their own lives, within their families," Padilla-Rodriquez says. "Even though love doesn't cost anything, if you never experience it, it's difficult for you to have any sense of belonging."

"We have a generation that lacks mentors," Padilla-Rodriguez says. "The messages our kids receive are too negative. Instead, they need strategies that reinforce their sense of hope and keep their dreams alive, strategies to help them get from Point A to Point B. The arts are just one way."

Padilla-Rodriguez cites Garth Fagan, famed founder and artistic director of Garth Fagan Dance and Bessie Award-winning choreographer, as her own mentor. At 16, she was the youngest member of his original company, Bottom of the Bucket, But...Dance Theatre.

"He always told us that discipline was freedom," she says. "He made me understand that things won't happen without discipline."

Fagan remembers Padilla-Rodriguez as the "creme de la creme." "Nydia was a beautiful, bright, precise, and talented dancer. That's a lot of adjectives, but they're all true. She lit up the stage," he says. "And what she's doing with these kids now is more than just dance. She's nourishing them."

Padilla-Rodriguez's time with Fagan profoundly affected her choreography as well. A heavy influence of African and modern dance merges with Puerto Rican folk and contemporary Latino dance, even a bit of hip-hop, to create the hybrid of movement that is Borinquen.

Coralis Rivera Laboy, 25, is Borinquen's assistant director; she also contributes to choreography. Master instructor Andrae Dunwoody, 37, runs the outreach program at Monroe High School and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School No. 9, making dance available for those without transportation. These students perform in their own schools, setting examples for their peers. Borinquen also has a junior company, featuring children ages 8 to 13. They, too, will perform in this weekend's concert.

The concert will also feature dancers from the Bharata School of Indian Classical Dance & Music, who will share the stage with the senior Borinquen group to present, "The Sun Dance," a collaboration that demonstrates the contrasts between their two cultures. "La Plena," a folkloric dance choreographed by Padilla-Rodriguez, will celebrate the African, Spanish, and Taino Arawak (Indian) influences on Puerto Rico, the three cultures represented by the three ruffles on the dancers' costumes. "Mestisaje," also a work by Padilla-Rodriguez, emphasizes the fusion of the three cultures; colorful masks add an indigenous flavor to the piece.

Borinquen Dance Theatre

Saturday, April 10

Hochstein School of Music and Dance, 50 N Plymouth Ave.

7:30 p.m. | $10-$25 | 787-0087, borinquendancetheatre.org