A Residential Shelter for Adolescent Drug Addicts

Dance to Live provides services to many shelters in the Dallas Metroplex.  Several of those shelters have opportunities to send their children to camp for a month in the summer. Logically,  Nexus, does not.  The process of drug withdrawal and therapy cannot be interrupted nor can the girls or their children be released from the Nexus campus.  Dance to Live remains in full force throughout the summer.

Nexus serves female adolescents (who are recovering from drug addiction) and their children. Over the past two years we have seen measurable improvement and, literally, an ability for the adolescents to visualize and verbalize a future that will be different than their present.  The girls gather with our Dance Therapist twice a month for an hour's training in balance, strength, co-operation, and positive reinforcement of skills and attitudes.  They learn to respect their bodies and be proud of what they learn.  The therapy focuses on the whole person, so we integrate movement with what they are studying at school or we spotlight upcoming holidays.  Gratitude always plays a part in every class.  Seeing the beauty and light of the individuals who surround you - current friends and family - is expressed by movement.  We work with Nexus to provide a safe place for them to learn about themselves - and develop both the physical and mental strength that they will need when they enter the outside world.

Their children, who are housed with their Moms, also receive training from Dance to Live.  Since most of these children are developmentally delayed, we integrate movement with instruction.  There are games that provide partnering with someone new and co-operating with that person to attain a goal.  Dance to Live provides props that are used with the younger children.  Bright rubber circles are spaced throughout the room so that each child has his/her own place.  Then we tailor games using the circles as home base.  Music is a big part of all our classes.  When we are active with the children, the music is loud and fast to accompany the lesson and when we practice our breathing and relaxation techniques, the music is soft and frequently classical.  As the children learn about themselves and others around them, as they learn to co-operate with others and share victories, as they learn to express their frustrations with positive alternatives rather than anger or self-hatred, Dance to Live is creating a model that they have available to them for the rest of their lives

We so very much appreciate your support.  Without you, we would not be able to serve these children who desperately need someone to reach out to them and show them a better way to live - one they are learning to enjoy and embrace.  Thank you!