A Residential Shelter for Adolescent Drug Addicts

Dance To Live has consistently conducted 4 classes per month at the Nexus Recovery Center during 2012.  The need for treatment for teenage addiction is not abating and, if one factors in the impact of such addiction on the children of those teens, then the imperative to offer assistance to these young mothers becomes abundantly clear.

A child raising a child is difficult enough, but if you factor drugs into the equation the everyday problems of life become insurmountable.  The mother has no sustainable resources to give to her child, either psychologically or physically and the children themselves will most probably be set on the familiar path of drug use and self-destruction.

Nexus Recovery Center is a place to recover from addiction and learn life skills among adolescents who are struggling with the same problems.  These are young women who want to be good mothers – but just don’t know how to cope.  They most frequently have little education, were pregnant in their early teens and live in a culture where becoming a mother at an early age is, if not expected is accepted.

We continue to be rewarded by our contact with these adolescents.  They are young and strong and possess the ability to make changes to their lifestyle, which could become more difficult as they get older and are trapped in the cycle of addiction.  By the mere fact that their children are housed at the treatment center with them and receive classes from Dance To Live, albeit separate classes that are choreographed for their age group, they share a common healing experience with their mothers.

We are impressed as we work with the girls and their children to learn how to express feelings through movement,  support other young women in their class, appreciate what is being offered to  them, and voice love for members of their family who they know care about them.   The girls are young and hopeful, and because of this we know we can make a difference in their confidence, trust, strength (both physical and mental), and performance.  Accomplishments earned in the Dance To Live classes prepare them to succeed in other challenges.  If one can master a difficult Yoga pose, the balance required for that transcends into other aspects of their lives.  Exercise, expression, music, motion, release from daily struggles in a healthful setting - all these are tools for their future survival.

Thanks to all of you who have supported Dance To Live in its mission to provide movement as a healthy and effective method for a child to transcend the challenges of the moment and to work toward emotional and physical wellbeing. It is a means of expression, connection, co-operation, an outlet for emotion and a source of joy for children of all ages, backgrounds and physical abilities.