A Residential Shelter for Adolescent Drug Addicts

Dance To Live continues to conducted 4 classes per month at the Nexus Recovery Center.  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.

Nexus Recovery Center is a place to recover from addiction and learn life skills among adolescent females who are all struggling with the same problem.  These are young women who want to be good mothers – but just don’t know how to cope.  Frequently, they’ve had 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 are impressed as we facilitate the girls and their children to learn how to express feelings through movement, support other young women in their group, appreciate what is being offered to  them, and voice love and gratitude 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.

We continue to be rewarded by our contact with these adolescents.  They are young and strong and possess the ability and the desire to make changes to their lifestyle.  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.

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.