Education United States Project #10083

Dance Programs Empowering Youth

by DEA Educational Foundation Youth Dance Program

Project Report | Dec 23, 2015
The DEA Youth Dance Program Fall Finale

By Jill L. Roberts | National Director, DEA YDP

Student speaks about impact of the YDP on her life

On October 8^th, 2015, the DEA Educational Foundation held an event at the Jonathan Beach Club, Santa Monica, CA called “The DEA Experience." Guests had the opportunity to visit various stations to learn and engage in hands-on experiences to see the daily global work of the DEA and the DEA Educational Foundation in their community. The stations included: The Threat Next Door: Emerging Trends; Do You Have What it Takes to be a DEA Special Agent, The DEA Youth Dance Program, Lives Lost Too Soon; Costs and Consequences; Exploring Science; Hope in Recovery; Real Facts about Drugs and a community chat room where they provided feedback and ideas to us.

DEA Youth Dance Program students from Emerson Elementary School led by teacher Stephanie Reed were on hand to showcase their dancing and to talk about what the DEA YDP means to them. Fancy Feet Dance Studio, who assisted with a fundraiser early in 2015 to sponsor an entire school program in Los Angeles, attended with their youth dance company who performed throughout the evening. Also, DEA YDP partnering dance company Culture Shock LA amazed guests with their precise and athletic hip-hop choreography. American Crime actress Penelope Ann Miller attended the event to show her support of the DEA Youth Dance Program. Because of this event the community learned a great deal more about the impact of the DEA Youth Dance Program and many contributed to assist with 2016 programs.

Also, this fall, the DEA Youth Dance Program launched programs in 35 cities nationwide, bringing dance to thousands of students as a positive alternative to drugs and violence. Although each state has its own unique story, The DEA Youth Dance Program has had an exceptionally exciting fall in Texas. The program welcomes a new Regional Manager, Dance Educator Jodi Obeid, to the state. The Youth Dance Program has been working to put great dance companies in place in Austin, Houston, and Dallas. In Austin we are now working with a Contemporary Dance Company- the Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company. The company kick off performance at Northwest Elementary School was so well received by students and staff, the school has asked us to teach two classes per week for their school to meet student demand and seeking funding to help us implement two classes permanently. The first class is with our 3^rd and 4^th graders is up and running and the second class will start with 5^th and 6^th graders in early 2016. The principal of this school is so excited and supportive of this program that he would like to help us find more funding in the future!

In Houston this year we are working with two wonderful dance companies that are new to the DEA YDP. Intuitive West African Dance and Drum Culture is a dynamic African dance company, who launched for us our first professional company performance with our students in Houston this year. They were so well received! The second company is the Houston Ballet. We will begin to work with their dynamic outreach instructors this spring. The Houston Independent School District is assisting the DEA YDP to locate new schools to build the program this spring and next fall. We also hope to develop scholarship programs in this region this year. Stay tuned for spring updates about the Dallas region as well!

As we near the end of the year, we thank our Global Giving donors for helping us to bring the DEA Youth Dance Program to so many deserving children across the United States in 2015. In 2016 we will reach even more kids as we continue to expand to new U.S. cities and South America. More information to come! Thank you for your support and Happy New Year!

Student performers at "The DEA Experience" event

Emerson kids perform at "The DEA Experience"

Links:

DEA Educational Foundation

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Sep 29, 2015
DEA Youth Dance Program Swings out of Summer and Moves into Fall

By Jill L. Roberts | National Director, DEA Youth Dance Program

DEA YDP Students Perform at National Dance Day

The DEA Youth Dance Program had a fun and productive summer building new programs and strengthening current ones. We are thrilled to be launching programs in 35 cities this year, reaching thousands of students nationwide. This fall, students will be treated to a performance by local, professional dance companies, inspiring these students as they begin their own dance journey through The DEA Youth Dance Program. We can’t wait to see how these children thrive and grow with the opportunity of a positive after-school alternative to drugs and violence.

Once again, the Dizzy Feet Foundation invited The DEA YDP to participate in their incredible homage to dance on National Dance Day on Saturday July 24, 2015! Students from Tyler Elementary, under the helm of our DEA YDP partners ClancyWorks and Culture Shock D.C., did an incredible performance at the Kennedy Center. Across the country at Grand Park in Los Angeles, DEA YDP instructor Stephanie Reed led students from Emerson Elementary in an equally phenomenal performance. The DEA Youth Dance Program is very proud of all our dancers for sharing their talents. Thank you to the Dizzy Feet Foundation for featuring our program, and for all their work bringing attention to dance as an expressive, positive way to stay healthy!

On October 8^th, 2015, The DEA Youth Dance Program will be participating in The DEA Experience, led by The DEA Educational Foundation and the DEA LA Field Office. This fun community event at the Jonathan Beach Club in Santa Monica will feature many aspects of The DEA Educational Foundation’s important work, including The DEA Youth Dance Program. Dancers from a local school, Culture Shock Los Angeles, and Fancy Feet Dance Studio will perform at this event to show how our program is one key in the prevention of drug-use and violence.

As always, we are so thankful to you, our donors, for helping us bring our message and the power of dance to students across the country. With your support, we will continue to meet the growing waitlist of over 100 locations eager to expose their impressionable youth to the art of dance!

DEA YDP Students Perform at National Dance Day

Links:

DEA Educational Foundation

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Jun 29, 2015
DEA YDP 2015 Spring Finale, Global Spotlight and Summer Activities!

By Jill L. Roberts | National Director, DEA Youth Dance Program

Scholarship Student Shaun, WA

The DEA Youth Dance Program has just finished another successful school year ending in 35 cities nationwide with thousands of children culminating their programs with schoolwide and community assemblies. Scholarships at local dance studios were awarded to students who exemplified dedication, teamwork and improvement.

A young student, Shaun, of Auburn, Washington is a stunning example of how the DEA Youth Dance Program can inspire change through its programs. Shaun was once an introverted kid who shied away from most social interactions, until that is, he found the DEA Youth Dance Program. As a 5^th grader, Shaun decided to sign up for the free after school dance classes and after finishing the program he received a generous scholarship from DEA YDP and the local dance company, Auburn Dance Academy. Shaun continued with his classes, taking a class once a week at the studio. In time, with his newly found confidence, he auditioned for the company's youth performance team, and he made it! Shaun, now 13 and in 7^th grade has performed for thousands of people, including hundreds of potential DEA YDP students in Washington state and at Nationals in Las Vegas. Shaun’s mom shared, “He has found a passion that I have never seen in him before, this will change his life forever. He wouldn't have done any of this without the program."

In other exciting news, The DEA Educational Foundation and DEA Youth Dance Program was highlighted in front of 100 countries early in June at the 32nd International Drug Enforcement Conference, hosted by DEA and the Columbian National Police in Columbia, South America. The program was shown as a positive and healthy alternative to drug use and key prevention program for youth and within schools. Since the conference, several countries have shown interest in implementing the DEA YDP program abroad.

The DEA Youth Dance Program also looks forward to participating in National Dance Day on July 25^th with Dizzy Feet Foundation who started National Dance Day as a campaign to encourage Americans to embrace dance as a fun and positive way to maintain good health and fight obesity. Dizzy Feet (A non-profit established by creators and judges of So You Think You Can Dance) has invited DEA YDP to perform at the Music Center in Los Angeles and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. National Dance Day was established to bring communities together by allowing audiences to see, learn and participate in choreography and movement and to bring public awareness of the importance of dance to the United States and beyond.

YDP at IDEC

Links:

DEA Educational Foundation

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