Dance Programs Empowering Youth

At the end of March, 2014 the DEA Educational Foundation launched a DEA Youth Dance Program at Lima North Middle to bring kids a positive and healthy activity at the end of the school day. This project was made possible through a very generous donation by Dizzy Feet Foundation to bring kids dance in memory of Cory Monteith, the young "Glee" actor who tragically lost his life to a drug overdose. The DEA Youth Dance Program is an outlet to help children to stay drugfree and to never go down the path of this type of tragedy.  Lima was of particular interest to Dizzy Feet because Cory’s last Glee series was filmed at a fictional high school in Lima, OH. As Lima is such a small, working-class city, the program launch proved to be one of the biggest events in the community history receiving extremely positive articles in the paper and news spots on TV. The DEA Youth Dance class is filled to capacity within less than one day, with over 60 applications coming in for a class of 25 students. The class is filled with half boys. Our partnering dance company heading up this project is Lyn's Dance Academy and they are very dedicated to this program.

The class, which is mostly filled with at-risk students from low-income families has had a tremendous impact on the students. “The opportunity to have a positive program build on the foundation of dance for our students will leave a lasting impact on their entire academic experience. The buzz that was generated after our opening assembly was so strong and uplifting in our building and was felt by all staff and students in attendance.” (Matt Quatman, Vice Principal, Lima North Middle)

On April 2^nd, even a greater opportunity for the students was presented. Dizzy Feet Foundation approached The DEA Youth Dance Program about having the Lima North students perform at the  Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala in Los Angeles on July 19^th, 2014. Although Dizzy Feet is unable to fund this venture, the DEA Educational Foundation felt they should do everything possible to make this opportunity a reality for the students.

The DEA Educational Foundation approved the use of funding to make this a reality for the DEA YDP students. All hotel rooms for the children and chaperones are being donated by a generous downtown Los Angeles hotel. And, due to the DEA Educational Foundation supporting this trip through operational funds, students will have the amazing experinece of performing on a Los Angeles stage and will see the largest U.S. city firsthand, likely a once in a lifetime opportunity. When parents of the students were informed, there were tears of joy. Additionally, the Vice Principal of Lima North Middle informed the DEA Educational Foundation that several of these students have never left Lima, OH.

Classes have begun to prepare the students for their performance and most will take their first plane ride and dip their toes in the ocean for the first time on July 18^th, 2014.

The DEA Educational Foundation Youth Dance Program relies on generous donations such as yours to help us to continue DEA Youth Dance Programs around the United States, as well as reach new schools on our ever-growing waitlist. Funds also assist with scholarships in dance, as well as very special projects such as the bringing the Lima group to Los Angeles to experience a trip of a lifetime. Thank you for your continued support!

Links:

• http://www.deaeducationalfoundation.org

The DEA Youth Dance Program has launched several new programs to meet the growing needs of communities around the United States. And, while we are thrilled to reach these new regions, our waitlist continues to grow to over one hundred locations.  New programs have begun in Baltimore, MD, Dallas, TX, Lima, OH, Dallas, TX, and Monterey, CA. Two additional programs will begin in Sioux City, IA and Tampa, FL by the end of April. These six new programs alone will reach thousands of children through assembly performances and 150 students in ten-week dance class series.

Here’s what a few of our principals had to say about the program:

• “The opportunity to have a positive program built on the foundation of dance for our students will leave a lasting impact on their entire academic experience. The buzz that was generated after our opening assembly was so strong and uplifting in our building felt by all staff and students in attendance.” –Matt Quatman, Assistant Principal Lima North Middle

• “Thank you again for your efforts in helping me organize this amazing assembly!  The kids are still talking about it!  I am truly looking forward to working with you and your amazingly talented dancers in the future. Never dreamed so many DEA officers would be at our school at one time.  You certainly made a wonderful impression on everyone!”  

           -Wendy Cottrell, Principal Our Lady of Victory School

The DEA Youth Dance Program, one of the largest programs under the DEA Educational Foundation, brings students dance as a positive and healthy alternative to drugs in 26 cities. In many of the cities, DEA field offices have gotten involved by having special agents coming out to visit and support students, and often speak to the children about the dangers of drugs to their bodies and to our society. 

As we look forward to summer, we are thrilled that DEA Youth Dance Program students have been invited to again perform as part of National Dance Day in July and that dozens of students will begin scholarships in dance throughout the United States.

Thank you to all of our supporters through Global Giving! We couldn’t reach our goals without you!

Links:

• DEA Educational Foundation

• YDP Article, Lima, OH (PDF)