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Aug 6, 2009 3:19 pm US/Eastern
Free Summer Dance Camp Teaches More Than Dance
Nicole Maristany
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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A special dance camp in Miami-Dade teaches respect and responsibility along with dance.
CBS
Self-esteem, self-respect, and self-confidence are just some of the things a new South Florida camp is teaching students, and the best part: it's all free. For the first time ever in Miami, the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation is offering a summer dance camp in collaboration with the Adrienne Arsht Center.
The AileyCamp teaches 80 Miami-Dade middle school students from low income families ballet, modern, jazz, and West African dance.
But, there's a "twist" for campers. Not only do they learn how to dance, but they also take a personal development and creative communication class where they learn conflict resolution, drug prevention, and nutrition.
"It's important because it gives the opportunity for children and kids like me that really don't have the money to get in a dance studio or something" said camp participant Debhorha Guerra.
This four week full scholarship program provides a creative outlet for at-risk children who are at a crucial transition period in their lives.
"They give you respect, they teach you how to say thank you when people give you things, and it's a lot of good stuff going on" said camp participant Johnny Wright.
Camp director Natasha DeVaughn-Rigby believes it's about building them up as people.
"It's learning about new identities, new communities, new dance language, and incorporating the Ailey spirit through the art of dance to make it a universal language" said Alvin Ailey camp director, Natasha DeVaughn-Rigby.
Campers and counselors alike say that funders play a crucial role in the program since most of these kids would not be here if they had to pay for it. Debhora Guerra sums it up this way, "It helps us express ourselves in a place where is free and you get everything you need."
If you'd like to help keep summer camps like this one open, call Neighbors 4 Neighbors at 305-597-4404 orÂ
click here.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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