D.A.R.E. Dance in the news

Devin

D.A.R.E. Dance is an after school program for middle school students. It has been successful in giving these students something fun and active to do after school as well as help them improve their dance skills. Devin, an eighth grader at Perry Middle School, has been a part of the D.A.R.E. Dance program for two years.

Devin and his friends were trying to find a way to start a dance team at his school, when they heard about the D.A.R.E. Dance Program. Before the program, Devin had never had any training in dance, but he had done hip hop, his favorite style, since he was five. He became very involved with the program and enjoyed going to the classes. “I just enjoyed the fun, the people. Now its like were just a big family.” says Devin. D.A.R.E. Dance had become a place for him to do what he loved and grow closer to people who shared the same enthusiasm for dance.

Devin’s mother, Tenisha, began to notice that being a part of the program had a positive affect on Devin’s grades, determination, and overall attitude. “He knows exactly what he wants to do,” Tenisha says, “He’s so focused on it and determined to better himself.” Even Devin noticed a difference in his grades from when he was in D.A.R.E. Dance and when he wasn’t.

Devin’s interest in dance has only grown since his experience with the program. He and his mother decided to apply to a high school called Baltimore School for the Arts, where Devin could expand his dancing abilities. After an audition at BSA, they found that he had potential to do much more with dance. Devin was one of 110 students that were accepted out of 1300 who auditioned. BSA is one of the top ten high schools in the area and it accepts about twenty-five percent of students from out of town, Devin being one of them. Tenisha has been very supportive throughout the process and has already started making the move to Baltimore so that Devin can attend BSA.

Devin’s story has inspired many of the people he knows, including teachers and students at his school. “The first person I told about the school was my 7th grade math teacher and he actually posted it up on the wall,” says Devin. He has truly shown that success is possible through hard work and faith in what he wants to do. After completing high school at BSA, Devin plans to apply for Julliard or maybe become a dance teacher.

With the support of the D.A.R.E. Dance Program and his mother, Devin has come so far, only to keep moving in the direction of his dreams.

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