Any dancer knows that dance and physical movement improves quality of life, but for children who live on the street in post-conflict countries, one organization is using dance to literally save lives. MindLeaps is a unique organization focused on helping underserved youth transition from a life on the streets to a stable life in school or in the workplace—and they do it with a unique three-step approach:
- Dance
- Vocational training
- Youth advancement
While it may seem unusual to start with dance, it’s the key to connecting with the kids—and the first step to changing their lives.
“Dance is used as an entry point to the development of a street child’s mind. Kids come off the streets and into our center to attend a “fun dance class”, but in reality, this is a carefully crafted curriculum focused on developing 11 mental skills – ranging from concentration to retention and recall of information. This training ‘catches up’ the street children to a normal level of cognitive development while shaping their behavioral transformation from aggression and survival to optimism and discipline,” the organization says.
Based on their experiences with the dance class, the children become comfortable with a structured learning environment. This makes it easier for them to pursue their vocational training, often learning valuable computer skills or language skills that will allow them to gain employment. From there, students who are particularly adept at learning are given a scholarship to a boarding school, getting them off the streets and into a productive environment.
The organization was founded by Rebecca Davis, a Russian-trained ballet dancer, who began traveling to post-genocide countries in 2008 to examine the effects of ethnic conflict and the steps towards reconciliation. It was during this time that she discovered that street children showed a deep love of dance. Upon returning to the U.S., Davis decided to turn this natural inclination into a positive path to independence. Check out more of her story in her Ted Talk:
Based on its success, MindLeaps hopes to replicate the model in many more countries around the world—and we can’t wait to see them do it. To find out more, check out their site.
Love dance as much as us? Tune into NBC’s World of Dance May 30th at 10/9 central and watch the world’s best dancers battle it out for a whopping $1 million prize. Don’t miss exclusive interviews, performances, and more from the definitive source for all things NBC World of Dance.
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