Picture from www.theyearindanced.blogspot.com of Julie Sunderland with kids from one of Cincinnati Ballet’s Outreach Programs. |
Last Monday, I was able to be there for the
very first day of the 2014 Faces without Places Yellow Bus Summer Camp and I
stood off to the side as the campers got off the bus. I saw many nervous faces
and closed off body language, some heads down and scuffling feet. I tried to
draw out some smiles with silly antics and high fives as we lined up in the playground,
getting ready for Movin’ It, but to little avail. Movin’ It is the first things
the kids do every day when they get to camp, learning dance moves or exercise
routines from a volunteer to get their hearts pumping and to clear their minds.
So the nervous kids and staff in bright yellow shirts lined up with their eyes
on Julie Sunderland with the Cincinnati Ballet. Her energy and sunshine that
morning seeped into the kids and I saw their eyes brightening as she led them
through some fun dance moves to the song “Happy” by Pharrell. While trying to
keep up with Julie and the kids, my eyes scanned the group and I felt so happy
to see the nervousness melting away. The kids threw themselves into spinning,
twirling, leaping and dancing, forgetting their worries and breaking into
smiles and laughter. Julie has the amazing ability of helping kids (and
adults!) to dance and be silly and let loose, while still learning and
following directions. The point of Movin’ It is to teach kids who may be going
through a lot of transition that movement and exercise is necessary to our
health and ability to do well in school and life, but it is also fun! We would
like to share our appreciation for Julie for being a wonderful example of this
for the kids, some of whom are still practicing the dance at local family
shelters and have definitely caught the dance bug from her. Thank you Julie!
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