Douglass Students Get Inspired Through Dance

Every other month on the final Friday students and staff at Douglass Alternative School participate in “Foundation Friday.”  They select films, activities, or lessons that students can take part in to motivate them to do better and overcome odds.  In January, special guest Timothy Jones, a former coach of the UD and UPENN ballroom dance teams and the recipient of numerous awards, visited Douglass to share his expertise. This tied in with the viewing of the film “Take the Lead” starring Antonio Bandaras and Rob Brown. In the movie, a charismatic ballroom dance instructor takes on the job of trying to communicate and inspire his students through ballroom dance, which provides a different kind of dance experience building on foundations already established.  This movie was a great way to illustrate how we can use pre-existing experiences to motivate, encourage, and ultimately inspire young people to go beyond what they know and enjoy a different experience. The Foundation Friday event focused on three key words: inspire, enthusiasm, and diversity.