Two MSU grads turn dance program in Brightmoor into community affair
Viva, Brightmoor. The once forgotten neighborhood so full of abandonment and decay people called it “Blightmoor” is finally getting the attention it deserves.
The city and non-profits are targeting vacant homes and illegally dumped trash. Community groups are turning vacant lots into urban farms. Meanwhile, two young women have been quietly volunteering their time to plant a different kind of seed in hearts of the area’s youth.
They’ve started a dance school.
It's not in a fancy studio with sprung wood floors and mirrors on every wall. It's not supported by going-rate tuition. But it's taking hold in the recreation room of the Brightmoor Community Center and its roots are spreading.
In its first three years, without fanfare, D.A.N.C.E. Inc., has grown from 10 students to 80, moved from a small church room to the community center, and pretty soon it will need more space for its varied menu of courses that include ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, tumbling, liturgical, lyrical and modern dance. It’s dancers are consistent winnershttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png at regional and national competitions.
D.A.N.C.E. Inc. is an acronym for Developing and Nurturing Community Empowerment. What a mouthful. The kids just call it "Dance Inc."
