Step Ahead is Joy of Motion Dance Center’s free summer dance training and job skills program for DC teens. This engaging and productive arts experience takes place at our Atlas studio location each summer. This year’s program started last Monday, July 1 and will culminate with a performance on Friday, August 9. Read the Week 1 recap from one of our Step Ahead interns and donate today to support this program:

Hello, my name is Antoinette Lemons I am an intern for the 2013 Step Ahead program. I attend Morgan State University majoring in Business Administration. I am also a Step Ahead Alumni. Last week’s experience at Joy of Motion Dance Center was very surreal because it was the first week for the Step Ahead Program. All of the 49 students were very excited to dance and it made me excited for them. I was enthused to watch the students start their dance process.

Step Ahead started last week and the students experienced various types of dances such as Ballet, Afro Jazz, Hip Hop and West African. The dancers also experienced ASA! which is an upbeat workout that has a combination of West, Central, East, and South African dance mixed with aerobics. Overall, I am very excited to see what the future holds for the Step Ahead program.