By Naysia Phifer
We have finally reached our mark! We’re in the last week of the Step Ahead program! The students and the staff here at the program have been working diligently these last six weeks and are continuing to carry out the hard work that has been put into this program. Last week, 17 students were chosen to go on a trip to New York. While in New York, the students had the opportunity to take a private class at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and see the show Stomp. I had the chance to get the students’ reaction from their trip to the Big Apple.
Rodney Mackey, a Step Ahead student, had the honor of attending the trip to New York. “It was my first time in Times Square. I loved New York,” he said. Another student, Shanice Wright, was also exhilarated to go to New York and share her reaction to the trip. “In our dance class at Ailey, the teacher kept telling us to be ourselves and just dance like no one is watching.” Both students enjoyed their trip and plan on applying their experience in New York to reach their life goals.
Now here we are in the last week of the program and all the students are excited for what this show has to offer for them and their guardians. We will remember our relationship, networks, and lifelong skills that were taught to us throughout the course of this program. I would like to thank the staff of the Joy of Motion Dance Center Atlas and Quynn Johnson, Program Manager, Education and Outreach, for giving the students, teachers, and interns the opportunity to chase our dreams and to become future leaders in our families, communities, and country.
Want to learn more about Step Ahead? Visit our website or join us this Friday at the Atlas Performing Arts Center for the Step Ahead Concert.
