DANCE NOT DRUGS (THE KENYAN- CANADIAN CONNECTION)

LEXXIE: IN A MAD WORLD,DANCE IS SERENITY....

Name: Lexis Bettie

Dance styles: contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, African

What does dance mean to you: in a mad world, dance is the serenity. It has the power to chance peoples, lives and fight inequalities. Dance gives me hope, so I dance to give hope to humanity.

lexis bettie during a performance looking sharp and enjoying it

Lexxie Bettie: NICE! I see you have a picture in your blog from break session, I performed in that at the German Institute and I remember seeing that guy perform! It was AWESOME!

LEX AND CIARA PERFORM AT  BREAKSESSION2012

When I sent lex a message on Facebook never thought she would even reply leave alone her replying with a sheng salutation, “Niaje (hey).” She is soft, accurate and though I have never seen her on stage you would think she can’t move inch-her humility is outright.

LEXXIE: IN A MAD WORLD,DANCE IS SERENITY

Okay about Heshima >>>

our main goal is EDUCATION. We divide our work into 3 sections:

1.    SPONSORSHIP: We provide formal education which involves getting youth enrolled in school whom, otherwise could have no opportunity. The youth we currently sponsor were street children, orphans or being raped and abused incorrupt orphanages. We also teach informal education in terms of breaking stereotypes that divide the human race, health, maintaining good values and staying on a positive track in life. We do mentoring with youth, and in heshima, the older youth also mentor the younger youth.

*COOL*

2.    SOCIAL LEADERSHIP: We work with youth in High Schools(mostly in Canada, but am hoping to bring this to Kenya sometime soon, once we get more people involved), tackling issues of children rights, poverty, developing leadership skills and how to make change in their communities.

*Awesome* and at this point I feel I should introduce some totally cool dancers.

Name: Winnie Wambui Kamau

Dance Style: I do Hip-Hop-Salsa.

What does dance mean to you: Dance is the use of body to express how you feel. Dancing is my all.

Name: Ciara Njeri

Dance Style: Hip-Hop, Salsa, African and Krump

What does dance mean to you: Dance to me brings life to every moment and I do it with full love to express the joy of having life itself.

FROM LEFT:LEXIS AND CIARA DURING A PERFORMANCE IN KENYA AT BREAKSESSION2012

3.    DANCE NOT DRUGS

This idea was developed by Winnie Kamau, and later joined by Ciara Njeri and Lexis Bettie (myself). Winnie was tired of seeing youth with so much potential, just in the streets of her hometown wasting away, becoming hopeless and resulting to drugs to feel some sort of hope or feeling in their body.   

THE SMILE OF HOPE AND DETERMINATION...THE BEAUTY OF DANCE

We want youth to feel the positive power of dance and how it can send positive vibes through every muscle and bone in our body. We want youth to  feel the positive power of dance rather than the negative power of drugs. To  do this, we will start meeting at-risk youth in towns across Kenya, and just start dancing with them to gain their trust and build confidence. 

 

UNITY OF PURPOSE THROUGH DANCE

we will also develop dance crews with girls from slums and as they grow, they will become recognized and get hired for different jobs(music videos, events etc).With the money, Dance not Drugs will enrol the crew members in school, an opportunity they would not have had otherwise. 

 

FLAUNT YOUR FLAG>>> DANCE IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF UNITY

We also teach dance classes in Canada, in a border town where drug trafficking between Canada and the USA is increasing at an alarming rate. Dance not Drugs has the potential to be Huge and Change so many people and it will ,if we have enough passionate people on board.

THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU DANCE RIGHT.MAKE EVERY MOVE COUNT