BALLET BRINGS JOY TO ABUSED KIDS

By Lindsey Bogan

I heard about Create Now through the newsletter they send out monthly to update the community on their programs. When I learned about the programs they offered, I was immediately interested in volunteering. I realized I could combine my skills and passions to invest in the children that Create Now reaches. They put me in contact with Hillsides, a residential facility for abused and neglected children in Pasadena, which is where I teach ballet.

On my first day at Hillsides, I was greeted by several wide-eyed 11 year olds, eager to learn a new skill and excited to simply have a visitor. I was immediately inspired by their eagerness to learn and their excitement to show me the steps I taught them. And I knew that because of my professional and personal background, I could make a positive impact on these young, aspiring artists who come from very difficult backgrounds.

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist. For the last four years I have worked at Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services with youths ages 15-25 years old. Most of the youth with whom I work are transitioning out of foster care, group homes, or the juvenile justice system. I hear their stories of rough backgrounds, of being passed from one place to another and their struggle to even keep track of all the places they have lived. Many of them have gone from foster homes to their biological parents, then again to a foster home, a group home, or psychiatric hospital.

One factor, above all others, led me to decide to volunteer with Create Now. While my clients may not know all of the addresses where they have lived, they do remember all of the people they have encountered. Sometimes they remember people in a positive light. But more often, the people who were supposed to care for and protect them the most have treated them so terribly that their stories could rival the worst nightmare.

For these clients, there have been very few positive influences from people that might encourage them to lead a healthy, productive life. I often wonder what might have become of their lives had they, as children, been invested in by a mentor and provided with healthy opportunities to express themselves. That is why I believe that ballet combined with the presence of a person who simply wants to bring out their creative side, could make a positive difference in the lives of Hillsides' youth.

Prior to becoming a therapist, I taught ballet for many years. As an adolescent, I trained with Pennsylvania Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and the School of American Ballet in New York. Prior to my training with these companies, my first ballet teacher was Cindy Trueblood, the owner of Civic Dance Center in Bakersfield. I am deeply grateful to the influence Cindy’s investment in me had on the rest of my life and the way that I view the world, so I have always tried to give some of that back to those who might need it. Throughout college I taught at a number of dance studios and ran programs that brought the arts to at-risk youth. I loved teaching and watching insecure and shy students grow into confident and graceful dancers. I watched as self-assurance increased in my students as they mastered a difficult step or skill. Ballet teaches self-discipline, encourages creativity, and exposes each of my students to a side they might not ever have had the opportunity to explore.

For six weeks, I have taught ballet classes at Hillsides. Each week I am met with new surprises, whether it is a class full of kids of all different ages, or only two 15-year-olds. The first week that I taught, many youth sat on the side and timidly watched. It is a wonderful experience to watch each of them grow in confidence and begin to participate. I now walk into the activities room each week and am met by many shouts of, “Hey, look at me. I practiced!”

I look forward to seeing my Hillsides dancers grow in confidence and self-discipline. I am excited to invest in them with the hope that they will someday invest in others as well. I truly enjoy being able to engage youth who are similar to my clients in a way that is completely different from how I interact with them at work.

Best of all, I am delighted that I can combine my passion of teaching ballet with my experience of working with youth from difficult backgrounds. I look forward to what my role and this program will encourage and implement in the future of the dancers; in confidence, self-discipline, and life pursuits.

Here’s what the kids have to say:

Gabby, age 11: “I like how they teach us how to do different things every Sunday.”

Jada, age 10, “I like how you teach us how to play ballet. I really like it and I really appreciate it. Thank you.”

Frankie, age 9, “It’s good. I like the jumping.”

Ashley, age 12, “I like when we turn around doing ballet. It’s really neat and I’m glad we have this time to learn it.”

Rehab Specialist Bridget Zamudio said, “The clients here use this Ballet Workshop as a coping mechanism and a healthy alternative, as well as an outlet. Most of these children unfortunately don’t have the means to cope and so this is a healthy way for them to express themselves. They enjoy it. They’re able to focus. They’re able to interact amongst each other in more appropriate manners and they appreciate everything from arts and crafts to the dancing, so we thank you for that.”