Dance for Foster Youth

dance Luisa Macias has a challenging day job that requires great compassion and strength of character. She is a social worker with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). For the past 15 years, she has been in charge of removing abused, neglected, and abandoned children from their homes

Luisa needed a creative outlet. With a Masters Degree in dance therapy and a lifelong passion for the art form, she decided to create Studio Danza, a boutique dance studio in Whittier that caters to people wanting dance in their lives.

When Luisa learned about us at a conference on foster youth, she offered to teach free dance classes at her studio to any foster kids interested in learning. The response was overwhelming. Participants included girls from Optimist Youth Home in Eagle Rock and Allen's Teen Home Care in Covina. "I have foster kids that come to two different classes. They never miss a day," Luisa comments. "Having them dancing at the studio has been a blessing to me."

The girls at Allen's Teen Home Care joined Luisa's class in mid-August. They learned how to do a hip hop dance. The highlight was a performance at a festival in the City of Bell. With a huge crowd watching, the girls received an enthusiastic response from the audience, and as always, gift bags from us.

Linda Allen, owner of Allen's Teen Home Care group home, said, "Since attending this dance program, all of the girls' self-confidence has increased. Their self-esteem has improved and their overall motivation has excelled. They are more considerate of each other and teamwork, as well as sportsmanship, has improved."

Linda shares, "Two of my girls are from Japan and Cambodia. They've always been extremely shy and withdrawn, but after participating in this dance workshop, they've totally come out of their shells. The transformation is amazing!"

Luisa remarks, "I have seen some of the girls' body language evolve from shy and uncomfortable to open and confident. Many of them are more talkative and there seems to be a lot more laughter in the studio."

Here's what some of the girls had to say:

"I am happy that I took the dance class. It was fun and I relax more when I dance." - Carmen

"I always wanted to join a dance studio. It turned out to be fun for me." - Annette

"I learned how to be respectful to others and speak up." - Niesiia

"I discovered creative things and we all came together and worked as a team." - Amanda