Nearly 2,000 young people in Santa Barbara are considered at risk to join a gang, and the average age of a local gang member is 14. Youth face ongoing peer pressure with violence and gangs, drugs and alcohol, body image, etc. Everybody Dance Now! addresses an important need by motivating, engaging, and mentoring 750 of SB’s most vulnerable youth through a healthy outlet: DANCE.

We are run by an 18 year-old Executive Director who founded EDN! when she was 14, a 17 year-old Managing Director, and a passionate, dedicated team of youth.

Everybody Dance Now! (EDN!) has offered free, weekly dance classes to over 750 underprivileged children and teens in Santa Barbara. The organization was founded by a 14 year-old in 2005 and continues to be run entirely by youth. We currently offer 10-12 dance classes per week.

EDN! strives to help students C*R*E*A*T*E*:
*Cultivate self-esteem and self-value *Respect their bodies and establish healthy lifestyles *Express themselves and channel energy through creative alternatives *Achieve goals perseveringly and maintain a positive attitude through challenges *Take part in consistent programming that promotes friendship and a sense of belongingness *Expand their perspectives through community service and cultural learning

WE OFFER:
Positive Alternatives In the face of escalating gang presence where nearly 2,000 young people in Santa Barbara are considered at-risk to join a gang and the average age of local gang members is 14, we provide healthier outlets for self-expression.
In May 2008, we held two master classes with Tommy the Hip-Hop Clown, a former convict who became the legendary pioneer of the inspirational dance movement and worldwide phenomenon known as “krumping.” 120 children from gang-affected neighborhoods, as well as 80 additional teenaged and adult dancers, participated.
In Nov. 2007, we brought to our students Buck World One, a group of teenaged African-American dancers and poets from San Bernadino who channel their energy through a type of krump dance called “buck.” They shared the message: “If you get mad, instead of getting into trouble, get buck.”

Service Learning
EDN! is committed to encouraging today’s youth to become active and aware citizens in their local communities and in the world. While the underserved are often on the receiving end of support, EDN! enables them to discover the self-value and joy that comes from giving back by providing them with ongoing opportunities to perform for retirement homes, non-profit fundraisers, and various other community events.

Cultural Awareness
Each quarter, we expose our students to a cultural dance style from a different part of the world. We have had classes in Latin, Brazilian, West African, Indian (Bollywood), Tahitian hula, and swing dance. Through the educational components of dance, we promote diversity and expand young people’s minds and worldviews.

Pre-Professional Dance Exposure
In Feb., 2009, we created a performance dance troupe for our most dedicated, talented, and passionate students. Participants practice two hours each weekend, honing their skills and technique in a broad range of dance styles. They perform in the community 1-3 times per month, take master classes with prestigious teachers from Los Angeles, learn how to choreograph, and experience dance career guidance from seasoned professionals – all free of charge.
We also connect interested students with studio scholarships through the Arts Mentorship Program, and we expose them to pre-professional teenaged dancers with SB Dance Alliance’s ON THE VERGE: Teen Choreographer’s Showcase.

Socio-Emotional Learning
For years, EDN! has instrinsically built character in its students. Now, in an effort to directly cultivate values, we are developing a socio-emotional curriculum beginning in fall, 2009. Segments of our classes will be dedicated to themes like: being perseverent, supporting one another, trying new things, maintaining an open mind, giving 100% effort, respecting one’s self and others, living healthily, and doing acts of kindness. Leadership skills begin in our youth, and by nurturing core values we strengthen the fabric of our communities and create a better future for us all.

Our students have said:
“When I dance, I feel free.” – Vanessa, Franklin School
“By dancing I express myself. When I dance, I feel that nobody can stop me!” – Debbie, Franklin School
“When I dance, I feel confident and I feel like anything is possible.” – Stephanie, Franklin School

EDN! began when a high school sophomore and 2 high school juniors began to teach 3 dance classes per week at a local after-school program for low-income youth. More youth organizations found out about the program and asked us to teach at their sites. Soon, our founder, Jackie, realized that the program could be more sustainable and could engage more professional teachers if she could pay them for her time. She began to write grants to make this possible, and she has since written over 20 grant applications. EDN! has grown to an organization that functions under Santa Barbara Dance Alliance's 501c3 nonprofit status and has served over 750 children at 20 community locations.

What's next for EDN!?
We are continuing to teach 8 classes per week this year at various after-school programs. We are also hoping to increase our programming for junior high students. After 3 years of planning with the school board, Police Activities League (PAL) has begun to offer programming directly on 4 junior high campuses, and EDN! is the first outside organization they’ve asked to join them. This partnership will enable us to reach a crucial age group in which youth are facing a lots of peer pressure and beginning to make tough life choices.

We simply need the funds to do this! This quarter, we had to turn down almost a dozen sites that wanted EDN! classes. This doesn’t include the 4 junior high schools we could potentially expand to with PAL, teaching 2 classes per week at each. We are actively fundraising to make our goals possible!

Also, we are focusing on cultivating values directly rather than just intrinsically. Segments of our classes will now be dedicated to themes like: being perseverant, supporting one another, trying new things, giving 100% effort, living healthily, and doing acts of kindness. At our first fall teacher training, we presented a 5-week socio-emotional curriculum. Our teachers loved it and added additional ideas. We will officialize our 10-wk curriculum by Jan. 2010 and hold a teachers’ retreat at that time.

Eventually, we want to create a system to build EDN! franchises in other cities nationally & internationally (also inspired by Boot Camp session on Expansion and Extension). Contact us if you are interested!

For our Santa Barbara branch, we are continually welcoming dedicated and passionate new teachers and assistants to our team, seeking funding, reaching out to form new partnerships with community organizations, and growing and improving in whatever ways possible!

Around the country and the world, we are looking for reliable, passionate, enthusiastic, and hardworking people who would like to start EDN! franchises in their cities. Talk to us if you are interested!

There are many additional ways that you can get involved...

Contact:
Jackie Rotman, Founder & Executive Director
jackierotman@gmail.com
(805) 453-3826

Alina Wattenberg, Managing Director
alinaw@everybodydancenowsb.org
(805) 689-7053

www.everybodydancenowsb.org