February 16 , 2007
Washington, DC—More than 60 students
from CityDance Ensemble’s D.R.E.A.M. program will
take center court to perform a dance routine during half-time
of the Washington Wizard’s basketball
game on Wednesday, March 28 at the Verizon
Center. Returning for the second year by invitation
from Washington Sports & Entertainment, 3rd – 6th
grade students from several local elementary schools will showcase
the talent they have developed throughout the year-long D.R.E.A.M.
program run by CityDance Ensemble’s Early Arts outreach
education division.
"The D.R.E.A.M. halftime reflects Abe Pollin's [Chairman & CEO
of Washington Sports & Entertainment] commitment to the
DC community and our commitment to great halftime entertainment," said Judy
Holland-Burton, Washington Sports & Entertainments
Senior Vice
President. "Our fans want to support our youngsters, and
these kids, coming from Wards 7 and 8, receive very few
opportunities to show what they can do. This is the second
year we've brought them onto the court for a halftime
show, and we're looking forward to seeing this larger
group, with more kids and more schools, out there. It's special
for them, and for us."
Now in its fourth year, the D.R.E.A.M. program (Dream, Research,
Evaluate, Action, Motivation) transforms the lives of at-risk
youth in then DC metropolitan area school through an after-school
arts and community building curriculum. The program will reach
more than 135 students this year
through performances and classes designed to empower children
to identify their dreams and gain the confidence and
self-esteem to pursue them. Each program consists of a kick-off
performance for the entire school by the CityDance
Early Arts Performing Company, a 24-week after-school
program that meets twice weekly, and a student performance
bringing together children from all the D.R.E.A.M. schools.
The D.R.E.A.M. students selected to perform at the Washington
Wizards game have been in rehearsal since late November in
the studios at the CityDance Center at Strathmore in
North Bethesda, Maryland. Leading rehearsals is local professional
dancer and choreographer Aysha Upchurch who
currently performs for CityDance’s Early Arts Dance Company
and instructs throughout the metropolitan area.
“It is an absolute joy to see these children work so
hard to achieve their goals,” notes Candice Webster, CityDance
Director of Education. “This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
to perform at the Washington Wizards game gives these students
a chance to extend their vision beyond just their classroom
or community and to realize what it feels like to succeed and
demonstrate their talent and achievements before a large crowd.
It’s truly a way to build their self-esteem and give
them hope for a promising future.”
During the 2006-2007 school year, the D.R.E.A.M. program is
operating in eight Washington, DC elementary schools: Green
and Garfield in Ward 8; C.W. Harris and Nalle in Ward 7; Maury
and J.O. Wilson in Ward 6; and Brightwood and Kingsbury Day
School in Ward 4. The program also operates in Charles Drew
Elementary in Silver Spring, Maryland and Tucker Elementary
in Alexandria, Virginia.
“Having the D.R.E.A.M. initiative at C.W. Harris for
the 3rd year has captured the minds, spirit, and body of our
boys and girls to focus their creative talents through movement
and dance, and more importantly to focus their thinking on
what they aspire to become and how they must plan in order
to reach their dream," comments Shirley Ambush, Principal
of C.W. Harris Elementary School. “One of the great opportunities
CityDance provides our students is participation in the Wizards'
half-time performance. Our students can barely contain their
excitement!”
The D.R.E.A.M program is sponsored by the Children & Youth
Investment Corporation and Comcast, as
well as the Mead Family Foundation, DC Commission on the Arts
and Humanities, Campagna Center, Arts and Humanities Council
of Montgomery County, Agriculture Credit Union, NIH Federal
Credit Union, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Meyer
Foundation, Cafritz Foundation, Marpat Foundation, Prince Charitable
Trusts, and Washington Sports & Entertainment.
In addition, Whole Foods Market has partnered
with CityDance as the exclusive snack provider for the D.R.E.A.M.
program, donating more 6,000 snacks to students participating
in the program.
About CityDance Ensemble, Inc.
CityDance Ensemble, Inc. is the parent organization to CityDance
Ensemble, an award-winning contemporary repertory
dance company; Early Arts, an arts outreach
program for youth serving more than 25,000 students each year; CityDance
Education Centers, facilities committed to excellence
in dance training for youth and adults; and FilmWORKS, a
creator and presenter of dance-on-camera. The mission of CityDance
Ensemble, Inc. is to advance the appreciation for and participation
in the art of dance through excellence in performance, education,
film, and artistic innovation.
