Student brings ballet dancers to schools

Most people associate ballet dancing with theaters and opera halls. But College sophomore Amanda Keith is trying to bring the classical dance form to the classroom. She founded a program called "Dance in Schools" that she hopes will help Philadelphia high school students learn about ballet. "Ballet makes me feel, makes me care," she said. "It drives me and inspires me with such passion. It's so beautiful that I want people to feel that way too." On Friday, Keith's program became a reality when she brought Tamara Hadley and William de Gregory, two principal dancers from the Pennsylvania Ballet, to an art history class and a gym class at Central High School. The dancers said they would like to attract a younger audience. "We need younger people to come in and be our ticket buyers," said Hadley. "The media is so saturated with pop culture, like new rap, that the ballet just doesn't get coverage." De Gregory discredited the myth that only effeminate men perform ballet by telling the students about professional football players who become involved in ballet. Herschel Walker, a running back for the Philadelphia Eagles, worked with the Dallas Ballet, De Gregory said. He added that Lynn Swann, a former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is now a member of the Pittsburgh Ballet Board. The faculty said the program is a very important part of the student's education. Philadelphia health and physical education teacher Gloria Toxey Jones, who also is the cheerleader and pep squad coach, said she believes dance pervades every part of one's life. She added it is important to relate to dance so that people can appreciate it. "I think it's important because it introduces them to other aspects of art, not just to the finished product," she said. "Physical activity is important in every aspect of life. Most kids can relate to sports. It helps them to understand that dance is something everyone can learn." But Keith is no stranger to this type of program. She actually had similar experiences in high school in San Francisco. During high school, Keith wrote two articles featuring three top ballet dancers from the San Francisco Ballet. She said her work on these stories spurred her to actually bring dancers into her high school to talk to students. Keith also said she hopes to expand her project to other high schools and maybe even to the University, but she is still waiting to hear about funding from administrators. Friday's program, deemed a success by Central High School staff, was funded by the high school and Keith herself. She said she is looking for more University students to help her with her crusade to educate young people. The high school student reactions ranged from outright ignorance to active interest. Some said they respected the art form, while others said they were indifferent. "It's a type of art, and they express themselves in dance," said Central High School 11th grader Kijnanya Bush. "You can understand what they're saying through their dancing. They express themselves without talking."