Dance Builds Lives^TM

Culture Central has created a program that will help women address physical, psychological and mental awareness in an attempt to keep them from starting or relapsing into the negative behavior that lead them down the path of incarceration. The program based on dance movement is called Dance Builds Lives^TM (DBL) and will help address the needs of women of color who have or have recently been incarcerated and women who are in drug recovery. Music and dance have been and continue to be integral components of the social fabric of black communities through out the Diaspora. The African American community has a rich dance heritage that is reflected in all aspects of life from strictly social activity to religious and spiritual life. Therefore, movement to music and dance will seem familiar and comforting to the program participants.

Through the use of dance movement Culture Central will provide the tools for the women to gain and develop better awareness and respect for their bodies, and to help develop healthier life styles. Dance movement programs incorporate dance classes with an instructor who will teach the participants the history, songs/language, costuming and custom for the dance. These classes will be taught by experienced practitioners whose skills include working with special populations.

Because many incarcerated, formerly incarcerated and/or women in recovery are also mothers there are a great number of children who are also effected by the increased rates of incarceration of women through separation from their mothers. The children of incarcerated women also suffer from self esteem issues and are often at greater risk of abuse. An added benefit of DBL is that its selected professionals have working experience with both adults and children. Culture Central envisions that the DBL program can also be helpful to the children of these women.
Read our full report and program description (pdf document download)

Donate Directly to our Dance Builds Lives Program