Voices Against Trafficking Releases First Book
Impeccable Research, Moving Testimonials, A Powerful Call for Collective Action Washington, DC. Voices Against Trafficking – The Strength of Many Voices Speaking As One compiles insights, stories, and frontline knowledge from trafficking survivors, human rights advocates, and journalists. Every chapter provides essential truths and advice that affirm a collective community can defeat the rising tide […]
From Tap Dance to Lap Dance – My Story of Exploitative Dance
From a very young age, I wanted to be a performer – a singer, a ballerina, a dancer, a star. I began at 4 years old in a tap-dancing class – we wore adorable little chickadee costumes and I remember feeling so special because my mom let me wear blush and red lipstick. My dad […]
A Dance Educator Speaks…
I have been coaching youth and young adults in the areas of Gymnastics, Cheerleading and Dance for the past 20 years. I have a degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Pedagogy, and Masters in Teacher Leadership and Development. I have worked in various different socioeconomic groups as well as a variety of inner-city youth […]
Boca Dance Studio
DA:NCE promotes safe, healthy children’s dance. This month we are highlighting Boca Dance Studio, located in Boca Raton, Florida. It is a healthy, thriving children’s dance studio It ensures child safety by training their teachers to follow the Safer StudioTM Policy Guidelines and are Safety and Wellness Certified by Youth Protection Advocates in Dance. It […]
Around the World with Confidance
One of the beautiful things about dance is its universality. I’ve had the incredible opportunity over the years to teach dance lessons, formally and spontaneously, all around the world: Italy, Spain, England, Singapore, the Philippines, Egypt, Israel, South Africa. It doesn’t matter where one goes, there’s a certain joy that dance brings out in people […]
DA:NCE Newsletter – September 2021
DA:NCE Newsletter – September 2021 CESE Summit: Healthy or Harmful: National Experts Talk About Children’s Dance by Mary BawdenThe NCOSE (National Center on Sexual Exploitation) CESE (Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation) Conference gives sight to the public health issue of pornography. Cultural blindness shifts as you hear, see, and understand experts from many academic fields […]
In His Steps
One of the goals of the DA:NCE is to highlight organizations we feel embody healthy dance. We are pleased to present: In HIS Steps, located in Pensacola, FL. “In HIS Steps” is a contemporary, Christian-based Dance Studio and Performing Arts Center offering professional instruction in ballet, pointe, lyrical, tap, hip-hop, Jazz, modern, and contemporary classes. […]
Navigating Hyper-sexualization and Abuse Through the Male Gaze
*Trigger Warning: This article discusses themes of Child Abuse* There are very few experiences in this life that stimulate the mind, body, and soul in the way that dancing does. Dance has the unique ability to speak in a way that words cannot, and impact us on a deeper emotional and spiritual level. Anyone who […]
A Pedophile’s Dream
Exactly a year ago, well into a pandemic that unleashed a spike in child sex abuse, Netflix released the film Cuties. The storyline centered on an 11-year-old Senegalese girl living in France who, like all preteens, struggles in defining her own identity while desperately seeking acceptance from her peers; in this case, a group of […]
DA:NCE Newsletter – May 2021
DA:NCE Newsletter – MAY 2021 What Do the Experts Say: DA:NCE releases 25 Short Media Spots by Mary BawdenCaring adults are the protective factors for children. There are choices to be made when you decide on a particular dance studio for your child. That is why DA:NCE created 25 short ‘expert’ spots for intentional dance […]