Fostering Dreams

Fostering Dreams Project is a dance and performing arts program to empower, educate and inspire youth foster and at-promise youth in underserved communities. Our 8-week dance education programs are designed specifically for foster youth who are currently attending schools in Antelope Valley districts.

The program and curriculum include dance instruction, integrated academics (creative and expressive writing, workshops and guest speakers), social engagement (trips/tours), leadership and public performances. Students in Antelope Valley have limited access to arts education programming. Our curriculum increases students' proficiency in dance, improved academic performance, community engagement, and enriched learning.

Implementation of Fostering Dreams offers the school district and administration an opportunity to enhance its role as a leader in education, be an innovator in collaborative arts education and a change-maker for students in foster care.

Fostering Dreams presents a framework for leveraging dance as a vehicle for addressing the unique needs of youth in foster care, clearing a new path for learning, building confidence and a host of 21st-century skills, that can help foster youth be more successful in school. In exploring the well-being of vulnerable children and youth, our dance program improves social behavior, creative expression, academic success, real-world problem-solving, civic-engagement, and lifelong learning.

Our professional dance instructors have undergone Live Scan and training to work with foster youth, are college graduates and are influential in the dance industry working with A-list artists in entertainment. They provide inspiration and support by sharing personal stories about the impact of dance to turn their lives around and achieve success. Together we create a community that leads to long-lasting connections and support.

Direct Impact: 470

Indirect Impact: 2,000

Our vision is to be recognized nationally as a transformative dance education, performing arts program enriching the lives of our most underserved youth through creative self-expression. We aim to provide foster youth with exclusive opportunity to learn dance as a way of being more expressive, socially and academically engaged.

We want our students to see that they are bigger than their circumstances, by building confidence, creating community, and brighter futures to be successful in life.

While students achieve proficiency in hip-hop, salsa, and contemporary dance styles, they will also:

1) gain knowledge of the historical impact of dance on culture and society.

2) display increased competency in soft-skills, such as self-confidence, leadership, teamwork, self-awareness, motivation, self-expression, emotional wellbeing, cultural competence, and self-discipline.

3) courage and belief in themselves to learn choreography and perform for a live audience. This courage transcends into other areas of life.

A videographer is brought in to film the progress of the students during the 8-weeks and their final performance. On the last day of classes, students will watch their video and reflect on their progress and accomplishments and how far they've come during the program.

Additional Evaluations:

* On camera interviews: feedback from students and admin about the program.

* Journal Evaluation: qualitative evaluation measures to assess student progress in soft skill competencies, such as self-expression through writing, self-confidence, and emotional wellbeing.

* Start and End Surveys: The surveys will use quantitative and qualitative measures to assess student competency in the objectives and goals, before and after the program.

* Focus Group: FDP will assess students’ satisfaction with the program and gain targeted feedback for the program’s continued development.

Access to the LA2050 community

Host public events or gatherings

Communications support

Office space for meetings, events, or for staff

Capacity, including staff

Strategy assistance and implementation