They started a weekly program at the Halifax County Boys and Girls club to give kids the opportunity to dance that may not otherwise have the opportunity due to financial or family hardships. Most freshman girls are worried about dances, and sports, and boyfriends, and schoolwork, but these girls also have something else on their mind, giving back to their community.

When Toni Darden (freshman at KIPP) went to the board at the Halifax County Boys and Girls Club and pitched the idea; Free dance lessons and a show at the end of the season for the parents was the goal, after hearing what she had to say Kim Teresco, director of the Boys and Girls Club, loved the idea and granted her permission to move forward.

Toni, Mackenzie Moody (freshman at KIPP), and Alexis Carter (freshman at RRHS) got together and came up with a plan to move forward with the program. Kids signed up, the parents at the Boys and Girls club got permission slips, shoes were donated locally, Recital t-shirts have been donated for all the students, and time had been preserved on a weekly basis for them to hold the class.

On their first night, tonight (Monday) they started with almost 30 students on the first night with children in ages from 5 to 15, and they were excited. They plan to teach a jazz routine and a hip hop routine, work on it all season and give the parents and Boys and Girls club a show and celebration at the end of the season.

“My daughter has looked forward to this dance class since she brought the flyer home last week” a mother told Elrena Darden at the first practice. The kids all had fun and worked hard to impress their teachers.

Toni Darden is the daughter of Tony & Elrena Darden, Alexis is the daughter of Tommy & Angel Carter and Mackenzie is the daughter of Marvin Moody Sr and Judge Vershenia B Moody.