Newswise — The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Education has launched a new summer program designed to teach ballroom dancing to inner city teens in the Birmingham area. The program is called "Dance 4 Health." As part of the program, more than 50 teens selected from the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club are receiving ballroom dance instruction this summer three times a week for six weeks.
The goal of "Dance 4 Health" is to raise awareness among inner city teens about the importance of exercise and healthy diets, said "Dance 4 Health" principle investigator UAB Assistant Professor Tamilane E. Blaudeau, Ph.D., from the UAB School of Education's Department of Human Studies.
The dance instructors include Sterling Burroughs from Champion Latin & Ballroom in Vestavia Hills and Blaudeau who, in addition to being a researcher, is a top pro-amateur ballroom dancer.
UAB "Dance 4 Health" also will provide teens with health assessments and classes on how to make healthier food choices. The UAB program is supported with a $13,000 grant from the Coca-Cola Foundation. UAB is among the six nonprofit agencies in Alabama to win grants from the foundation to develop programs that encourage Alabama children and teens to be more active.
The Coca-Cola Foundation is a philanthropic arm of the Coca-Cola Co. Since its inception, the foundation has contributed nearly $300 million to help build sustainable communities worldwide through initiatives related to water stewardship, active healthy living, community recycling, education, arts and culture and civic affairs.
About UABThe UAB Department of Human Studies offers programs in counseling, health education, physical education and research.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a separate, independent institution from the University of Alabama, which is located in Tuscaloosa. Please use University of Alabama at Birmingham on first reference and UAB on all consecutive references.
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