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Monday 8 September

 


World AIDS Day Blog: Day 2

Marie Claire blog: Behind the Scenes: Kate Wharton learns from the experts at Dance4Life

Day 2

Our next visit is an altogether different kettle of fish. Our group of reserved Brits (I hold my hand up), Germans, Greeks and others, are told to limber up as our dance moves are required at the next port of call.

We're visiting a group of children who are part of Dance4Life, a dynamic international initiative, aimed at educating young people about the AIDS pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa.

12,000 people across the globe are infected with the virus every day and Dance4Life encourages young people to use their voices to halt the spread of HIV and AIDS and battle the stigma that still surrounds the disease. Through dance and singing, the concept is to give children the knowledge and life skills they need to protect themselves.

We are welcomed by a throng of youngsters aged between 10 and 16. The moment I walk into the school hall, I am mobbed by six or seven kids, who bear-hug me, eager to get me involved.

If I had any guard up before, I was forced to drop it immediately. No crossed-arms British awkwardness allowed here. So I reluctantly threw my British inhibitions out the window and joined in with the song and dance of Dance4Life. We begin to sing together: 'Take responsibility for life, let your voice be heard', whilst I start to shuffle my feet.

My co-ordination – or lack of – gradually kicks in and I think I'm starting to get the routine. But all around me teenage boys and girls are totally showing me up. Their natural built-in rhythm means they can add their own individual wiggles and twists – I kid you not, some of them could give Madonna's backing dancers a run for their money.

Their enthusiasm is immense and overwhelming. I can't help thinking that trying to introduce any initiative like this to a teenage boy here in the UK, would be met with embarrassment and indifference. But these children are proud. They understand the crippling effect HIV is having on their country, but they want to prove that as the next generation they can change attitudes. They understand the meaning behind their dance routines and are confident enough to express themselves in the most refreshing way.

The kids were quite simply inspirational, and a reminder to me and anyone, to grab life with both hands and enjoy it wholeheartedly.

World AIDS Day in on 1 December. To read more go to www.worldaidsday.org

To read more about Dance4Life go to www.dance4life.com

Thursday 29 November 2007


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Great blog - fantastic that you get to get out there and see the amazing for of Dance4Life first hand! Funny that you should say that you can't imagine it happening in the UK - because that is exactly what we are doing. Dance4Life was piloted in the UK in 06/07 and is making big plans for 2008! Keep and eye out for stuff happening and get in touch to find out more www.dance4life.co.uk
Comment by Caroline on January 28 10:31

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