The Brightside: Heart & Sole Step Team
WICOMICO CO., Md. – Heart and Sole performing arts are teaching students how to channel their energy into positive movement, and in turn, create better life outcomes. “This is the art of stepping where they get to move energy, we’re a big ball of energy and sometimes life can cause negative energy,” says CEO of Heart and Sole, Jennifer Dickerson. “So when you start to step and move and do all these different types of things it starts to align that movement gives us a chance to get rid of it so they don’t carry it into the next day.”
Dickerson tells 47 ABC, the group originated back in 2015 at Glenn Avenue Elementary in hopes of reducing the number of referrals for students. In just three years, the group grew from 20 kids to 250, now expanding into other local schools like Pinehurst Elementary. “We started to see significant increases, “Once behavior was reduced, and academics increased because I made the program so we worked on homework.” Dickerson adds, “So we support their physical needs, their academic needs, their emotional needs, and spiritual needs.”
Students in the program can stay after school, get homework done, enjoy a snack, bond, and learn life skills all while stepping. With performances held at nursing homes, elementary schools, and even parades, these students are stepping onto a whole new path for their life. “A lot of our actions are led by emotions, so if we know how to deal with them or at least try to cope with them or have somebody who can help us get through it then it reduces our chances to make a bad decision,” says Dickerson.
7th grader Ma’kai Johnson is a prime example of how life-changing the team can be for students struggling to find the right path. “Heart and Sole chose me,” explains Johnson. “I was a little troublemaker back then but now it’s just good grades and behavior. It just helps everyone bond together with friends and with family to make them feel like they’re wanted.”
Meanwhile, Serenity Dennard, an upcoming 8th grader tells us she simply loves to dance, and getting more comfortable in her skin while also becoming a leader is her number one goal. “This team has helped me build more public speaking skills, more skills to be comfortable in public and to step freely with myself,” says Dennard.
Dennard tells us, the opportunity to not only perform but to make a difference in their own lives for the better which is something she hopes other students get to experience. “Different students, they need to be able to express themselves in different ways and this program I believe allows them to do that in many different ways.”
Dickerson explains that her work with these students, combined with the ability to witness their skill and character development is what drives her to keep stepping, teaching, and supporting the youth. “That is the most rewarding feeling that you can get to know that you got them through a tough time and I just really want to be that person or to be to kids what people weren’t to me.”
Dickerson says she’s working with other elementary and middle schools in the area to create new chapters and other stepping opportunities for students. To learn more about the group, you can visit their Facebook page.
