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Rather than a coveted audience with the pope during his much-anticipated trip to the US next week, a group of Philadelphia inner-city teen dancers in a program led by a Boston College alumna will take the stage to perform for the pontiff on Sept. 26, during the World Meeting of Families.
The talented youths are members of “Dancing with the Students,” the brainchild of University Trustee Susan Martinelli Shea ’76, president and founder of the non-profit organization which brings ballroom dancing to Philadelphia-area schools.
“Philadelphia is more excited this September than if we were hosting the Super Bowl,” said Shea. “Performing for the World Meeting of Families when Pope Francis comes to town is a dream come true.”
During Philadelphia’s Festival of Families event, the student dancers will join a roster of high-profile performers and participants, including Academy Award-nominated actor Mark Wahlberg, who will serve as host, “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin and Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli.
Twenty-two eighth-grade students will perform the tango to “La Cumparista,” while another group of 22 will present a swing dance to the “American Bandstand” theme.
“This opportunity truly is an answer to a prayer,” said Shea, who was spurred to start the program after her son’s college roommate was killed in an act of violence. “These students started ballroom dancing last year as seventh graders. They are talented, determined, polite and always have fun. Whenever they dance, they are transformed into ladies and gentlemen, who respect and bring out the best in each other.
“Knowing how well they dance the tango, and knowing that the tango is Pope Francis’ favorite dance...Boston College and the Jesuits taught me that anything is possible,” she added.
The “Dancing with the Students” mission is to offer ballroom dancing classes to students in the fifth through ninth grades in low socio-economic areas, with a goal of fostering positive self-esteem, manners and respect for others, in an atmosphere of confidence and fun.
“Through ballroom dancing, I learned how important it is to be motivated, which will help me in high school and throughout the rest of my life,” said one student participant.
Under Shea’s effective and enthusiastic leadership, the program – highlighted last spring by the Philadelphia Inquirer for its success as a community initiative – has become a refuge for some students who have endured tragedies and other hardships in their lives.
“Ballroom dancing was a blessing from God (and Sue),” said a student named Carrie, who added that the experience will forever influence her future.
The papal performers are from Gesu School, an independent Catholic, Jesuit school in North Philadelphia recognized as a national model for inner-city education. It provides 450 mostly non-Catholic children, in grades pre-K through eight, innovative education to empower them to break the cycle of poverty and violence. In a city with a public high school graduation rate of approximately 65 percent, 90 percent of Gesu students graduate, and 86 percent of graduates go on to college or other post-secondary education.
Launched in 2005 at Gesu School, where Shea volunteered, raised funds and now serves as a trustee, the “Dancing with the Students” initiative has added schools annually and expanded to 11 schools in underserved neighborhoods, with some 250 student participants who receive instruction in the waltz, swing, merengue and tango.
Over the past decade, according to Shea, the students have performed at Philadelphia 76ers and Phillies games, the city’s Charity Ball and many other venues, and will continue to share the joy that dancing has brought to their lives.
In 2009, a “Dancing with the Students” troupe was created with membership from eight Philadelphia high schools. Taught ballroom dancing in elementary school, the students made the commitment to continue and take their dancing to the next level.
“Dancing for this event for our beloved Pope Francis will be life changing,” Shea said. “The students love this man. His picture is on every floor of Gesu School.”
For more information on “Dancing with the Students” see www.dancingwiththestudents.org.