From the “Curb” to the stage

By: Rachel Gill
Posted In: Entertainment

Jackie Henderson’s goal is to get young people “Off the Curb” and her only tools are hip hop and dancing.

Henderson, in her bright green velour sweats and matching zip up jacket, walks to the front of the class. As soon as the music starts it fills the room with bumping beats that grab a hold of her body. Henderson then begins to teach a room packed with kids how to bounce, step, twist, drop, and shake. Through her headphones she counts the steps, and demands perfection. “Come on, hit it, hit it, strong,” said Henderson as her hair tossed wildly, from side to side with every dance step. Behind her, girls, boys, young, old, black, and white, all mimicked her every move.

The same strength and power that infuses Henderson’s every dance move can also be found at the root of her cause. In a constant battle between violence, drugs, and all kinds of pressures young people face today, Henderson fights back with a program she founded in 1992 called, Off the Curb, a non-profit organization that incorporates a hip hop dance troupe and after school programs to give young people an alternative to the streets. According to Henderson, with its no drugs and no violence policy, Off the Curb has changed the lives of its members who could otherwise be choosing the streets over their future, “We provide dancers with a stage for their talent, a chance to work through their problems, and an opportunity to just keep on dancing,” said Henderson.

Every Wednesday night, Off the Curb dancers whose ages range from 12-23, shake a lot more than there hips in a dance studio on the lower level of The Newport Athletic Club. Here kids of all ages pay a fee to learn none other than to dance. According to Henderson it is through classes like this one were dancers are born. “If they can dance and they prove to me they have the time and dedication, they’re in,” said Henderson.

According to the Off the Curb brochure, there are currently 10 members of Off the Curb who have been able to meet Henderson’s expectations. These members, through being a part of the dance troupe, have traveled further than just the stages in Rhode Island. Troupe members have traveled throughout the United States and the world to perform along side many famous names such as Eve, LL Cool J, Ja Rule, and many more. These performances involved dancing back-up and also being involved in music festivals to help raise awareness and funds for youth programs.

Although meeting famous artists is defiantly a priceless perk of being a member of Off the Curb, troupe members say that the program has provided them with more than just the opportunity to travel. “After being involved in Off the Curb for ten years my confidence has definitely been boosted because we are constantly performing,” said 23 year-old Akeia Neves of Newport who rhymed her name, age, and personal info to her own original beat. “Now, you give me balls and I will juggle them, give me a song and I will sing it, now I can do anything.”

Seventeen-year-old Crystal Rose has only been part of off the Curb for one year, and is already starting to the impact it has had on her life. “I am doing better in school, and have become a better dancer,” said Rose. Prior to joining Off the Curb, Rose danced jazz and ballet both requiring her to dance with extremely tight movements. “At the beginning it was hard for me to get used to hip hop because it is all about using deep, low movements,” said Rose.

Along with showing off their hot moves at dance classes and sold-out performances, members can also be found at local Newport county schools, such as Thompson Middle School, Rodgers High School, and the Sullivan School using their talent to help influence the lives of approximately 300 other young people. “Having the opportunity to teach the kids is a beautiful thing because it gets them off the streets and onto the stage to dance” said Kelvin Fabian, a 20 year-old from Providence, R.I., and one year member of Off the Curb.

Despite all of the positive influences Off the Curb has in the Newport community and beyond, they still encounter the occasional opposition to the lyrical content and dancing technique or as Henderson called it hip hop’s, “booty shakin style.” In an effort to combat this form of opposition, Henderson chooses songs and choreographs shows based on the audiences’ age. According to Henderson, using hip hop music is how Off the Curb is able to reach young people. “Hip hop is their language, they relate to it, and it just makes you want to move,” said Henderson.

Lyrics and booty shaking, aside, Henderson has used hip hop and dance to literally bring hundreds of young people Off the Curb and onto the stage. “My hope is in the future, when I see all my dancers, they will be on stage and not just sitting in the audience and of course they will all just keep on dancing,” said Henderson.

HOW TO GET “OFF THE CURB”

For more information on Off the Curb you can visit their website at http://www. offthecurb.com or call Jackie Henderson at (401)-849-1118.