“Dance is more than just getting on the floor and moving your feet. It brings people together,” said Camillya Taylor, the model coach for Thatz So Fresh Dance Studio.
Camillya Taylor and her sister, Artrese, want to help kids in Johnstown stay out of trouble and build confidence.
They run Thatz So Fresh Dance Studio in Moxham and say having a positive outlet, like dance, is exactly what kids in the area need.
“My goal has always been ever since I opened up the studio, to touch a lot of the youth here in the city. Because there’s not really a lot to do. And when we were growing up, there was so much to do,” said Artrese Taylor, the owner of Thatz So Fresh Dance Studio
Now, they want to recruit other kids in the community. They’re hosting a “Dance Against the Hate” Friday night to raise money to pay for dance classes for new students. The Dance Against the Hate runs from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Bottle Works in Johnstown. Tickets cost $10 at the door. All proceeds will go to the Thatz So Fresh Dance Studio.
“If we can get them off the streets and out of the things that are negative, it would really put a strong impact on the city and the city officials to say, ‘OK, well these kids are really being impacted positively. So let’s start backing them up,'” said Artrese.
Forty dancers from three studios across the state will perform Friday night. So far, the Taylor sisters have raised about $600 to bring in more girls and boys to the studio.
“A lot of times you hear, dancing isn’t for boys. Because boys need to be more tough. But there’s a lot of boys that love the arts. So if we can get them in here and show them they can do anything and they can dream and they can go anywhere. It would be awesome.” said Artrese.
Camillya said when kids dance, it also lets parents and the community see their potential.
“A lot of the kids don’t realize that they have so much talent. A lot of the parents don’t realize that kind of talent because it’s a sports town. And what I’m hoping is to open up everybody’s eyes to see our kids our great,” said Camillya.
In the future, the Taylors want to expand the studio and even turn it into a community center in Moxham.