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February 22, 2008

National Guard soldiers take to dance floor

SPC Anthony Jones

OKLAHOMA CITY — Two Oklahoma National Guard Soldiers were honored for their outstanding service to the Oklahoma City community at a Feb. 13 luncheon at the Quail Springs Country Club in Oklahoma City.

Sgt. 1st Class Dennis Squires and Staff Sgt. George Shafer, both of Edmond, of the Oklahoma National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command received community service awards from the Daughters of the American Revolution for their volunteer work with Life Change Ballroom.

Life Change Ballroom, a volunteer program created by Cindy Pipkin, introduces ballroom dancing to elementary school students. It is designed to teach young boys and girls essential coping and social skills many are missing as they grow into adolescence.

Pipkin was inspired by the documentary “Mad-Hot Ballroom” and the movie “Take the Lead” — both based on the work of Pierre Dulaine, a world famous dance instructor, who introduced ballroom dancing into the New York City school system.

While learning the dance skills, students develop mutual respect and trust of others, social awareness, confidence in themselves and it builds their self esteem, Pipkin said.

“When you put two people together in a dance position trust is a huge issue,” Pipkin said. “I’ve had principles and parents tell me the kids are politer after attending our program, how bullying has been reduced and students who used to hate each other are now helping each other.”

Life Change Ballroom has in-school and after-school programs where students learn different dance steps including promenade, fall-a-ways, cross-body leads and underarm turns.

Squires joined the organization after attending a meeting with his wife, a friend of Pipkin’s.

“I’m the top non-commissioned officer in the office,” said Squires referring to the Recruiting Command at Joint Force Headquarters in Oklahoma City. “I’m supposed to be this big rough guy and I didn’t really know what the other soldiers would think of me becoming a ballroom dancer.”

After much deliberation, Squires — now a member of the board of directors, and a mentor and dance instructor — called his soldiers together to tell them about volunteering with Life Change Ballroom. He was expecting to be made fun of. However, the only response he received was from Shafer who asked how he could help.

“I felt a calling,” said Shafer, also a mentor, dance instructor and member of the board of advisers. “I’ve been preaching how the Guard helps the community but I felt I wasn’t doing enough. This opportunity provided me with a great outlet to give back.”

When Squires and Shafer meet with the students for dance class, they come in uniform bringing a strong, positive male role model to the young boys they work with, Squires said.

“I hope that we are helping to break down stereotypes. We’re teaching these kids to be men, for some of them the only male role model they have is the rapper on television,” Squires said.

Squires said the only drawback is there are not enough volunteers to maintain contact with the students.

Even with the limited time the instructors have with the students, they make time to help the teachers and students with any problems they may have.

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