IOWA CITY, IA – On April 15, the University of Iowa’s Dance Club (UIDC) hosted their 8th Annual Benefit Show at the Iowa Memorial Union (IMU), all in support of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Youth Dance Program, as well as a new addition, Dance Without Limits, Inc.
In previous years, the club has supported the DEA in their efforts to create free after-school dance programs for potentially at-risk youth by donating all funds from their Benefit Show. The show was ticketed at $5. This year, the UIDC has decided to split the benefits between the DEA Youth Dance Program and Dance Without Limits, Inc., an organization that provides dance programs to children and youth with disabilities.
McKenzie Story, current UIDC President, brought new leadership and a new vision into this year’s Benefit Show. Every year, the UIDC collaborates with other student organizations to broaden the scope and activity of UIDC. UIDC partnered with Iowa Andhi (a Bollywood fusion dance group) and Old Gold (a show choir) to create an attractive show to benefit the DEA Youth Dance Program and Dance Without Limits, Inc.
“We’ve always supported the DEA Youth Dance Program,” said Story. “Our club is 8 years old, so we’re relatively new, but also pretty large; we have the ability to impact a wide variety of people, so we’ve just kept a really great relationship with them.”
Related: Click below to watch an interview with UIDC President Story and Vice President Ungs in order to gain more information about UIDC and the nonprofits it supports:
Dance Without Limits, Inc. will receive half of the benefits from the Benefit Show from now on. Taking on another group to support will be a rewarding capability for the growing UIDC. The UIDC is primarily self-sustaining, with funds coming from membership dues, fundraisers, and a pool of savings from past fundraisers. Dancers use former costumes for most performances. To pay for outstanding costs such as renting out the IMU for the Benefit Show, UIDC applied, then relied upon the University of Iowa Student Government’s (UISG) support. Receiving funds up to $2,500 (according to the UISG 2018 approved budget), the UIDC was able to host the Benefit Show in the IMU to raise charity funds for the DEA Youth Dance Program and Dance Without Limits, Inc.
In addition to supporting the DEA Youth Dance Program and Dance Without Limits financially, UIDC is in favor of a branch of the DEA Youth Dance Program being established in Iowa City to support through volunteerism.
College drug and alcohol culture can be negatively impactful to college towns like Iowa City. The University of Iowa offers many extracurricular activities and student organizations to provide an alternative to drug and alcohol use. However, the same may not be said for the community of Iowa City. Through the DEA Youth Dance Program, the Iowa City community would benefit from an outlet for possibly at-risk youth. The University of Iowa has several great ties to the Iowa City community and its youth, including the University of Iowa Youth Ballet and Community Dance School. But, these classes can be expensive, cutting off many families in the Iowa City community that may contain at-risk youth.
As an alternative to unaffordable dance classes, a center for the DEA Youth Dance Program (or one like it) would do well in Iowa City to strengthen ties between the University of Iowa and Iowa City at large. This would also provide a chance for ties to be created between college students and Iowa City through volunteer opportunities.
Madeline Ungs, UIDC Vice President and former Dance Without Limits, Inc. Volunteer, believes that by expanding their reach and helping out other groups, it will prevent the seclusion of students onto campus. University of Iowa students often know little about the Iowa City community, and vice versa, creating a gap.
“I think it would definitely provide a great outlet for any youth in the city that are looking to do something after school,” said Ungs. “Dance is great exercise. It’s great for your mind, and just great for your body overall; you can’t go wrong learning to dance. It would be a great thing for middle school, high school students to be a part of, as well as college students could be part of it as well.”
Middle school and high school students may look up to University of Iowa students as mentors and role models in a positive setting at such a center. Seeing themselves in college students that may not be very far away in age could provide a more accessible connection to appropriate activities.
“I think Dance Club would be interested in volunteering for a free dance program like DEA,” said Ungs. “We have quite a few dance teachers, captains, and members that would love to be more part of the dance community.”
The UIDC will host their 9th Annual Benefit Show next year, with a date to be decided, in order to continue supporting the DEA Youth Dance Program and Dance Without Limits, Inc.
Philip Runia 