|
American LaMar Baylor spends most of his time in New York City, working as a performer in the Broadway musical —The Lion King. But since 2011, he has also spent weeks in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. There, he teaches dance to boys who live on the street. His teaching is part of an effort by the Rebecca Davis Dance Company. The project helps young people learn more about dance and learn how to behave in a classroom environment. LaMar Baylor describes his students as genocide (种族屠杀) survivors. They have lost all of their families, some even have been in prison. “They have been through things that no one should ever have to go through,” said Baylor. Dance classes provide the children with structured learning and self-expression that they’ve never had before. They can also take classes in information and technology after they have learned to attend classes and follow directions. Boys who have done best in the classes win scholarships, and are sent to the Sunrise Boarding School. About 30 boys have won this kind of financial aid. All the students are male, because few girls in Rwanda live freely on the street. The Rwanda program is the largest one set up by the Rebecca Davis Dance Company, founded and directed by Rebecca Davis. Ms. Davis has also set up dance programs in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Guinea. About 2,000 children in the three countries have taken part in the project since it was launched in 2010. As for LaMar Baylor, he knows from his own experience how dance can lead to a better life. He is from Camden, New Jersey. Camden has sometimes been called America’s poorest and most dangerous city. Mr. Baylor says that growing up in Camden, it took a long time for him to find out what he wanted to do. He now thanks dancing saved his life. | 
