Las Vegas Children Get Healthy by Dancing Against Obesity
Dance Against Obesity Camp Jump
By Anthony Alegrete
Jump for Joy Foundation
With obesity skyrocketing in this country more than ever, the need for more activity based hobbies and interests (exercise + fun + a theme) are unmistakably needed. A large amount of kids really don’t have much of an example anymore. 40 years ago, the average youth’s day consisted of walking to school, running around in gym class or P.E., studying, and then directly to after-school activities consisting of cheer-leading, baseball, or just playing hide and go seek in the yard or neighborhood.
Today, the majority of children get home as fast as the bus will get them there, rush to their rooms and play video games, get on the computer for non-studying activities, or watch television. This means, that the only exercising our kids are getting is on their phalanges…that’s right parents…their hands.
I bet we all would love to see our babies in better shape! What will he or she be associated with if they got obese? Regrettably obesity opens up to bullying and low self esteem. I truly believe that we have to stop both, bullying and obesity. Most kids pay attention to what their peers say and do. This goes on even at the young age of 4. Well just like us adults, kids want to be accepted and feel like they “fit in” to the crowd. Their self-esteem, confidence, and self worth are so vital to their development, and this needs to be monitored watchfully.
Kids dancing at Dance Against Obesity
I’m pretty sure you have asked yourself, is there any way for my child to get exercise, they he or she will like? The answer is YES. Absolutely!
There are many things that your child can do. All sports are great. But one thing that people sometimes forget about is DANCE. That’s right – dance! Dance is an amazing way for your child to build their spirit and get healthy at the same time. Dancing is fun and cool. There are many forms of dancing. Hip-Hop, jazz, funk, ballet, swing, salsa, and the list goes on and on.
Let your child pick music that he or she likes and have them learn how to dance to it. Music has soul. Music feeds our souls. Dancing is the movement to music.
That’s why here at the Jump for Joy Foundation (J4J), we believe that introducing children and families to different modalities of fitness through different activity based hobbies and interests is so crucial to the success of our program.
Angel Escamilla and Bailey “Bailrok” Munoz
“Ever since I was child Dance has allowed me to be the man I am today. Dance is what broke me of my shell when I was younger,” said Mr. Halo aka Angel Escamilla, Jump for Joy’s Operations Director & Dance Coordinator. “It’s something that has introduced me to many great people and has also gotten me healthier over the years.”
Branden Collinsworth, Co-Founder Jump for Joy
Jump for Joy Foundation’s Co-Founder, Branden Collinsworth says, “no matter what style of fitness your child likes have them stick with it, if they enjoy what they are doing then they’ll continue to do it. I found fitness when I was a teenager and have never turned back. I enjoy helping other reach their goals. And that’s why I co-created this organization. We believe fitness shouldn’t have a price and all children should have access to great FREE community programs,” said Collinsworth.
And on Saturday, February 18th at the Pearson Community Center children from all over Las Vegas got introduced to DANCE – Jump for Joy style. Dance Against Obesity was the slogan of the day. Professional dancers and performers from all over the country came out and showcased their genre of dance all while incorporating fun fitness activities into it.
“I flew all the way out from Orlando Florida because I truly believe in what the Jump for Joy Foundation stands for,” said DJ Rene Adams interactive DJ and performer for Disney cruise lines. “What I do for a living requires me to be in tip top shape and to be able to share that with some children makes me feel blessed.”
Win-Win Entertainment, DJ Renee Adams, Bailrok
The Jump for Joy Foundation wants to send a special thank you to Win-Win Entertainment for helping provide many of the performers that came out to Dance against Obesity CAMP JUMP. Jeff Civillico founder of Win-Win Entertainment said, “Partnering with J4J has been amazing, we get to bring out Las Vegas based strip performers and have them perform their crafts for charity. It’s a win-win situation for all parties involved. Performers get to give back to a local organization, and Jump for Joy gets to leverage great talent for their camps.”
Sin City Salseros
Other performers included 60 year old, master locker Jimmy “Scoo B doo” Foster, The Sin City Salseros, and Tina Cannon, Matt Guerrero, & Kelly Venter of the Cirque Love show right here on the Las Vegas strip. 12 year old Dance phenom Bailey “Bailrok” Munoz blessed this great event with is awesome and cool moves. A duet between Scoo B doo and Bailrok was a highlight of the camp. They performed together to the 100 plus children and families that were there and got the crowd hyped.
“I have been blessed to be able to travel around the country and dance for people, but it’s something about giving back to the community especially the community that I am a part of that makes what I do (dancing) so rewarding,” said Bailrok.
Even Fox 5 Vegas and Univision showed up and provided some great media coverage.
Sponsored By: Belly Bliss and Desert Perinatel Associates
A special thank you also goes to Desert Perinatel Associates and Belly Bliss for sponsoring this camp and making it all happen. It is companies like these that help fund the Jump for Joy Foundation’s programs and allows J4J to help many Las Vegas based children that simply couldn’t afford it have access to fun, innovative, and most of all programs that work.
“Dance against obesity is a great example that showed, Athletes are not born in the gym or on the track. They can be built on a floor with music,” said Branden Collinsworth.
By the look on the children’s faces today it was truly something that we all can jump for joy about. Today, Dance was incorporated into many children’s lives. Dance is such a great way to build the spirit and get healthy at the same time. And today we DANCED AGAINST OBESITY!
On Saturday, March 17, 2012 from 10a-1p we will be TACKLING OBESITY. Come on out to another great CAMP JUMP program but football style. Special guests will be announced through the company’s website www.j4jf.org soon. This camp will again be located at the Pearson Community Center located at 1625 W. Carey Rd. For more information on the Jump for Joy Foundation please visit us at our website, through any of our social media or call them at (702) 835-9216.
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