JV Outreach Dances Their Way Into The Hearts of Fulton County Schools

By Caitlin Vaiskauskas

If you had the opportunity to support a program that not only provides valuable skills and confidence for children, but also allows them to get active and have a good time, would you? JV Outreach does exactly that and it could be coming to your school this year.

JV Outreach is a nonprofit organization that provides various dance lessons to children in Georgia. Not only do they learn the steps to different dances such as salsa and ballroom, but also the value of team work, discipline, social skills and, of course, confidence.

This past school year, JV Outreach transformed many children through implementing the program in Health and PE programs within 4 North Fulton County middle schools. Right now, Jacqueline Vergez, the executive director and founder of JV Outreach, is working towards expanding the program within all the Fulton County middle and high schools. This program is provided freely to the schools—something that might be unbelievable for some because it impacts the children tremendously.

“As a National Board Certified HPE teacher, I strive to give my students only the best experiences and would therefore not hesitate to suggest that JV Outreach is an enhancement to any HPE Program,” Elaine Binnion, at Ridgeview Middle School, said.

Also during the past school year, JV Outreach offered free Saturday class every Saturday at DanceFX in Alpharetta beginning in November and going through May. This summer, Tolber-Yilmaz School of Dance hosted classes as well.

Vergez created a performance group within JV Outreach, giving children and teens the opportunity to share their creativity and hard work. For example, Tolbert-Yilmaz School of Dance invited these dancers to perform at the Roswell Cultural Arts center in front of an audience of hundreds. Along with other groups, the Hotlanta Salsa Congress also invited these young performers to share what is often times a newfound talent at its various events at Piedmont Park and other venues. The performances in front of various large audiences continue to help boost the confidence in these children.

Many parents are appreciative of the changes they have seen in their children since they started dancing with JV Outreach.

“Jonathan started taking the dance lessons in November of last year, and in just a few months, has grown from a shy boy to an open, more confident young man,” Karnina C., mother of a participant, said. “I have watched his last performance and I can truly say that no other non-academic activity has allowed him to build his character. Your program allows him to find his inner self. Your methodology to teach dancing goes beyond learning a rehearsed choreography.”

With the possible expansion into a greater number of Fulton County Schools, Vergez is excited to see where this all leads. More than anything, the focus continues to be on the kids, inspiring them and changing their lives.

Vergez continues to show her appreciation to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the Guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council as well as local businesses in North Fulton County. Without their support and the support of other donors, none of this would be possible.

For more information on JV Outreach, or to make a donation, please visit www.jvoutreach.org.