Swing dance program tries to teach life skills

By Jean Chow
Advertiser Staff Writer

Instructor Matthew Wong dips 15-year-old Marie Nabua when the "Swing Into Adolescence" program participants spent an evening teaching swing dance at the Kapi'olani Park bandstand. Kyle Sackowski • The Honolulu Advertiser

And, when it came to the "sky move," in which a male dancer lifts his partner from one spot to another — carrying her five feet above the ground in the process — Cabradilla was terrified at the possibility of being dropped by her partner.

"When ... (the teachers) show us new moves, we all think 'That's too hard!' and we're scared," said Cabradilla, a Kalihi resident. "But now it's like, once you try it, you can do it, and then it doesn't look as scary. We just had to learn to trust one another."

Trust is one of the major lessons taught in "Swing Into Adolescence," a program running this summer for teens and pre-teens at three nonprofit organizations and a public school.

The program teaches youths how to swing dance while showing them the connection between the dance moves and the skills and principles they'll need to succeed, such as communication and respect. Organizers believe it is the first in Hawai'i to use swing dance to teach life skills.

Since May, the nonprofit Hui Malama Ohana Youth Service Center has teamed up with the for-profit JMG Partnership Inc. to hold classes for youths in each of the four agencies that make up the center. The center is a collaboration of Hale Kipa, KEY (Kualoa-He'eia Ecumenical Youth) Project, the Susannah Wesley Community Center, and Parents and Children Together, also known as PACT.

Gayook Wong, 58, and her children, Jennifer, 35, and Matthew, 31, the trio who make up JMG, have been providing performances as well as programs specially designed for groups ranging from families to business corporations for two years. But this is the first time they've launched a long-term program specifically for this age group.

"We thought ... (pre-teen and teen) was a good age; they're going through so many different changes," said Jennifer Wong.

Hale Kipa participants meet at Kawananakoa Middle School in Honolulu, KEY participants meet at King Intermediate in Kane'ohe, and Susannah Wesley and PACT participants meet at their respective community centers in Honolulu.

Each of the four groups consists of 12 to 15 students, from 9 to 16 years old. "The program is targeted towards 11- to 14-year-olds, but we have a few exceptions," Jennifer Wong said.

The groups meet weekly for swing class and monthly for gymnastics class. Students are taught team-building, leadership and other social skills — for example, a different student is designated team captain at each class — in addition to the dance moves, including flips, dips and drops.

"Sometimes they learn without knowing that they're learning," said Gayook Wong.

But the Wongs and other teaching assistants have seen the changes in the kids over time.

"They've grown tremendously in awareness, self-image, confidence," said Max Vercruyssen, director of Hawai'i Academy, where gymnastic classes are held.

Teaching assistant Quinn Allen also noticed the change in attitude: At the first classes, "they were so shy, and now they're like, 'Quinn, Quinn ... (let's do the) sky! Dive!'" he said, naming a few swing moves.

Each class hosts monthly parents nights, where the young swingers get to step into the teaching shoes, as well as monthly meetings at Kapi'olani Park Bandstand, where passers-by are treated to lessons for $4, usually Wednesdays. (Call 236-4082 for dates.)

Teaching parents "is way cool! We're the professionals and we get to make the rules," said Joshua Borling, 12. "A lot of the parents keep adding their own (moves)," he said, laughing.

"We never quite know how class is going to be like, what we're going to teach," said Jennifer Wong. What they discuss often reflects the current issues with which the students are dealing. For example, when a student was being teased in the swing class, the students had a discussion on mutual respect.

"Dance is secondary to everything we're teaching them," she said.

The five-month program ends with a graduation celebration in September. While enrollment for this summer's program is closed, the Wongs hope to continue with "Swing Into Adolescence" classes year-round for interested children or student organizations.