by George Frimpong Boateng, Director of DA:NCE Development & Field Outreach

On July 24, something remarkable happened in Redlands. As the sun began to slowly set over the historic Redlands Bowl, nearly 100 community members gathered at the beautiful Talbert Courtyard for An Evening with DA:NCE (Dance Awareness: No Child Exploited). What many expected to be an informational gathering quickly became something much more a night of listening, learning, and awakening.

The evening was made possible through the extraordinary generosity of our community partners: David & Robin Maupin, Fran & Les Spoelstra, Beth Threatt, John & Cheri Skubic, Joan Benson, Bruce & Judy Crandell, George & Marie Delange, Tim & Meike Murone, The Rescue Shop, Ray & Beckee Ashworth, the Redlands Chamber of Commerce, Jim & Marcie O’Neill, and Shelly Maloney. Their support transformed a vision into reality. We are also deeply grateful to the Redlands Bowl for graciously providing the venue that allowed our community to gather for this important conversation.

The room reflected a diverse cross-section of our community. Two members of the DA:NCE Coalition Advisory Council [most council members live in locations all over the country] and one of our Trustee Board members, Dr. John Bley, joined us [the rest of the Board live in locations all over the country], along with the Leadership Redlands Class of 2026 through the Redlands Chamber of Commerce, community leaders, parents, educators, and advocates all united by a shared desire to protect children.

As guests enjoyed heavy appetizers and refreshments, conversations filled the courtyard. But once the program began, the room grew quiet.

A Mission Born from One Question

DA:NCE Founder Mary Bawden shared the story that began this movement more than 13 years ago. As a dance educator and a dancer herself, Mary repeatedly witnessed something deeply troubling. She saw children dressed in adult-style costumes and makeup, performing choreography that was never intended for young bodies or developing minds. At a local dance concert and at later dance competitions, she even witnessed children being catcalled by audience members.

Because of increasing cultural silence from the internet, media and pornography industries, caring adults and children were quietly groomed to accept hypersexualized content in dance. Mary’s heart was grieved: “Why are we doing this to children?” Because of that awareness, she sought out experts at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation in Washington DC to provide the foundation for evidence-based research at DA:NCE that showed traumatic outcomes for this disturbing trend.

Deciding not to accept the cultural stillness, Mary chose to become a voice for the children no one else was speaking for. DA:NCE was born with one clear mission: to educate, advocate, and protect children by promoting healthy dance and exposing the harmful effects of hypersexualization in youth dance.

A Local Vision with Lasting Impact

As DA:NCE’s Director of Development and Field Outreach, I shared how this mission is already taking shape locally.

I shared JUMP, a scholarship initiative that provided children in the Redlands community with opportunities to participate in healthy dance education through partnerships with LifeHouse Theater, Wayne Scott, and choreographer Michael Milligan. I had the Folsom kids join the stage on as participants of the JUMP initiative.

I also spoke personally about attending a national conference where I listened to survivors share their stories. Those conversations, I said, reinforced that this movement is not simply about changing choreography or costumes, it is about protecting childhood, restoring dignity, and preventing future trauma.

The Stories That Changed the Room

While statistics can inform, stories transform. Mary shared the story of a young woman named Kelsey, who approached the DA:NCE exhibit at a conference. As she watched DA:NCE’s split-screen display comparing healthy dance with harmful dance, she suddenly broke down in tears and fell into Mary’s arms.

Her question was simple, yet heartbreaking:

“Why isn’t anyone talking about harmful dance versus healthy dance?”

She explained that she had grown up immersed in hypersexualized dance. As an adult, she was now in therapy, realizing that years of inappropriate messaging had taught her to see herself as a product rather than a person.

“I learned to self-sexualize,” she shared. “Dance became my identity.”

When Mary apologized for what she had experienced, Kelsey gently replied, “It’s okay.”

Mary looked back at her and answered: “No… it’s not okay.”

That simple response captured the heart of DA:NCE’s mission. We refuse to normalize what harms children.

Mary then read another testimony from a survivor who described years of grooming, emotional abuse, inappropriate choreography, sexually explicit music, degrading comments, and manipulation inside a dance studio beginning at just twelve years old.

The survivor wrote that the normalization of inappropriate music, costumes, and choreography created an environment where deeper abuse could flourish. She concluded with a powerful plea:

“I hope with all my heart your organization can help protect these innocent children.”

There were few dry eyes in the room.

The stories prompted thoughtful discussion and heartfelt questions as attendees wrestled with a reality many had never considered.

More Than an Event

The evening wasn’t about criticizing dance.

It was about reclaiming it.

Dance should build confidence – not exploitation.

Dance should celebrate childhood – not erase it.

Dance should cultivate artistry, discipline, joy, and healthy expression in environments where children are protected and valued.

That is the future DA:NCE is working toward every day.

It Took a Community

Events like this are never accomplished by one person. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Maryann Lacy for warmly welcoming guests and coordinating event logistics, Madeline Gruenler for capturing engaging social media content throughout the evening, Neal Thibedeau for documenting the event through videography, and Bruce Herwig for beautifully preserving the evening through photography.

A special thank you goes to Shelly Maloney, whose thoughtful event planning and collaboration with George and Mary helped bring every detail together, and to the Daggett sisters, whose support and encouragement throughout the evening meant so much.

This Is Only the Beginning

An Evening with DA:NCE was our first community event in Redlands, but it will not be our last. The conversations that began that evening are already moving outward—into homes, dance studios, schools, churches, and communities. Awareness is the first step toward change, and every person who attended became part of a growing movement committed to protecting children.

When we protect childhood, we don’t just change one performance. We change a life.

Because every child deserves a place where they can dance with confidence, dignity, joy, and freedom.

Together, we can ensure that every step celebrates a child—never exploits one.