The University Record, January 14, 1998
Silas Cobb (front) of Barbour Middle School in Detroit, was one of a number of students from a number of schools who participated in Dance Day in mid-December. The event is part of the Dance Department’s outreach program, with classes featuring Congolese drummings and dancing taught by adjunct lecturer Biza Sompa. Students must maintain good classroom behavior and attendance in order to take the class with Sompa, a former soloist with the Congolese National Dance Company. Barbour School performing arts teacher Angelica Jones says the class is a big hit with the students. ‘They’ve shed the stereotype of the male dancer to the point that this year 80 young men applied for 25 places in the class.’ School officials have described as dramatic the change in classroom behavior of students in the program. Photo by Paul Jaronski, Photo Services
