Students in Action

"By studying CityStep, a dance program, and its effects on the students, I hope to explore possible links between dance and adolescent health that could lead to the expansion of similar in-school programs that might positively affect the health and outcomes of adolescents across the country. If we are able to demonstrate the efficacy of the CityStep program, we will be better positioned to obtain additional funding to expand the program throughout the city," said Sands Scholar Kristin Gustafson. 

CityStep began in 2004 with an after-school dance program at West Philadelphia's Anna Howard Shaw Middle School. Since then, the program has expanded to include three additional Penn neighborhood schools. Teams of four to five Penn students travel to the schools twice a week and work collaboratively with teachers and students to choreograph a five-minute piece based on the year's chosen theme. Ms. Gustafson has worked with CityStep since its inception.  

In her research, Ms. Gustafson conducted a small-scale controlled trial to determine if CityStep can assist the students with maintaining or losing weight, increasing class participation and self-esteem, and decreasing absences, as reported by teachers and the students themselves.