TOOWOOMBA’S HERITAGE BANK TAKES HOME TOP AWARD
A COMMUNITY group is using dance and art to combat the rising tide of disengagement among Toowoomba’s youth.
Membership of the Kiyua Performing Arts Club has swelled to more than 200 in the past few years, the free Saturday classes frequented by children from all walks of life.
Kiyua is the brainchild of dance instructor Sheriden Wright who took it upon herself to start the group 15 years ago.
“In 2004 I hired the Harlaxton hall, sat on the steps, turned the music up loud and just waited to see what happened,” Ms Wright said.
“By the end of that year we had 20 regular kids who came to us.
“We now teach dance, martial arts, drama and art classes on those mornings.”
She said connectivity was the most important part of the weekly classes.
“Unfortunately, in the world today we have little connection, hence all the issues with drug abuse and mental health problems,” she said.
“We expose (the students) to other ways of living. Some of the kids come from unhappy environments - we work to show them that there are people out there who care, and their situation isn’t permanent.”
The program runs from 8.30am to 2.30pm every Saturday at the Wilsonton Primary School Hall and 9am-11am at the Darling Heights Primary School Hall and is open to all ages and backgrounds.
The group relies on the help of volunteers. A GoFundMe page titled Kiyua Performing Arts Toowoomba has been set up to help cover expenses.