Delia Rowland

Delia is preparing for her first year of college, but today the only thing that’s on her mind is introducing another favorite 90’s pop song to a room full of girls in West Dallas. The hip-hop dance camp is a two-day event offered by Brother Bill’s Helping Hand that Delia leads three times each year. Girls from fourth through eighth grade spend both days working on choreography with Delia, along with her friends Abby and Georgia.

Originally from San Diego, Delia moved with her family to Dallas when she was in the eighth grade. She settled in at Trinity Christian Academy and picked up classes at Power House of Dance, but she wanted a way to give back. Delia’s dad began volunteering at Brother Bill’s, after hearing about their long-running programs for the West Dallas community. Delia joined him, volunteering in the community grocery store, in the kitchen preparing hot meals, wrapping Christmas presents, and delivering food to the neighbors. Delia loved meeting new people, hearing their stories, and speaking to them in both Spanish and English, but when she saw the ballet class tucked in the corner of the new Westmoreland building she had an idea.

Delia used to dance ballet, but she loved her hip hop dance classes and she knew the girls at Brother Bills would love it too, so she asked the staff if she could start a new class that would meet during breaks from school. Now the dance camp is a regular event – two days spent dancing to Delia’s song choice – usually a pop classic from the 1990’s or 2000’s like Destiny’s Child or the Jonas Brothers – and then performed for family, friends, and other volunteers.

“The girls are always so nervous at the beginning and by the end they are strutting it out,” said Delia. She loves watching their confidence grow, along with their friendships and dance skills. And that’s why, even though Delia will be heading to Belmont University in Nashville to pursue an Entertainment Industry Studies degree this fall, she plans to make her way back to Brother Bill’s during her breaks and continue teaching dance.

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