the art of the craft. They are learning what to do to the best of their ability.” Dancing opens up the world to her students, she says. Her dancers have performed in Germany, Turkey, Macedonia, and beyond. Once they leave her school, she encourages her students to continue their education in dance, medicine, or whatever field they want to pursue. People can dance until they are 70 or even older. “Not many football players can play when they are that old,” she says. Even though she is past 80, Ms. Brown is still active in overseeing her school and the dance company. She says she gets her exercise by walking up and down the stairs 50 times a day at the dance school. By staying in West Philadelphia, she says, students can receive the same dance opportunities that children elsewhere have. “It is important that we stay in the community and people feel that we are part of the community,” she says, explaining that the dance school encourages other positive activities in the neighborhood. Her ultimate reward, she says, is that “ballet makes a difference in people’s lives.” “Most of the students don’t become a famous dancer,” Ms. Brown says, “but they become a better person.” —Sydney Dillard, Gabriel Tello, and Duyen To Marshall Street Healthy Bulletin Illustration by Claribel Perez, La Salle Academy Healthy News