There was dancing, singing, and teens having a great time, but what became the image of the Groove-4-Life dance in 2009, was the three students out of 300 who chose to drink. 

“Unfortunately it kind of got the reputation of being this outrageous event,” said Leslie Dolan, a youth outreach worker at Community Outreach Services who is helping to organize the event. 

Dolan said it was one per cent of the attendees who made bad decisions last year, and they tarnished the image of the entire dance. 

What happened beyond the three teens, was a social event that helped kids meet their peers in a fun, music-filled environment. Dolan said the event was a positive opportunity for kids, and provided a safe environment for socialization.

“They’re so peer oriented and they want to be together,” Dolan said. 

Many of the teens who were being responsible at last year’s event didn’t even notice the three who weren’t, but all were grouped together.

“They all get painted with the same brush,” Dolan said. 

Andrea Watson, executive director of HIV West Yellowhead, said that in 2008, no kids were found to be drinking. 

“Some people focus on the negative. We’d rather focus on all the kids that aren’t (drinking),” Watson said.

Included in the 300 attendees in 2009 were two special needs teens, who had a great time. 

“What about the majority of kids that are making good choices?” Dolan said. 

Now it’s time to educate the community, she added. Parents need to know that not all kids are running out on Friday evenings to have bush parties and drink. For those that are, however, they are experiencing a normal part of development. 

“Experimenting with alcohol is a normal part of growing up... it’s not that we’re condoning it,” Dolan said. 

The three teens who did drink at last year’s event were removed from the dance, and their parents were called. The responsibility is laid on the teens who attend to not drink and be “above the influence”.

“It’s not our responsibility to make kids not drink. All we can do is provide a well-chaperoned event,” Dolan said. “If something happens and a kid gets out of hand, they know the consequences. Most kids will make good choices.”

Events like Groove-4-Life help with key development assets that provide the building blocks for teens to resist drugs, alcohol and early sexuality. 

Groove-4-Life is an event that links Jasper to parties all over the world. It is modelled after Dance-4-Life, when communities get together to dance as a way to celebrate life. It was started as a way to engage communities in Africa. 

“This isn’t something that someone just made up in this town,” Dolan said. 

The dance is held in partnership with HIV West Yellowhead, and Alberta Health Services’ (AHS) addictions councillors. Information about HIV/AIDS is given to students and prizes will be based on teens’ knowledge of the disease. One minute public service announcements on HIV/AIDS and responsible alcohol use will be held throughout the dance. AHS will be holding a mocktail bar and youth groups are invited to help out at the dance. The dance kicks off 16 days of activism on HIV/AIDS. 

“You don’t want to pummel them with it, but you want to keep them aware,” Dolan said of the issues to be raised at the dance. 

Groove-4-Life, a MuchMusic Video Dance, will be held at the Jasper Activity Centre on Nov. 26 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Students in grades 7 to 12 are welcome, and no drugs or alcohol are allowed. 

“We would love the opportunity to see this event positioned more fairly; as an opportunity for youth to gather in a safe, supported environment [that is] well-chaperoned with appropriate safety measures in place,” Dolan said.