Published March 15, 2005

Musical motivator

Sheltered Reality uses percussion performances to raise awareness about homelessness

A West Branch-based music group had students, teachers and administrators at Karen Acres Elementary School, 3500 74th St. in Urbandale, dancing in the aisles last week while delivering a lesson about homelessness.

Sheltered Reality uses high-energy percussion performances to encourage youths to make a difference in social issues. Founder and Executive Director Steve Schlosser recruits young people nationwide to participate in the organization, which he started eight years ago.

"I've always played percussion, and I wanted to see if this type of music could be a motivator or a social activator," he said.

About 300 Karen Acres students and staff listened intently last week while Schlosser reeled off statistics on homelessness.

"Nine thousand kids will be homeless in Iowa tonight," he said. He promised that several students would be selected to participate in a final drum jam if they could remember the numbers. He explained that homelessness doesn't always mean that someone is living under a bridge, but it also includes individuals who live in a shelter, or stay with a friend because they don't have a home of their own.

Schlosser and three group members from Sheltered Reality played timbales and a drum kit in accompaniment to songs from familiar artists like Gloria Estafan. They kicked off their finale, "Footloose" from the popular 1980s movie, with a challenge to Karen Acres teachers to strut their stuff for students.

Wearing a suit and heels, Principal Connie Toenjes surprised students when she bounded toward the center of the gym where students sat, dancing enthusiastically. Teachers danced around the perimeter of the gym, with students slowly joining in. Students and staff bopped and twirled, one boy lay down on his stomach and wormed his way across the gym floor, and by the end of the song, nearly the entire student body was in full motion.

"I've never seen teachers dance like that before," said fourth-grader Brooke De Carlo, 10.

Fourth-grader Will Admussen, 10, was especially surprised by Toenjes: "I never knew she could do that in heels."

Schlosser asked the crowd, "If you knew you had the power to change the world, wouldn't you take a chance? All it takes is just one person to go out and do it."

He encouraged Karen Acres students to take up a collection of stuffed animals that would later be given to homeless children, and to consider joining his group for drumming and performance.

Students were touched by Sheltered Reality's message to help homeless youths.

"It was inspiring and fun. It was good to think about helping others instead of being selfish," said fourth-grader Natalie Richard, 9. She also said that seeing the teachers dance helped her feel less shy about joining in.

Fourth-grader Kris Finzel, 10, concluded, "They really rocked the house."

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