From clumsy to classy, learning to dance the blues
Melissa Dribben
PHILADELPHIA — Through the open doors of the Take the Lead dance studio, strains of Nina Simone’s “I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl” sashay out into the rain-splattered streets of West Philadelphia.
Inside, under the light confetti strewn from a silver disco ball, about 60 people pair off — most just long enough to test out their kinetic compatibility and practice a few moves.
There is Anurag, a 35-year-old Indian researcher from the School of Pharmacy at Temple University. Kayla, a blue-haired, home-schooled 16-year-old from Jenkintown, and her 14-year-old sister, Nikiah. Full story
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Hub residents star in PBS’ ‘Marathon Challenge’
Victoria Cheng
When Xenia Johnson and Carol Brayboy started training for the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon, they could not run a one-mile course without stopping for breath.
“I never thought I could run a marathon. Never,” Brayboy said. “Even running six or seven miles. You just can’t imagine being able to do that. I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, what did I sign up for?’”
Johnson, a 40-year-old pediatric psychiatrist who lives in Dorchester, and Brayboy, a 45-year old school administrator who lives in Roxbury, are two of the stars of the new PBS NOVA series documentary, “Marathon Challenge.” The show recruited, trained and followed 13 novice runners through a nine-month regimen in preparation for the 111th Boston Marathon last April.
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