By Shelley Koppel

Entertainment writer

STUART - Leslie Tranchese of Port St. Lucie is a Palm Beach County Deputy Sheriff, working in corrections. She was, however, born and raised in Port Salerno, and spends a good deal of her time at the Port Salerno Church of God, where she and her sister, Crystal Chappelle, lead the Praise Dancers and Youth Choir.

Ms. Tranchese spoke recently about why the youth programs are so important to her.

"Our point of view is that a lot of girls go to church and then stray after high school," she said. "We try to keep them inside the church, with their minds focused on God. We give them good things to do."

The Praise Dancers consist of 14 girls from ages 8-22. The older dancers help with the younger ones, and some of the older performers started with the group as children nine years ago. The dancers must also belong to the Youth Choir, which is open to girls and boys, in addition to going to school or working.

"We try to keep them as busy as possible," Ms. Tranchese said. "We dance to spirituals, contemporary songs, gospel and hymns. We even did a hip hop routine for Easter and for Christmas, we pick appropriate songs. We're better with the slower songs, but with the kids, I have to give them something with a beat."

Ms. Tranchese does most of the choreography, but she insisted she is not a dancer.

"I have no dance background," she said. "I took aerobics. We're not professionals. I hear a song and I'll say, 'Lord, help me make the moves.' I ask God for guidance and I ask the older girl what they think. There's a lot of enthusiasm."

The dancers perform at services at the church and have performed in local festivals. The group is open to girls and young women in the community, even if they are not members of the church.

"It's a ministry," Ms. Tranchese said. "We minister to someone in the audience or the neighborhood."

The group is doing some fundraising now for a trip next year to Six Flags over Georgia in Atlanta. They're holding a bake sale on the fourth Sunday of the month and washing cars, as well.

It's another teachable moment for Ms. Tranchese, who emphasized to the girls that if they didn't take a short trip this year, they could take a longer trip next year.

"They're ecstatic," she said. "I told them they have to do a lot of work. It's not cheap and we want to pay for everything, so there's no out-of-pocket for the parents. A couple of people without dancers in the group are sponsoring the girls. We have a lot of help. We're going to do it."

The Port Salerno Church of God is located at 4605 S.E. Cove Road, Port Salerno. For more information about the Praise Dancers or Youth Choir, call Leslie Tranchese at (772) 812-1746.