The Arts as Community Threads

They come with smiles and sighs.

Many have had tough days; a run-in on the playground, a past due book report or a late night spent with mom at work. They aren't aware of the closing of Mill Mountain Theatre or the education woes taking place in the City. All they know is that for the next 90 minutes, they will participate in something referred to "Minds in Motion" or "theatre classes" led by really animated and high energy individuals that speak a different language than what they hear during school.

Two weeks ago, our Artist Services and Arts Education Director, Rhonda Hale, was frantic with last minute planning for an upcoming exhibition with local artists. Her challenge? She also needed to attend a rehearsal for TEAM XL at Fishburn Elementary. I was longing for a break from grant proposals and said, "I'll go!" TEAM XL, part of Richmond Ballet's Minds in Motion program, consists of about 35 students who have shown an aptitude and special interest in the high-energy dance program. These 4th graders meet each week with Pedro Szalay, Artistic Director of Southwest Virginia and the only credentialed Minds in Motion instructor in our region, while learning self-discipline, self-confidence, coordination and collaboration. Yes, all of these very important life skills, while learning really fun choreography with Mr. Pedro.

My job? I took roll and made sure they had their name tags. Their job? Rehearsing last week's dance steps, getting their friends up to speed if they'd missed last week's rehearsal, re-working steps and learning the new steps; all in preparation for the performance in April. I was struck by the seamless nature of their learning (and what amazing dancers they'd become in five months with no previous experience), their focused attentions (there were hardly any discipline issues) and support for one another. As soon as they came, they were gone and off to their families, baby sitters or possibly other activities.

The arts are alive in our communities each and every day. I bet that at any given moment, there is someone creating something that will cause us to stop, reflect, learn about ourselves and connect with one another. For these 4th grade students, these creative exercises might be the only "smiles" they receive and/or give during the course of their day.

Ginger Poole, Education Director for Mill Mountain Theatre, greets different students each day outside our office, which parallels the lobby area for Waldron Stage. Their excitement as they wait for her to usher them into the theatre reverberates off the windows and into our offices. They practice their dance steps, rehearse their lines and eagerly await her direction. I envy their innocence about the economic challenges that face us every day, but am so glad that our community is blessed with dedicated artists who share their love of creative expression and joy for life. As I listen to them learn songs from George M! and You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, I am so glad that the arts are alive and well in our community. Sure, donations are down, ticket sales might not be what they should be and the news about lay-offs and firings abound, but there is hope and they come in the smiling, and sighing, faces, hearts and minds in our young people.

On their behave, thank you Mr. Pedro and Ms. Poole and the countless others who offer their talents, passion and diversions to a better time and place that awaits us all.