LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Local 4th graders learned about the art of dance alongside Ohio State Lima students this week.
Students from Liberty Elementary's dance program headed to the branch campus Thursday evening to be a part of the performance led by the university's first ever artist laureate, Dr. Nyama McCarthy-Brown. She is spending a year traveling the state to share the performing arts with youth, and teach them about the importance of diversity in the arts. Learning choreography and performing it with future professional dancers builds confidence, and shows the kids what they're capable of if they go for it.
"It also gives them a chance to shine on stage and be affirmed. Nobody was told no, nobody was told you're doing it wrong, everybody is able to just show up on their own terms and be affirmed. And so when that's your first experience and engagement on stage, it inspires something about doing more engagements," McCarthy-Brown explained.
Students from Lynn's Academy of Dance also performed their own piece in the show.
