The Rialto Center for the Performing Arts at Georgia State University will present Moving in the Spirit’s Origins: Honoring Our Humanity on May 1, 2008 at 7pm. This exciting event, which examines music and dance throughout history, is the culmination of a series of collaborations and community projects that have engaged and empowered youth to promote social change in their communities.

Moving in the Spirit, a dance-based youth development program serving youth ages 3-18, partners every year with local artists and youth groups to create a large scale multi-media production. This year, Moving in the Spirit students, faculty and collaborators wanted to do more than simply stage an evening of performance. As they began planning for this year’s show, they realized that they wanted to not only celebrate a collective spirit of humanity, but also wanted to dive deep into their own lives and ask the question, How can we be the change we want to see in the world?

In response to this question, Moving in the Spirit students and faculty identified social causes, created plans of action and became agents of social change in their community. Projects ranged from advocacy for homeless animals, water conservation, recycling, and caring for the elderly. Other projects explored homelessness, fair trade, human trafficking, young female empowerment, tolerance and racial reconciliation. Ultimately, each student and faculty member became an advocate for a cause and an information bearer on the need for social change in our community, and the lessons they learned are shared throughout Origins: Honoring our Humanity.

Collaborators on this exciting project include renowned poet Alice Lovelace, prominent visual artist Sal Brownfield and the Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde. “We believe that collaborative partnerships allow us to bridge communities, transcend barriers and deepen the cultural impact of our creative work”, says Artistic and Executive Director, Dana Lupton.  Stressing the importance of this opportunity for the young people involved, visual artist Sal Brownfield says, “We need the arts.  The arts give us something that nothing else can provide, individual expression. We need opportunities for our youth such as Moving in the Spirit and I’m delighted to have been invited to participate.”

Origins: Honoring Our Humanity will be held on May 1, 2008 at 7pm at The Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University. Tickets may be purchased for $16 at the door on the night of the event. Children under the age of 3 can attend the performance free of charge. For more information, call 404-624-5295.

Dancers in Moving in the Spirit’s Junior Company, comprised of students ages 8-13, will embark on a regional dance tour on April 10th-11th, 2008. The tour, entitled Tour Explosion!, will include performances for children and seniors at the Atlanta Children’s Shelter and Sunshine Senior Center.

Every year, the Junior Company participates in an annual regional dance tour. The Junior Company, which uses the discipline of dance to teach problem solving and critical thinking skills, provides students with performance, leadership and mentor opportunities. The goals of Tour Explosion are to provide pre-teens with educational experiences and collaborations with other youth organizations, create leadership opportunities for pre-teens through public speaking and lecture demonstrations, and produce a body of work that focuses on racial reconciliation and tolerance.

This year’s Tour Explosion will take place in Atlanta, GA. Past Junior Company tours have traveled to such places as Columbus, GA, Augusta, GA, Athens, GA and Chattanooga, TN.

“The Junior Company works very hard all year for the opportunity to perform on tour,” says Corissa Castle Wood, Director of the Junior Company. “While on tour, Junior Company members are able to practice everything we teach them in their Moving in the Spirit classes: responsibility, accountability and leadership skills. They must show respect to themselves and others in their posture and body language; they must think critically and speak articulately when they are asked questions during talk-backs with audiences; and they must work together to resolve conflicts or obstacles that may arise during Tour.”

Congratulations, Junior Company. Have a wonderful tour!

On February 23^rd and 24^th, Moving in the Spirit presented our fifth annual Men in Motion show, which featured the boys and young men in our programs. Moving in the Spirit’s Men in Motion show provides young men in our programs the opportunity to collaborate and perform with some of Atlanta’s most talented professional male dancers. These dancers serve as teachers and role models, and perform alongside our students during the performance.   

This year’s performance was a tremendous success. The boys in our programs shared their energetic dances with sold-out crowds, receiving much applause and praise. Moving in the Spirit and our Men in Motion participants would like to thank everyone who attended the show and supported the program this year.

Congratulations, Men in Motion!