A few years ago as a new student at Armstrong High School, Zyiear Martin felt isolated. But after signing up for dance class, Martin broke out of his comfort zone and felt free.
The program felt “warm and welcoming” to Martin, now a senior at Armstrong.
Thanks to the RVA East End Festival, not only does Martin, 18, take dance classes during the school day, but he also dances in an actual in-house studio at Armstrong.
After receiving funding from the RVA East End Festival, Armstrong’s dance studio was completed during the 2019-20 academic year.
“Without the East End Festival, we wouldn’t have this beautiful dance studio,” said Deedra Hite, who teaches dance at Armstrong and created the divisionwide dance program. Hite writes all of the dance program’s curricula.
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After a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic, the RVA East End Festival, which benefits music and arts programs for Richmond Public Schools, will return on Saturday.
The East End Festival kicks off at noon at Henry L. Marsh Elementary in Church Hill. The festival, which features musical and dance performances, wraps up at 9 p.m.
“We invite the entire Richmond region to join us on Sept. 24 for an exciting and inspirational event to support our amazing students in the East End,” said the Rev. Marilyn Heckstall, festival co-chair, in a statement.
Since its inception in 2016, the festival has raised more than $400,000 to support music, performing arts and visual arts programs at eight East End Richmond schools.
The goal of this year’s festival is to raise $100,000 for the following schools: Bellevue, Chimborazo, Fairfield Court, Marsh, Overby-Sheppard and Woodville elementaries; Martin Luther King Middle; Armstrong High; and Franklin Military Academy.
Hite wants to continue transforming Armstrong’s studio into a safe and welcoming space for her students. She wants to paint the concrete floor, install a mural on the walls, and build a dressing room and storage closet.
“I want the students to be able to come into their studio, their home,” Hite said. “They find peace, joy and relief in here.”
The space was transformed from an old woodworking area filled with equipment into a dance studio. As RPS moved the equipment to the Richmond Technical Center, a spring dance floor, movable ballet bars and mirrors on wheels were placed in the newly formed space.
“We wanted to give them a high-quality dance floor,” said Christie-Jo Adams, coordinator of K-12 arts education for RPS.
Any student can take part in the RPS dance program. At the middle school level, students are able to participate in dance instead of physical education.
The program provides an outlet for students whose families may not be able to pay for costly out-of-school dance programs and makes students aware that fine arts degrees such as dance and music are possible in college, Adams said.
In Hite’s class, students not only receive dance lessons but also learn about the history and culture of specific dances and get science lessons.
Hite is currently teaching her students about back muscles so they can have more body awareness and transform anatomy lessons into dance choreography.
During a recent Wednesday morning class, her students danced across the floor, partly to Hite’s choreography and partly to their own. For a recent assignment, the students had to make a 16-count dance based on the actions of back muscles.
RPS students benefit from the festival, and some take part. The students are able to showcase themselves and their talents, Adams said.
Participating in the festival opens a door for RPS students that says “the community is here to support you even if a wrong note or a misstep [happens], we are here to support you,” Adams said.
People can make online donations ahead of the festival at donatenow.networkforgood.org/eastendfestival. Volunteers will accept donations at the event.