Earlier this year, 2019 Rogers Scholar and Lakeside Christian Academy student Allie Lewis used her community service project to provide a free dance class for young ballerinas under 12 at the Morehead Dance Academy. She provided lessons in the basics of ballet and incorporated those moves into a small performance for their families. She also collected gently used items such as leotards and ballet shoes and donated them to Christian Social Services. Lewis did this project in an effort to share the art of dance to children that may not have the opportunity to enroll in regular classes.
“Dance is such a beautiful art, but not everyone is able to take classes because they are often not offered in rural areas or are very expensive,” Lewis said. “It was amazing to have the opportunity to teach these children about an activity that I love so much. The way these young dancers focused on the choreography and performed for their families made me beyond proud, and I knew my class had made a positive impact on both the dancer and their parents.”
“The personal confidence this ballet class has instilled in my daughter is priceless! It’s been weeks later, and she still talks about what she learned and how she wants to perform on stage someday,” said Leigh Ann Lucas, a mother of a student.
Each graduate of The Center for Rural Development’s Rogers Scholars program is required to complete a community service project. For more information about Rogers Scholars, visit www.centeryouthprograms.com.