Hundreds of Richmond-area students jumped, twirled, swayed and stomped through four centuries of local history in a dance performance that completed a unique lesson spanning the school year.

Fourth-graders from nine schools danced historical themes in the 13th performance of the Richmond Ballet's Minds In Motion.

"Did everyone have fun?" project director Brett D. Bonda asked 700 students seated on the stage-transformed floor of the Ashe Center at the end of the first show.

The kids shook their hands in the air as they yelled an affirmative.

To begin yesterday's first show, all dancers traipsed beneath the temporary lighting as a dance documentary of Richmond's history began with pictures of the region's geographic centerpiece, the James River, projected behind them.

At turns reverent and comical, participants kicked and high-stepped representations of the Powhatan Indians, Richmond's origins, the Revolutionary and Civil wars, the emancipation of the slaves and lawyer Oliver W. Hill's role in the civil-rights movement.

Two of the favorites among the estimated 2,500 spectators were numbers portraying Civil War nurses keeping soldiers alive, and a scene from The Jefferson Hotel, where Bill "Bojangles" Robinson worked as a waiter before launching a legendary tap-dancing career.

Fourth-grader Thomas Krivanec's role as the maitre d' was one of four routines he learned during the once-a-week Minds In Motion classes at Mary Munford Elementary School in Richmond. The part was also his favorite, said Thomas, 11.

"It's just fun," he said of the yearlong dance lessons. He was surprised at how much thought went into dance.

"People think of it like ballet, but this is more like a sport," said Thomas, a member of one of Minds In Motion's advanced dance teams.

Trayonna Wallace, an 11-year-old sixth-grader at Falling Creek Middle School in Chesterfield County, liked performing "Freedom Song," illustrating the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863.

"While we do the 'Freedom Song,' we tell all about history," said Trayonna, one of the lead dancers in the part, performed by Minds In Motion's most advanced dance team. "It's very exciting."

The Valentine Richmond History Center partnered with the Richmond Ballet to assist with this year's academic theme, Minds In Motion officials said.

Bonda, in his 23rd year with the Richmond Ballet, has directed Minds In Motion since it began. He's still surprised at how well the students respond to education dance lessons that are intentionally challenging.

"I've learned over the years that if you really push the kids and set the bar high, they really can achieve things," he said.

Today's two scheduled performances were to use participants from 10 more schools in the area. Bonda estimates this year's routines, dubbed "Let It Shine," will draw a total audience of 10,000 for all four shows.
Contact staff writer Calvin R. Trice at (540) 932-3674 or ctrice@timesdispatch.com.