Because it is a class, but also an extracurricular activity, the Bridgeport High School Dance Ensemble is somewhat of a gray area. But together, the young dancers and their teacher/director Alicia Kinsey have created an inspirational message – one delivered in living color.

 

Part of last month’s adjudication at the West Virginia State Dance Festival and to be performed at a May 15 show at BHS is "Dance of Hope," a number choreographed by Kinsey which pays tribute to cancer victims everywhere.

 

Upon hearing Birdie’s “Not About Angels” (The Fault in Our Stars), the pattern began coming together, but the inspiration which wove it together came from Kinsey’s mom, who died Jan. 17 after a most courageous battle with cancer.

 

“I started thinking about it over the summer when my mom had about six months to live,” she said.

 

Kinsey's mother, Lisa Smolder, was diagnosed with stage four cancer in 2011. Her diagnosis was Mucinous Adenocarcinoma, a rare cancer of the appendix. 

 

She traveled to Houston, Texas for ongoing medical care, undergoing surgery both there at M.D. Anderson and at Cleveland Clinic. 

 

"She fought an amazing fight," Kinsey said. "She fought so hard not for herself, but for her family. She was an amazing woman to love her family that much and to suffer for so long."

 

Her mother always held out hope, Kinsey said.

 

"Maybe subconsciously, that is why the dance was named 'Dance for Hope.'" 

 

Many have similar stories, so Kinsey felt she wasn't creating the dance choreography for selfish reasons,but for so many affected by the universal disease.  

 

To represent all of those victims – each with their unique personalities, gifts and specific diagnoses – the dancers would wear white.

 

“I really knew I wanted to do that because white is angelic and pure; innocent almost,” said Kinsey, about the parallelism of innocence to every victim who has been swept up in  a cancer diagnosis. It was also ideal because her mom loved angels.

 

As the dancers engage in movement, an explosion of color evolves; each of those colors representing a specific type of cancer.

 

“The girls chose which color they would display – some because of special people in their lives who have battled that type of cancer,” Kinsey said.

 

Others chose a color they just particularly liked and it all came together, like a rainbow after a storm.

 

In fact, the way the dance transformed from choreography in Kinsey’s mind to a living performance in perfect synchronization was more than perfect; it was truly angel-inspired, she believes.

 

“We literally finished the dance seven days after I came back from my mom’s funeral,” she said. “It was like my mom was watching over me.”

 

That feeling was amazing – as were her student dancers. Working with the girls and sharing a mission to not just dance, but speak through their movements, was healing to Kinsey’s heart, she said.

 

“It was important to me to be able to put my energy and effort into this dance and it helped me mourn in a healthy way to be able to honor my mom and everybody affected by cancer – to give people hope for the future – finding a cure and better treatments,” she said. “And the girls are amazing. They have been so supportive.”

 

Kinsey said she once read through material provided by the American Cancer Society that cancer doesn’t just affect the person receiving the diagnosis and going through the treatments, but also their spouses, children, siblings; their coworkers and friends.

 

Now she knows that to be true.

 

“It’s really hard to go through – impossible really – to be in my early 30s and lose my mom,” she said. “This is my personal story and a tribute to my mom, but it’s also about everybody affected. It was a way to tell everyone’s story.”

 

It’s not just a story of someone suffering from cancer, but reveals the layers of healing and hurt; hope and compassion.

 

“I’ve heard people say they get cold chills when they watched it and that it is really beautiful,” Kinsey said.

 

The group performed the piece at the BHS Talent Show in March and at the West Virginia Department of Education’s Arts Alive program and the West Virginia Dance Festival; both events held in Charleston. The BHS Dance Ensemble and other participating dancers were accepted for the events based on an adjudication process.

 

Judges’ comments, the dancers said, included that the piece was clean and executed well with synchronized, flowing movements. The girls shared that they were emotionally touched – and honored to perform a piece that was so important to its creator; someone with whom they have grown close throughout the school year and who has nurtured one of their own passions – to dance in a beautiful, colorful, story-telling way.

 

“We really wanted to portray the message to honor anyone affected by cancer and hope many people are moved by the piece,” said Kylie Frame, senior member of the ensemble. “It means a lot to Mrs. Kinsey and I am honored to help her share this story and dedicate it to those people affected.”

 

Members of this year’s BHS Dance Ensemble are Kylie Frame, Megan Blount, Jessica Balash, Olivia Friel, Bella Malone, Mallory Rinker, Emily Trickett, Madalyn Aloi, Sarah Reppert and Lindsay Knight. They are pictured above with Director/Choreographer Alicia Kinsey. 

 

Top three photos of the dance ensemble were taken at the BHS Talent Show by Tyler Maxwell of Ben Queen Photography. 

 

Editor's Note: Scroll to 1:46 (near the end of the video) to watch "Dance of Hope."  The YouTube video below is the recorded live stream of "Arts Alive" held April 3 at the Clay Center for Arts & Sciences in Charleston.