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Just Us

Office of Institutional Diversity & Inclusion

Helping youth unlock their potential

The JUST US Projects combine art with personal development skills to equip youth with tools for success.  Youth art activities advance social and emotional learning and guide the process of communicating their voice.  Youth work with artists from various disciplines, to learn art techniques and create and present art in a noncompetitive environment. The mission is to empower youth with tools that aid personal growth and constructive civic engagement.  Emphasis is placed on awareness (of self and others), self-management, self-expression, self-reflection and interpersonal skills. 

Collage Dance Collective Community Workshop for Youth Dancers

Youth from the community gathered at Cameron Art Museum for a dance workshop infused with resilience-building activities.  Led by J’Vanete Skiba, Director of the NHC Resiliency Task Force, participants learned practical skills to foster resilience and deal with challenges. 

Additionally, three members of the Collage Dance Collective led fun warm-up exercises followed by instruction for a high-energy dance routine.  The students performed the routine they learned at the end of the lesson.   

Contributing partners include:

Youth Dance Workshop with Collage Dance Collective

Community youth rehearse the dance routine taught by members of the Collage Dance Collective.  UNCW dance students assisted youth as they learned the routine.

UNCW dance students introduce themselves to youth participants at a community dance workshop held at the Cameron Art Museum.

During their residency at UNCW, the Collage Dance Collective provided a workshop to community youth at the Cameron Art Museum.  Pictured is Victoria Jaenson from Kampala, Uganda.  Victoria began her formal dance training at the age of seven at the Brattleboro School of Dance in Vermont.

After an energetic, exercise warmup, participants experienced a "Master Class", quickly learning movements to routine during the 45 minute session.  Pictured is Rickey Flagg II from Windsor, Connecticut.  Mr. Flagg attended the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and has since choreographed solos for the Youth American Grand Prix and World Ballety Competition. Mr. Flagg earned a full scholarship to attend the Dance Theatre of Harlem's Professional Training Program.

Victoria Jaenson, member of the Collage Dance Collective, assists dancers as they learn movements of the routine. 

Community youth rehearse the dance routine taught by members of the Collage Dance Collective.  Collage Dance Collective members included in this photograph are Mr. Rickey Flagg and Mr. Thierry Blannchard.  Mr. Blannchard is from Sao Paulo, Brazil and began his dance training at the age of eight.  He won a scholarship to study at Bolshoi Theater School in Brazil, where he studied contemporary dance, character dance, dance history, history of art, acting, pas de deux and piano.

The JUST US initiative invited community youth to participate in a dance workshop infused with resilience-building activities.  J'vaneté Becton Skiba, '03, Director of the NHC Resiliency Task Force, kicked off the afternoon teaching practical skills to foster resilience and deal with challenges. 

 

 

UNCW Student joins youth participants in dance during class
Students stand at front of class while addressing the room
Participants hold their arms out as they dance
Youth participants dancing in dance class
Student instructs youth during dance class
Student joins youth participants in dance during class
Workshop leader kneeling at front of class
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