Arts in River City

Written by Michele Munz, 37, of St. Louis.  Michele has been a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for the past 12 years. She is a dancer and says she is bound to get a dancer out of her three daughters, ages 8, 6 and 3. They all enjoy classes, shows and camps at COCA.

A semester-long project on community at my daughter’s school culminated this week with the construction of their own “city” along a small creek in the school’s playground. They not only built their own homes along the water, they each created a business they wanted to have in their town – River City. My daughter – a third-grader at The College School, a private school in Webster Groves – built a performing arts center. She called it ARC, for Arts in River City.

This didn’t surprise me. Like many families, we spend a lot of time at COCA – but our situation is a little unique. I have three daughters, ages 8, 6 and 3, who all take dance classes at COCA. My oldest, Hannah, also started taking acting. We are huge fans of the family theater series, and COCA summer camps are a must. To top it off, I dance as well, mainly taking from COCA’s fabulous hip-hop instructor Redd Williams outside of my performances with the Kari James Dance Network. I’ve danced on COCA’s wonderful stage many times with my daughters in the audience.

Hannah initially chose a performing arts center as her River City business because she loves dancing and acting. At that point, she was focused on what she enjoys and values. But part of the project involves determining why your business is important to have in the community, what purpose it serves.

Each third-grader completed a research paper on their businesses and gave a presentation to the rest of the class, which voted whether to issue an occupancy permit. COCA played a huge part in her research. She interviewed Ann Phillips, who works at the front desk; and jazz instructor Lee Nolting, who also directs student recruitment. Hannah read about COCA’s mission, outreach and size – moving beyond her own little world.

As she and her fellow classmates gave tours Tuesday of their River City to parents and the school, Hannah understood how the arts inspires and connects us all. In her research paper, she wrote: “Everyone has a gift. Not everyone has a chance to use it. Without a performing arts center, who could express their gifts? People will find that a performing arts center can develop skills that will allow them to think, lead and contribute to the world around them.”

The project and Hannah’s experience at COCA has helped her discover that she not only loves to dance — but why it’s important that she dance and dance for others. And if everyone had the opportunity to do the same with whatever their gift may be, it can change a community.