University of Missouri–St. Louis dance students brought the audience to their feet Monday during the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Observance at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center. Ronderrick Mitchell, assistant teaching professor of dance, directed the Bishop Walter Hawkins piece titled “Be Grateful.”
Senior dancer Charis Railey’s reach to the heavens was captured by UMSL photographer August Jennewein and is the latest to be featured in Eye on UMSL. The other four dancers (from left) are Lalitha Jilakara, Elizabeth Moushey, Michelle Hughes and Robbie Wade.
The university’s celebration of Dr. King included off-campus efforts for MLK Day of Service, as well as additional performances at the Touhill by UMSL’s Afro-Cuban Percussion Ensemble, the Metro Theater Company and the New Sunny Mount Missionary Baptist Church Chancel Choir.
Also moving was guest speaker Steve Pemberton, Walgreens vice president for diversity and inclusion, whose discussion of family, love and life choices channeled themes of Dr. King. Pemberton’s speech ended on uplifting words of hope: “Keep building. Keep believing.”
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