Encore performance by Gentlemen of Vision dance troupe to be held Friday at QJHS

QUINCY — Arts Quincy will welcome Gentlemen of Vision for an afternoon performance to hundreds of Quincy Junior High School students on May 5.

Gentlemen of Vision is a 14-time national champion step dance troupe from a program that serves at-risk youth from the St. Louis area.

The troupe performed in 2022 at Arts Quincy’s Jackson-Lincoln Pool Summer of Rhythm celebration and also made a stop to perform at Chaddock School. 

The GOV will also meet with the QJHS Young Man Initiative Group before the performance to share their stories of working toward graduation and beyond.

The organization supports high school males through community-based mentoring, college/career readiness programs and volunteer activities that guarantee all members are socially and academically prepared for post- secondary experiences. The dance team performs and competes in numerous shows annually to showcase the step skills gained from membership in GOV.

Step dancing is an energetic and rhythmic style of dance that uses body motion to create the sounds of percussion. Stomping, clapping, elements of tap dance plus origins in African traditional dancing combine to create the unique sound and look.

In a press release, Laura Sievert, executive director of Arts Quincy, said “We hope students will leave the performance inspired and become involved in their community by expressing themselves creatively. Increasing access to quality arts and culture programming is among Arts Quincy’s most important functions.”

“QJHS is so grateful to Arts Quincy for sharing this wonderful opportunity with us,” said Brenda Fleer, QJHS principal. “Our students will not only get to witness this popular dance style, but they will also hear the uplifting message of hard work and perseverance as well as the importance of school and graduation.”

This event is made possible through members of Arts Quincy and the National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America program.

For more information, contact Arts Quincy at office@artsquincy.org or 217-222-3432.