More that 800 elementary students in the Pike County School System had the opportunity to visit Veterans Memorial Stadium on the campus of Troy University on Wednesday.

Few of the students had been to the Troy University campus and even fewer had been to Veterans Memorial Football Stadium.

As excited as the students were to be on campus and in the football stadium, they were there to  dance and/or enjoy the dance program on the “turf.”

“For our students, the opportunity, to visit Troy University and the Veterans Memorial Stadium was an exciting experience,” said Rodney Drish, Pike County Elementary School principal. “And, they were there to experience the enjoyment of dancing, either themselves or watching other elementary students dance.”

What made dance day so exciting for the dancers and for those in the stands was that they have experienced dance at their schools, with their classmates and their schoolmates.

“Pike County Elementary had wonderful opportunities to learn about the art of dancing and to experience dance themselves,” Drish said. “And, this opportunity was made possible at the elementary schools in Pike County, through PRJ Arts and Innovation, Inc.”

PRJ Arts was started in August, 2022, by Patti Rutland Simpson, a lifelong supporter of the arts who believes that “all children should have opportunities to experience the arts.”

Together with her son, Vincent Johnson, PRJ Arts and Innovation began teaching weekly dance classes at Pike County Elementary. Now, dance teachers also work with children at Banks School and Goshen Elementary each week.

Dozens of children have received full scholarships to study dance at the Patti Rutland Jazz Studio in Brundidge.

Patti Rutland forfeits 100 percent of her salary “so that more children are afforded the opportunity do dance.” Dance is that important. Every child should have the opportunity.

Drish said he can see a difference in the children at PCES.

“They are more accepting of others and have more confidence in group situations,” Drish said.  “There’s something unifying about dance that brings children together.”

Rutland agrees that dance brings people of all ages together, especially school-age children.

“By inspiring children and energize schools, we encourage creativity in our community by fostering inclusion, respect and social awareness through dance,” she said. “We strive to make dance accessible and relevant through dance workshops, performance opportunities, community outreach and studio classes that are inclusive to all students regardless of race, gender, ability, and socioeconomic status. We encourage an environment where respect for self and others is second nature and expressing joy through movement is a natural part of life. And it’s working.”

Dr. Mark Bazzell agrees that dance is working in the Pike County Elementary Schools.

“There is an element of dance that brings students together and, in a way that carries over into life. And, it’s working in Pike County Elementary Schools and should, and hopefully, will carry over into life.”