LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – Students at Northeast Elementary School took audiences on a musical journey through time Tuesday during the school’s annual Black History Month program, highlighting the cultural impact of dance and movement.
The event, titled “Legacies in Motion: Dance That Tells a Story,” was held at 1 p.m. in the school gym and featured performances and narration by 60 fourth-grade students.
Kierra Brown, a kindergarten teacher and event organizer, said the program was created to reflect the school’s diverse student population and rich history.
“We have a very diverse population here at Northeast, so we just wanted to celebrate them,” Brown said.
Brown noted that the school was formerly known as Middleton and is connected to one of its most notable former students, David Ruffin, a member of The Temptations.
“One of the most famous people to come from this school was David Ruffin, from The Temptations,” Brown said. “So, we wanted to honor that memory just by having the kids talk about how dance has influenced culture and how they can do big things just like he did.”
Brown said fourth graders were selected to lead the performance because they serve as role models for younger students.
“We chose some of our fourth graders, which are the leaders of the school, because the other kids look up to them, to celebrate and take a musical journey through time to show how dance has influenced us personally,” she said.
The program featured a variety of musical genres heavily influenced by African American culture. Performances began with a Motown segment highlighting The Jackson 5 and the unity associated with the Motown era. Students also showcased HBCU step traditions connected to the Divine Nine, followed by segments focused on the evolution of hip hop.
The program concluded with a tribute to Debbie Allen, recognized for using dance to convey powerful messages.
“This is one of the biggest programs that I’ve personally been involved in here at Northeast,” Brown said.
She said her hope is that students walk away inspired.
“I just hope that they realize that they can do anything they put their mind to,” Brown said. “They can come from a small town like Meridian and go out and make a name in music, in dance, in science, math — whatever the case may be. I want them to know, ‘Hey, I see those people on the screen, and I can do it too.’”
School officials said the event aimed to celebrate history, expression and excellence through movement while highlighting the importance of the arts in education.
