Moving in the Spirit "Believe in Me": Moving in the Spirit "Believe in Me": 120810_believe_mashunte_holmes-19242

“I began dancing with Moving in the Spirit when I was six years old and continued until I graduated from high school. What I remember most is how our teachers prepared our bodies for dancing and our minds for adulthood and handling different situations. One year we toured to Smackover, Arkansas, and we were asked to move our performance because a little girl was having her birthday near our performance site. She didn’t want a mixed-race group near her party. Most of us were in shock because the year was 2000, but we rallied and a team of supporters found somewhere else for us to dance. Afterward, we talked about how blessed we were to live in a community where we don’t have to deal with situations like this. We realized that even if there is anger or hatred around us, we can still push through. One person can’t stop the show. I toured many other cities with Moving in the Spirit, literally from coast to coast, and had wonderful experiences. Dana, our teacher, would zone in on our strengths and have each group member lead in different ways. It made us feel empowered to each have a voice. I graduated from high school in 2003, and went to Albany State University on a full ride as a presidential scholar. Next year, I’ll receive my PhD in pharmacology and toxicology and focus on cancer research and health disparities in different communities. All my experiences at Moving in the Spirit shaped who I am today. To me, Moving in the Spirit is more than teachers and students. Moving in the Spirit became my family.” –Mashunte Holmes“I have known Mashunte ever since she was six years old. She reminds me of Lady Justice, the blindfolded woman with the scales, because she always does the right thing no matter how hard the journey. As a dancer at Moving in the Spirit, she would step in as the voice of reason if someone in the group started down the wrong path, reminding them of the consequences not only to themselves but to the group. Mashunte always knew who she was, even at a young age. Looking at her, you would think ‘Here’s the girl next door,’ but inside her family there was a lot of pain and grief. At home she was the foundation for her family, so when she came to Moving in the Spirit she would often express through dance what she could not articulate elsewhere. She chose a scientific field that is dominated by strong male personalities and is committed to finding cures for our planet. She came back this past summer to visit and speak to our students, and she eased right in like she had never left. She truly embodies the values at Moving in the Spirit, and everything we hope for and wish for our kids.” – Dana Lupton

“I began dancing with Moving in the Spirit when I was six years old and continued until I graduated from high school. What I remember most is how our teachers prepared our bodies for dancing and our minds for adulthood and handling different situations. One year we toured to Smackover, Arkansas, and we were asked to move our performance because a little girl was having her birthday near our performance site. She didn’t want a mixed-race group near her party. Most of us were in shock because the year was 2000, but we rallied and a team of supporters found somewhere else for us to dance. Afterward, we talked about how blessed we were to live in a community where we don’t have to deal with situations like this. We realized that even if there is anger or hatred around us, we can still push through. One person can’t stop the show. I toured many other cities with Moving in the Spirit, literally from coast to coast, and had wonderful experiences. Dana, our teacher, would zone in on our strengths and have each group member lead in different ways. It made us feel empowered to each have a voice. I graduated from high school in 2003, and went to Albany State University on a full ride as a presidential scholar. Next year, I’ll receive my PhD in pharmacology and toxicology and focus on cancer research and health disparities in different communities. All my experiences at Moving in the Spirit shaped who I am today. To me, Moving in the Spirit is more than teachers and students. Moving in the Spirit became my family.” –Mashunte Holmes 

 

“I have known Mashunte ever since she was six years old. She reminds me of Lady Justice, the blindfolded woman with the scales, because she always does the right thing no matter how hard the journey. As a dancer at Moving in the Spirit, she would step in as the voice of reason if someone in the group started down the wrong path, reminding them of the consequences not only to themselves but to the group. Mashunte always knew who she was, even at a young age. Looking at her, you would think ‘Here’s the girl next door,’ but inside her family there was a lot of pain and grief. At home she was the foundation for her family, so when she came to Moving in the Spirit she would often express through dance what she could not articulate elsewhere. She chose a scientific field that is dominated by strong male personalities and is committed to finding cures for our planet. She came back this past summer to visit and speak to our students, and she eased right in like she had never left. She truly embodies the values at Moving in the Spirit, and everything we hope for and wish for our kids.” – Dana Lupton