The beauty of dance knows no boundaries, as demonstrated by the latest initiative where Ohio State University (OSU) brings performance art into an unexpected space: the London Correctional Institution (LoCI). Assistant Professor of Dance Irvin Gonzalez, known for his advocacy roots and a heart dedicated to connecting people, led a unique class of 21 diverse students through the Ohio Prison Education Exchange Project (OPEEP).
Mixing "outside" students from OSU's Columbus campus with "inside" students at LoCI, the program's first dance class, dubbed Citizen Artists, delved into the power of storytelling through movement. With sessions stretching across three hours each week for an entire 16-week span, this project was more than just an educational endeavor—it was a conduit for expression. Gonzalez shunned rigid techniques, opting for a fluid approach that fostered personal storytelling through choreography and improvisation. In a statement obtained by OSU News, Gonzalez explained his philosophy: "They’re already being forced to move in a specific way. A technique class – like a ballet class – there’s a rigidity to it. I wanted to step away from students feeling like someone else was dictating how their body should move."
The underpinning ideology of the class is to present students with alternative avenues of thought, as stated by OPEEP co-director and professor of women's, gender, and sexuality studies, Mary Thomas. By incorporating arts-focused curricula like Citizen Artists into prison education, the program is not simply teaching steps and sequences; it is actively sowing seeds for empathy, self-expression, and creative liberation. According to an OSU News interview, Thomas highlighted the reciprocal nature of these classes: "They encourage empathy, develop tools for self-expression and provide outlets for creativity."
For inmates participating in the course, the influence may stretch beyond the confines of prison walls, shaping paths toward self-discovery and furnishing them with indispensable competencies for continued education. Thomas emphasizes this transformative potential: "For incarcerated students, these courses are especially powerful: They guide people along new paths of self-discovery and equip them with enhanced skills for future education, both during their time in prison and beyond." Ohio State University is steadfast in its mission to share educational excellence wherever it takes root, proving that the arts remain a vital tool for growth, connection, and rehabilitation within diverse communities.
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