SIUE’s McKinley Smith Creates Dance Magic
Most students know and love the music. Some are familiar with the moves, but it takes an experienced dance coach to teach them the masterfully choreographed numbers.
McKinley Smith, hip-hop dance instructor for the SIUE East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts, enjoys harnessing spirited hearts and practicing eager feet to create rhythmic magic displayed on stage for appreciative audiences.
“I love dance, and I love sharing it with my students,” said Smith, who has been teaching for five years and is an alumnus of the Performing Arts program. “It’s great to watch the students grow and become better dancers, all while having a good time.”
While hip-hop dance is a favorite of many students, Smith works his classes hard to produce polished performances.
“Students learn various dance styles and techniques,” he added. “Also, not only do students dance, but they also express themselves through acting. They get to come to a place where they can be themselves and be comfortable.”
The SIUE East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts has a long, rich history. The legendary dancer, anthropologist, and social activist Katherine Dunham founded the Center for Performing Arts at the SIUE East St. Louis Center in 1964. At its peak in the 1990s, the East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts provided year-round instruction to more than 1,000 youth and became a training ground for professional artists of all disciplines. For decades, the East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts provided performing arts classes to students and community members to develop local talent and to cultivate a love of the arts. Classes often culminated in musical and theatrical productions.
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