On Tuesday, February 11, from 6 to 8 p.m., join the First Tuesday Salon at the BeanRunner Cafe at 201 S. Division St. for a special edition of Movement Is Our Voice with dancer, choreographer and educator Sharon Simmons-Wright. The evening will explore dance as a medium for social justice, self-expression, and unleashing the artistic spirit within. Over the course of two hours, Sharon will share her passion for dance, creative expression, justice, building community, and encouraging life-long learning.
Sharon Simmons-Wright is the dynamic force behind Just the Place, Inc. Cultural Creative Arts Center, located at 2 Stowe Road, Suite 3. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Dance, a Masters Degree in Education, more than 35 years in the education realm as a former NYC educator and a current adjunct professor at Central Connecticut State University, she is not just a dance studio owner in Peekskill – she is a visionary.
Sharon’s dance journey began as a dance student at the age of 10. In time, she became a passionate instructor and dance education powerhouse. Breaking the mold, she founded Just the Place, Inc. in 2001, where every plié and pirouette is infused with creativity and character. Sharon’s approach is not just about dance; it is about unleashing the artistic spirit within. Her studio is not a mere space; it is a vibrant community hub, buzzing with workshops, performances, and outreach programs that break down barriers and make dance accessible to all.
In the pulse of the community, Sharon’s legacy is not just measured in years, but in the rhythm of countless lives she has touched. Her mission goes beyond dance steps; it is about igniting a passion for lifelong learning and self-expression. If you are ready to dance to the beat of your own drum, step into Just the Place – where Sharon turns every dance into an exhilarating journey of self-discovery.
Sharon Simmons-Wright’s work does not go unnoticed in the City of Peekskill or the surrounding arts community. As part of the city’s celebration of Black History Month in February 2022, Sharon was one of Five Honored for Positive Contributions to the Community who have made an impact in the lives of Peekskill citizens as the Peekskill Herald reported. In addition to teaching, running her dance studio, and mentoring Peekskill’s youth, Sharon continues her passion of using dance for social justice intertwining art and advocacy. On April 13 and 14, 2024, Sharon and her husband Derek performed a stunning dance routine at Studio Theater in Exile in the Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art (HV MOCA). On May 18 and 19, 2024, as the Peekskill Herald featured, Just the Place, Inc. performed “There Is a Message In Our Movement,” led and choreographed by Sharon Simmons-Wright. The full dance program was a social justice suite inspired by photographs by former Peekskill resident and iaward-winning photographer Ocean Morisset, and drawings from the “Arc of the Viral Universe” journal installation at the theater curated by Peekskill resident and artist Carla Rae Johnson.
Throughout her career, Sharon Simmons-Wright has led by example whether it be through educating the minds of her students in NYC or at the collegiate level, by running her dance studio or by choreographing social justice performances through dance, Sharon has proven to be a visionary.
Join the First Tuesday Salon on Tuesday, February 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the BeanRunner Cafe for a special edition of Movement Is Our Voice with Sharon Simmons-Wright. As always, First Tuesday’s Salon is free and open to the public.
Don’t forget to tell everyone at the First Tuesday Salon, you read about it in the Peekskill Herald.
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