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How a group of young dancers turned public art into a lesson in empathy, connection, and trust.

What began as a photoshoot became a powerful lesson in trust, empathy, and unexpected connection.

For the past eight years, I’ve had the absolute joy of working with Dogwood Middle School’s Dance Company, creating a different concept each year for their annual photoshoot.

And honestly? It’s become one of my favorite projects.

What started as a creative collaboration around dance portraits has grown into something so much bigger, a chance to create meaningful experiences with these students through storytelling, movement, and connection.

So when the idea sparked to bring together two things I care deeply about, Dogwood Dance Company and Mending Walls, I was all in.

As the photographer for Mending Walls, I’ve had the incredible privilege of documenting the heart of this work for years. I’ve watched conversations become connection. I’ve watched murals become mirrors. I’ve seen firsthand how community-engaged art can open doors to empathy in ways that surprise you.

Getting to bring that world together with a community I’ve loved for eight years, alongside Dogwood’s incredible dance teacher, Lisa Perkinson (Teacher of the Year!), was something really special.

Together, Lisa and I created a curriculum inspired by Trust Building/s, Mending Walls’ mural series created by Noah Scalin and Alfonso Pérez Acosta in collaboration with One Small Step, centered around the themes of reliability and empathy.

The goal was simple.

Invite students to engage with the murals not just as viewers, but as participants.

To reflect.
To connect.
To create.

What unfolded was so much more than a photoshoot.

It became a lesson in trust, vulnerability, empathy, courage, and unexpected friendship.

Many of the dancers were paired with someone they didn’t know well or had never worked closely with before. Their challenge was to create movement and trust poses inspired by the murals, visually interpreting concepts like empathy and reliability, while also creating an individual pose that reflected who they are as dancers and people.

And wow… these students showed up.

_{Pictured: Dancers Laighla, 7th Grade & Harmony, 8th Grade}

Trust Starts With “Don’t Let Me Fall”

One of the strongest themes that came through in their reflections was how physical trust becomes emotional trust.

Because dance asks something vulnerable of you.

Sometimes it asks you to lean backward and trust someone will catch you.
Sometimes it asks you to put your full weight into another person’s hands.
Sometimes it asks you to be brave before you feel ready.

_{Pictured Shanaija, 8th Grade & Gabriela 7th Grade}

Jakayla, 8th Grade, said it beautifully:

“Trust in dance feels like letting go of fear and knowing someone will be there to catch and support you. It feels safe even when you’re taking a risk.”

And Jeiza, 8th Grade, gave us a quote I may never recover from:

“Trust in dance feels like a conversation without words, a shared breath, and a leap of faith into the unknown, knowing your partner will catch you.”

I mean.. y’all!!!

Even the youngest dancers understood this kind of trust.

Ryleigh, 6th Grade, shared:

“Trust in dance feels like you’re having a good feeling about someone that you can count on. It feels like you can move freely.”

And in the simplest, most powerful way, Lyric, 8th Grade, wrote:

“Trust in dance feels like freedom of movement.”

That one says so much with so little.

Empathy Looks Like Listening

One thing I absolutely loved reading through these reflections was how often empathy showed up in small moments.

Not giant, dramatic ones.

Just the very human stuff.

Listening.
Being patient.
Trying someone else’s idea.
Changing direction without frustration.
Making space for someone quieter.
Learning how to collaborate instead of control.

_{Pictured: Shanaija, 8th Grade & Gabriela, 7th Grade}

Grace, 6th Grade, shared one of the most honest reflections:

“I’m very loud and dramatic and my partner seemed very quiet and shy, so it was hard for me to give her the place to shine.”

But what happened next is where the magic is:

“It taught me to be patient and let other people shine instead of just driving the whole thing.”

That’s empathy.

Not just kindness.

Actually making room for someone else.

Harmony, 8th Grade, said:

“We reflected off of each other’s ideas and used patience to make a masterpiece.”

And Jakayla, 8th Grade, wrote:

“We listened to each other’s suggestions and made them into life.”

That line? I super love that.

_{Pictured Grace, 6th Grade & Lyric, 8th Grade}

Friendship in Unexpected Places

If there was one thing nearly every student touched on, it was this:

They started with someone unfamiliar.

And ended with connection.

_{Pictured:  Jeiza, 8th Grade, Autumn, 6th Grade & Harper, 7th Grade}

Gabriela, 7th Grade, admitted:

“I am a little shy when I first meet someone.”

But by the end, she shared:

“Working with people you’re not close with is not as scary or difficult as it seems.”

Laighla, 7th Grade, wrote:

“My favorite part of this project was going out with a new friend and trying something new with them.”

And Jakayla, 8th Grade, said something that feels true no matter your age:

“Friendships can come unexpectedly.”

Honestly, that may be one of my favorite takeaways from this entire experience.

Because yes, the photos are beautiful.

Yes, the movement was meaningful.

But watching students realize they can connect with someone they didn’t know before? That matters.

_{Pictured:  Sybil, 6th Grade & Kennedy, 8th Grade}

Dance as a Language for Connection

What made this project feel especially powerful was that these students weren’t asked to define trust from a worksheet.

They had to embody it.

What does empathy look like without words?
How do you physically show reliability?
What does trust feel like in your body?

Those are big questions.

And these students answered them with incredible thoughtfulness.

_{Pictured: Annalise, 7th Grade & Virginia 8th Grade}

Maya, 6th Grade, wrote:

“Trust in dance feels like such a beautiful experience when everyone is so comfortable with each other and confident with themselves.”

Tess, 8th Grade, shared:

“Trust in dance feels like having a family around you to support you so you can be the greatest version of yourself.”

And Virginia, 8th Grade, gave this beautiful reflection:

“Balance to me means not only having connection with others but with myself.”

That’s the power of art.

Sometimes it helps us express things we didn’t even realize we knew.

In Their Own Words

If this project taught us anything, it’s that trust, empathy, and connection look a little different for everyone, and that’s exactly what made this experience so powerful.

_{Pictured: Tess, 8th Grade & Ryleigh, 6th Grade}

A few more voices we didn’t want you to miss:

Sybil, 6th Grade

“Trust in dance feels like trusting your family, relying on something to all work out, and creating something as a group.”

Autumn, 6th Grade

“It taught me that people you talk to all the time can have your back in the end.”

Annalise, 7th Grade

“Trust in dance feels like having a connection or feeling secure or relaxed.”

Harper, 7th Grade

“Trust in dance feels like giving your partner the biggest hug and knowing they will never let go.”

Kennedy, 8th Grade

“Trust in dance feels like everything.”

Shanaija, 8th Grade

“You don’t have to know someone to work with them because as you’re working, you’re getting to know them.”

Why This Matters

_{Pictured: Jakayla, 8th Grade & Maya, 6th Grade}

At Mending Walls, the heart of the work has always been about creating connection through community-engaged art.

This project reminded me that this work doesn’t only belong on walls.

It belongs in schools.

In dance studios.

In classrooms.

In spaces where young people are learning how to trust themselves and one another.

Because when students are invited into art instead of simply observing it, something shifts.

They participate.
They reflect.
They connect.
They begin to see each other differently.

And maybe that’s the real magic here.

Not just the murals.
Not just the movement.
Not even the photos.

But the fact that a group of young dancers walked away with a deeper understanding of empathy, trust, courage, and connection because they got to experience it together.

If you’re an educator, school leader, arts organization, or community partner dreaming about ways to bring meaningful, creative, connection-building experiences to young people, we’d love to start that conversation.

_{Pictured: Kat & Dogwood Dance Company}

Would you love to read past Dogwood projects with me, Check out my Dancers of RVA page! Click HERE!

Would you like to dive deeper into the dancers’ reflections? Click HERE!