Kimberly Crislip Jarvis had an eventful year in residency at Ashland City Schools in Ashland County. She guided all second and third-grade students in completing an introduction to dance course and collaborated with literacy coaches to integrate academics into their lessons. The students showcased their skills in a playground flashmob dance performance to celebrate their progress.

Beyond the school day, Kimberly organized PUREMOVEMENT, an afterschool dance program for two elementary schools this year. She also hosted two creative aging sessions at Medina and Wayne County libraries, offering older adults a chance to explore the joy of dance. One of her favorite projects was providing choreography for the musical “Mamma Mia” at Cloverleaf Local School District.

Additionally, she participated in professional development with the Ohio Teaching Artist Cohorts, attending the “Adaptation Across Art Forms” workshop. She listened and presented at, the OhioDance Festival in Columbus in the Spring. During the fall she attended the Arts Impact Ohio Conference in Akron, where she engaged in workshops, including topics like donor retention, creative collaboration, and brand strategy.

Throughout the year, Kimberly taught integrative dance lessons to around 550 children and shared her passion with 25 students aged 55 and above. Her dedication to teaching and artistic exploration left a lasting impact on the lives of those she worked with; they touched her heart too.