Kimberly Crislip Jarvis Brings “Stories in Motion” to Canton on December 6

Canton, Ohio, welcomes an arts experience that blends creativity, memory, movement, and spirit in a deeply personal way. On Saturday, December 6th at 10:00 a.m., choreographer and teaching artist Kimberly Crislip Jarvis will lead Stories in Motion: Movement, Memory, and Connection as part of Ordered Steps Dance Company’s Movement Workshop Series, The Sacred Place.

More than a dance class, Stories in Motion invites participants of all ages and abilities into a space where the body becomes a storyteller, memory becomes choreography, and movement becomes a personal sacred encounter to cherish with close community. The workshop is designed for both dancers and non-dancers alike, anyone willing to explore the inner landscape of experience through expressive physical exploration.

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A Workshop That Honors Movement as Sacred Practice

The Sacred Place series embraces the idea that movement is not merely physical activity, but a doorway to meaning, healing, and spiritual connection. Jarvis’s workshop fits seamlessly into this mission. By blending foundational elements of dance, creative embodiment, and guided narrative exploration, she supports participants in discovering the wisdom their bodies carry.

Her approach is rooted in dance neuroscience, creative aging practice, and the long-standing global tradition of storytelling through movement. But beneath the academic foundations, the heart of her work is unapologetically human: helping people reconnect with their own stories, experience something divine, and connect with each other.

Participants can expect:

• A grounding combination that encourages presence, breath, and spiritual awareness
• A gentle warm-up that introduces accessible dance technique and expressive phrasing
• Guided creative exploration paired with personal or sensory memories
• The crafting of a short movement narrative using imagery
• Opportunities to share and witness as a group
• A closing circle honoring gratitude, sacred space, and communal connection

Whether someone moves from a chair or enjoys full-bodied movement, Jarvis’s inclusive teaching style ensures that everyone can participate meaningfully.

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A Distinguished Career Rooted in Creativity, Connection, and Community

Kimberly Crislip Jarvis is known nationally and internationally as a choreographer, teaching artist, and consultant whose work consistently bridges artistry, education, and human development. Her career reflects both depth and breadth, marked by innovative teaching, global performance experience, and a profound commitment to the transformative power of movement.

Currently in residence in multiple Ohio schools, Jarvis also leads Arts + More Services, offering consulting, communication training, and strategic planning to organizations seeking fresh pathways to clarity and growth. She uses the arts not as decoration, but as a catalyst for reflection, problem-solving, and meaningful human connection.

Her training spans continents and disciplines. Selected to study integrative education at Idrætshøjskole in Viborg, Denmark, she later earned credentials from Malone University, The University of Akron, and the American College of Sports Medicine. She is certified in Creative Aging through Lifetime Arts and trained by Narrative 4 in story exchange, a practice that strengthens empathy and community through storytelling.

Jarvis’s creative aging work, in particular, has expanded her reach into programs that support older adults’ well-being, connection, and cognitive health, making her an ideal leader for intergenerational creative workshops like Stories in Motion.

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A Global Dance Journey with Ohio Roots

Kimberly’s journey began in rural Ohio, where early dance training sparked a lifelong passion. As her skill and curiosity grew, so did her reach. She performed throughout Scandinavia, Europe, and Eastern Asia, eventually returning to Canton to direct the Living Fountain Dance Company from 1993 to 2010.

Her professional path led to creative conversations and classes with some of the most influential artists in the field, Merce Cunningham, Meredith Monk, Dianne McIntyre, Heinz Poll, Milton Myers, and many others. At Jacob’s Pillow, she immersed herself in expansive creative disciplines, gaining tools that continue to shape her work today.

Yet despite her global credentials, Jarvis has always remained grounded in her belief that movement is for everyone. Her mission is to move hearts and minds while deepening creative literacy in classrooms, studios, and communities.

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Dancing From the Inside-Out: A Signature Methodology

Jarvis’s original approach, Dancing from the Inside-Out, is a dynamic model that weaves dance principles with mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and academic learning. It helps students engage more deeply in math, science, and language arts while simultaneously bolstering creativity, resilience, and personal expression.

Her workshops and retreats have impacted more than 27 Ohio school districts and thousands of students. Teachers credit her programs with boosting student engagement, strengthening instructional practice, and reigniting a sense of possibility within the school environment.

For adults and professionals, her Inside-Out methodology fosters team building, innovation, and workplace wellness, reminding participants that movement can unlock clarity and confidence even in traditionally non-artistic settings.

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A Leader in Arts, Literacy, and Community Development

Beyond her dance and consulting work, Jarvis serves as Executive Director of the Buckeye Book Fair, a statewide literacy nonprofit that champions authors, illustrators, and readers across Ohio. Her leadership unites her passions for storytelling, education, and community engagement.

Jarvis understands storytelling as an embodied experience. The body remembers, responds, and reveals. Her classes make space for that truth, inviting participants to breathe, move, and rediscover the stories they’ve carried for years.

Why This Workshop Matters Now

In a moment when many people feel disconnected, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually, workshops like Stories in Motion offer a return to ourselves and to one another. Research continues to affirm what dancers have known for generations: movement enhances memory, nurtures the nervous system, expands empathy, and anchors community.

And when movement is offered in a sacred, intentional space, its impact deepens. Participants leave not only more centered, but more connected, more grounded, and more fully alive.

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Event Details

Workshop: Stories in Motion: Movement, Memory, and Connection
Instructor: Kimberly Crislip Jarvis
Series: The Sacred Place – Ordered Steps Dance Company Movement Workshop Series
Date: Saturday, December 6
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: One Center for Leadership, 901 Tuscarawas St E. in Canton, OH.
Who Can Attend: Ages 12+ and all mobility levels are welcome. No dance experience required.

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A Sacred Invitation

Kimberly Crislip Jarvis extends an open invitation to anyone longing for creativity, reflection, or renewal. This workshop is not about performance; it’s about presence. It is about stepping into movement as prayer, as memory, as connection, and as possibility.

On December 6, Canton will have the rare opportunity to enter a space where dance becomes a sacred act, memory becomes movement, and every participant becomes a storyteller.

The Sacred Place awaits.

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