A Masterful Moment

Martha Graham Dance Company's Lloyd Knight Brings Professional Dance to Lorain High Students 

LORAIN – Students in Elizabeth Hany's Dance 2 class at Lorain High School spent Thursday morning reflecting on an experience that even the most seasoned dancers would leap to experience. Just 24 hours prior, the class, full of nervous energy and excitement, fell silent when their classroom door swung open, and in walked Lloyd Knight, almost gliding into the room with his graceful dancer's stride.

The anticipation in the room was palpable—students seated cross-legged and barefoot on the floor, some nervously adjusting their clothes, others talking excitedly to classmates. Senior Leigha Wilson could barely say hello.

"I was sweating when he walked in, completely a nervous wreck," she said.

As a principal dancer with The Martha Graham Dance Company since 2005, Knight's credentials speak to his caliber. Dance Magazine named him one of the "Top 25 Dancers to Watch" in 2010 and one of the best performers of 2015. He has starred alongside ballet greats Wendy Whelan and Misty Copeland.

Hany, who admits to being a huge fan of Knight, said the Martha Graham Company is one of the world's premier dance companies. 

"It is up there with the greats like Alvin Ailey Dance Company and Alvin Ailey trained under Martha Graham," Hany said. "To have my students study, even just for one day, with someone of that caliber is so amazing."

Knight's confident, commanding, yet welcoming presence was very noticeable to junior Cali Simader.

Simader thought back to her first dance class, which wasn't the greatest experience for the young novice dancer. But with a new teacher, Hany, who is professionally trained in modern dance and ballet, Simader said she is opening herself more to dance. Spending Wednesday with Knight was an experience that she will never forget, she said. 

Knight changed into a dark blue leotard and shorts and led students through a warm-up session and modern dance lesson in the cavernous, blue-walled classroom. All eyes were glued to his chiseled form as he effortlessly transitioned from one movement to the next.

"He actually made me feel comfortable moving my body," said junior DeMarea Spraggins. At almost 6 feet tall, DeMarea stands out for his stature and is one of the few males in Hany's class. For him to see the dance movements he struggled to master manipulated on a long, lean male body helped him find confidence as a dancer, he said.

This transformation of students finding their confidence was exactly what district leaders hoped to see. 

Throughout the class, Knight moved among the students with the practiced eye of a seasoned performer and teacher. His corrections were gentle but precise – introducing students to ballet terminology like Rond de Jambe, Plié, and Sauté –as their movements became more assured.

"My body was doing things I never thought it could do," said Simader. 

"In class, I had a confidence I never knew I had before," added Alaina Otera, a senior. "He brought everything out of us that we didn't even know was there."

Assistant Superintendent Ross May, who has championed the dance program's growth in Lorain City Schools, stood off to the side, quietly observing these moments of discovery. 

"Near the end of the class, Lloyd Knight gave this feedback to three students: 'It's ok to be confident about your passion,'" May said. "What a fantastic message to those students in the moment, and for life as a whole."

Lorain Schools began its journey to develop and implement a comprehensive dance program in 2022. It is now the only public school district in Ohio with a comprehensive K-12 Dance Education Program, with classes taught in all 14 schools. The program has taken students who had no previous formal dance training and thrust them into an environment that is often new and exciting.

The program's rapid growth is due in large part to educators like Hany, who consistently seeks opportunities to expand her students' dance world. Her efforts recently secured the Titans Dance Company, Lorain High's dance club, a coveted performance spot at Cleveland Dance Fest this November. It was through another of Hany's connections – with DanceCleveland – that Wednesday's master class became possible. When she learned Knight would perform his new solo work in Cleveland this February, Hany advocated for her students to be included in the organization's community outreach efforts.

Those connections paid off in big and small ways throughout the master class. 

For Wilson, a moment of personal triumph came when during floor work, Knight demonstrated how to contract their bodies with one fluid movement into a seated position. Wilson executed the move so well, she earned the moniker "Little Martha" in honor of his dance company's namesake.

"He basically called me a pro," Wilson said, beaming with pride.

"His movement was so smooth," added Simader. "You could tell that he knew what he was doing. He interacted with us. He included us."

Those little moments made a regular Wednesday class something special — masterful.

"It was incredible," said senior Naishka Figueroa, who said she couldn't help but notice Knight's disciplined form – back always straight and toes always pointed. "The new movements that we learned made for a joyful experience. He broke it down for us to really understand."

When asked if the master class experience influenced their goals in dance, all of the students said it made them want to learn more, especially in ballet. 

"Starting off by not liking dance class last year and then being here today, knowing that I got the opportunity to be taught by a professional, is really cool," Simader said. "It makes me feel like whatever Ms. Hany throws at me, I'm going learn."

As the blue-walled dance studio returned to its usual rhythm on Thursday, something had shifted. The students carried themselves differently – backs a little straighter, chins lifted higher, movements more purposeful. Knight had left them with more than just new dance steps; he had shown them what was possible when passion meets opportunity.

"I am in a master of fine arts program with peers from across the country, and I get to tell them that this is what I do every day. I teach dance every day," Hany said. "Artists want to shy away from being classroom teachers because they don't want to lose the freedom to create. But I don't just create. I also connect. I am connecting students to the world of dance, which is pretty incredible."