QUINCY — A deluge of rain in the St. Louis area couldn’t stop the Gentlemen of Vision from reaching “Celebration of Rhythm” Tuesday at the Jackson-Lincoln Pool Complex.
Fifteen high school students, along with founder Marlon Wharton and director Chris Randall made the trip not only to share in the entertainment of the step dance troupe, but also to spread awareness of their mission.
“Rights of Passage Enterprise, or ROPE, is a four-tier mentoring organization for young men in elementary, middle school, high school and university in the St. Louis area,” Randall said. “The focus is on preparing these young men for the next stage of their lives. So the elementary school curriculum prepares them for middle school, middle school prepares them for high school. The high school curriculum focuses on post-secondary education and beyond.”
Participants in ROPE programs have a 100% high school graduation rate. Middle school performers, the Young Men of Vision, hold four World Jigging Championships, while the high school Gentlemen of Vision — Quincy’s Tuesday band — are the reigning world champions, their 15th title.
“The Gentlemen division here is between 14 and 19 years old,” Randall said. “We have students here who are transitioning into high school, and we have a couple of our young men who graduated in May, but they’re still playing with us until they go to college. college or the military, wherever they go. Next.”
One of the performers, Javon “Big Tyme” Jones, is the choreographer for these world-class performers.
“It’s a big challenge for me,” Jones said, “but it allows me to develop things in my mind and I can go places I never thought I’d go. To put it on stage, that shows the effort that has gone into its design and the work to make it all go well.”
In addition to the opportunity to perform in front of the public, Randall said one of the elements of taking teams on the road is giving students a different view of the world they live in.
“It’s great for these young men to see more people and get out of the bubble that is St. Louis,” he said. “They get to see all the different pieces from all over the country. Any time we get a chance to show them things outside of St. Louis, it just broadens their view of the world and makes them a more valuable asset to their community in his outfit.”
While in Quincy, the Gentlemen of Vision were able to tour the Eel House and Quincy’s connection to the Underground Railroad, as well as visit Villa Kathrine and learn about Lincoln-Douglas history in Quincy. Another stop before the team headed to Jackson-Lincoln was a performance for Chaddock residents.
“Some of these kids asked us ‘do you think a kid like me could do that? “, Randall said. “When these guys start with us, most have no experience, some have no rhythm. We don’t cut, we don’t try. There are some who stop coming if they think it’s not for them, but for those who keep coming back, we get the crème de la crème that rises to the top. So we were able to share with the Chaddock kids that as long as you keep trying, you can do amazing things.
Laura Sievert, executive director of Arts Quincy, which organized the event, said bringing groups like this to Quincy gives the community the chance to see things they couldn’t. -be never seen before.
“Arts Quincy is committed to bringing world-class artists here,” Sievert said, “not just to get the public to see and interact with our own arts community, but something from out of town that is also amazing.
“When we discovered that the 15-time world champion step team was so close, it was obvious to bring them up,” she added.
Jones said one message he would give to the community based on what he learned during his time with the Gentlemen of Vision is to take the chances that come your way.
“Don’t be afraid to join groups that interest you,” Jones said. “You never know what to expect or what the outcome will be.”
