Aniyah Legare Interview: The Experience of a WatotoAcademy Performer

Story by cnmAdmin2030 / December 3, 2019

Ashley Hall 6th grader, Meeting Street Academy alumni, and wise beyond her years Aniyah Legare is returning for another year as a member of the WatotoAcademy of Performing Arts. You can learn more about her and the upcoming January performances in the“ Love America…Love Everybody” concert series: This Joint is Jumpin’ from Aniyah in the interview below!

What skills have you learned in WatotoAcademy that you are applying in your everyday life?

Mr. O’Conner has taught us about “code-switching” and that there are different ways that you can interact with teachers, friends and family. For example, if my math teacher is very bubbly and silly then I know that I can do bubbly and silly things while still performing academically. But if I have a teacher who is stern, then I know I have to be on my Ps and Qs.

*Ps and Qs is an expression meaning to be on your best behavior.

I know you participated in last year’s WatotoAcademy’s Love America…Love Everybody concert series: That Sweet Soul Music. What was your favorite performance in the series?

Every performance comes with a history background and I love history. History made me, so I like all of it. You can’t pick and choose because it all comes from history.

What piece from That Sweet Soul Music do you find most intriguing?

I think it’s when we do both slow and fast dances. When it’s a slow dance, you think it’s telling a story because it’s very intriguing and calm. When it comes to the fast dances like jumping jives, it’s very intriguing too because you’re like, “what’s going to happen next”? I like all the songs and dances because they all tell a story–whether fast or slow.

Do you mind talking about the curriculum from this year’s performance This Joint is Jumpin’?

The curriculum is about history in the early 1900s from how we came from nothing and became something, covering academics to the way we looked and spoke. It’s also learning what our family did back in those days: how they dressed, how they looked, and how they danced. It’s very strong and impacting because it makes you see their perspectives like it’s firsthand.

What advice do you have for the newer members of the WatotoAcademy of Performing Arts?

To keep on working, to keep on working, and to keep on working. Not only in dance, but also in academics. Just like my grandmother told me, academics and manners can get you anywhere. I’d also tell them to take things seriously. Sometimes a hobby can turn into a job that can get you far. You can take your own style, not follow the leader, and make your own path.

What performer or performers do you look up to the most?

I started dancing at three years old with ballet. We mainly talked about Alvin Alley and Misty Copeland, who are very famous contemporary ballet dancers. I look up to them because not only did they dance beautifully, they also left their mark on the world and left a bold foot print for other kids to learn from. They showed that anything is possible.

Apart of being a member of the WatotoAcademy is learning about the particular era that the performance was inspired by. Why do you think this is important to learn?

Because of the history. We have been doing African dances that have been around for thousands and thousands of years. We are also doing dances from the early 1900s era, so the history is really good. It’s good for exercising and learning how they sowed things into the world, how they thought about the world, what places they went to, and how it was back then.

Why do you think people should come out to this year’s performance at Dock Street Theatre?

They should come to each and everyone because every single piece of our performances has a different story to tell. One tells about love and how we need to help each other. One is about how we’re jumping and jiving, how we’re gonna move and dance. One is about how we came from rock bottom and went up. So each one is different. Even though you saw a performance two years ago, it’s not going to be the same. People have to see it because they need to learn about the history and how things were.

How do you hope people feel after watching the performance?

I hope they feel impacted and know this is how my family made me. This is how the world shaped me to be who I am.

Why do you think Mr. O’ Conner chose this year’s theme Migration?

Again, it’s about how people went from rock bottom to now. We are getting an education, we are getting nice clothes, and we are not slaves anymore. We are the people now. I think he wanted to teach us that this is how hard our ancestors had to work for us to reach where we are now. It’s another level, another trial, and another barrier until we get where we are all equal. We all look the same, even though we aren’t the same.

 

Make A DifferenceJoin Us!

Join a community of incredible, passionate people working to change the lives of our students. Our compensation and benefits are a cut above the rest: the most competitive total compensation in the region.

Start Your Career!

About Meeting Street Schools

Meeting Street Schools (MSS) is an innovative non-profit where schools, families, and the community collaborate to create environments where all children can achieve their full potential. With a network of schools across South Carolina, including MSA-Charleston (Charleston, SC), MSA-Spartanburg (Spartanburg, SC), MS-Brentwood (North Charleston, SC), MS-Burns (North Charleston, SC), and MS-Jasper & Beaufort (Jasper, SC), we are committed to providing students with the rigorous education they deserve.

Founded on the principle that every child deserves an excellent education regardless of their socio-economic background, Meeting Street Schools has been a beacon of hope and a testament to what's possible in education. Our schools are driven by a strong focus on student achievement, evidence-based instruction, and relentless support of our students and their families.

While united by our shared mission, each MSS campus, is unique in its character, tapping into the local spirit of the communities they serve. Explore each of our schools and discover how they're creating a brighter future for students in South Carolina.

News & NotesWe Want YOU To Be The Pinnacle Of Success

Read More

Our Schools

MSA – CharlestonDowntown Charleston, SC - Independent School - Since 2008 - 364 Students

Nestled in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, MSA Charleston is more than just a school—it’s a hub for innovative learning and community engagement. As part of the Meeting Street Schools network, MSA Charleston embodies a commitment to excellence through its rigorous academic programs, inclusive culture, and focus on developing the whole child. With a curriculum that emphasizes both academic and personal growth, MSA Charleston prepares students to be curious learners and active citizens of their community.

MSA – SpartanburgDowntown Spartanburg, SC - Public School - Since 2012 - 323 Students

MSA Spartanburg stands as a pillar of educational innovation in the Spartanburg community. The school’s dedicated educators and supportive learning environment ensure that each child receives a high-quality, personalized education with exceptional faculty and teachers. MSA Spartanburg is distinguished by its emphasis on community partnership, fostering relationships that extend beyond the classroom to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.

MS – BrentwoodNorth Charleston, SC - Public School - Since 2014 - 694 Students

MS Brentwood is a place where education meets opportunity. Serving the Brentwood area, this school is a testament to the transformative power of education. With a student-centered approach that celebrates diversity and encourages excellence, MS Brentwood is dedicated to equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. MS Brentwood also serves as a hub for the Brentwood community to access educational and wellness services. The school’s commitment to innovation, coupled with a warm, welcoming environment, makes it a standout in the MSS network.

MS – BurnsNorth Charleston, SC - Public School - Since 2018 - 478 Students

Located in a community rich with history and culture, MS Burns is renowned for its dynamic educational approach that intertwines traditional learning with modern teaching techniques. The school’s focus on experiential learning ensures that students at MS Burns are not only recipients of knowledge but also active participants in their educational journey. MS Burns exists to spark an educational revolution for the students and families in the Dorchester-Waylyn Neighborhood in North Charleston. With a commitment to creating a supportive and challenging academic environment, MS Burns is forging a new path in public education.

MS – Jasper & BeaufortJasper County, SC - Public Charter School - Fall 2023 -

MS Jasper represents the Meeting Street Schools’ dedication to community-based education with a global perspective. The school provides a nurturing environment where students are encouraged to explore their potential and cultivate a love for learning. With its diverse programs such as Eureka Math, and Wit and Wisdom, MS Jasper puts a major emphasis on character development, specialized learning and equips students to become thoughtful, engaged members of society, reflecting the MSS ethos of empowerment through education.

CommunityVoices

  • 1/3

“Meeting Street Academy is my family. They taught me that I am valuable. I am an asset to the world…They asked me, ‘What is your dream?’ I had never been asked that before. The MSS community gives me the strength to pursue my dreams.”

— Kadelyn SteedStudent

  • 2/3

“MSA is a family. Once you’re in, you’re in. They said they would follow our kids from K-3 to college and they actually lived up to what they said they would do. Not only did MSA challenge my daughter academically but it also exposed her to new things that she probably wouldn’t have been exposed to at our previous neighborhood school. Our journey at MSA was exciting and rewarding. They actually walk the walk.”

— Tyeka GrantParent

  • 3/3

“We come into work everyday truly believing that our students are capable of achieving anything that is put in front of them. Here at MSS, students are provided the opportunity to achieve success through the facilitation of well-educated teachers, resources, and a responsive classroom school environment.”

— NikToshia GilesTeacher