School of the Arts students host art camp for North Charleston

Third-grader Tori Gentile loves to bust a move in her bedroom, but she’d never stepped foot inside a dance class or learned a choreographed routine.

Gentile had the chance to do both on Monday during her spring break at a free art camp hosted by School of the Arts students. The high school’s Jefferson Service Club organized the three-day event, and they invited students from six North Charleston elementary schools to attend.

About 30 showed up Monday, and Gentile was among them. The Hursey Elementary School student couldn’t have been more excited.

“Dancing is like my best friend,” she said as she swayed to the music. “Dancing and I go perfect together. It expresses how I feel.”

School of the Arts senior and vocal major Alex James helped found the school’s Jefferson Service Club three years ago. The club’s more than 30 active members promote volunteering and develop service projects that can involve the entire school.

They’ve participated in a range of activities, from cleaning beaches to collecting cans for the Lowcountry Food Bank, but this is the first year for the art camp.

The idea was so innovative that it helped the school beat out five Lowcountry competitors to win Outstanding Service by a High School from the Jefferson Awards-Students In Action program. It’s the club’s second consecutive year to win the regional award.

School of the Arts will represent the state this summer while competing against 12 other high schools for the national title.

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