YOUNGSTOWN SUCCESS STORY

By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Levinsky Smith's braids fly in the air behind him as his body rolls and pops in different directions.
The handful of teenagers behind him try to mimic his every move, waving their hands in the air as their feet slide across the floor. The energy of the Youngstown native is infectious, and the pupils can't help but smile as they try to learn from the master.
Smith, who was born and reared on Youngstown's East Side, was having fun Saturday, leading a group of pupils in a hip-hop-urban dance course he designed. The class, which was open to pupils from Youngstown city schools, was a chance for Smith to show others who come from where he did just how far they can go.
"I think it's important for kids in Youngstown to be exposed to the arts and all things positive," the 1989 East High graduate said. "My maturity level came from getting out in the world and trying new things. They need to learn to not be afraid to step out of their comfort zone."
Smith works these days as a professional dancer, and recently finished a tour with a Broadway troupe doing "Aida." His other credits include touring Europe and Australia with the show "Fame," and performing in the Broadway productions of "The Lion King" and "Cats."
How he got started
Smith got his start through an almost underground arts program in Youngstown in the 1980s. He worked with gymnastics coach Ed Drennen at the city's YMCA, who instilled in him a drive to follow his dream.
"That man convinced me that I could be anything I wanted if I put my mind to it," Smith said.
That agility training led him into the field of dance, and throughout high school he performed in variety shows around the city with his dance and rap group, The Mysterious Movements.
"We won a few and we lost a few competitions," Smith said. "But it showed me that maybe a professional career in dance was possible."
Smith said he'd not received much encouragement from adults aside from people like Drennen, until a classmate said the right words at the right time.
"There was a football player at graduation, his name was Don Queener, who said to me, 'Why don't you become a professional dancer?'" Smith said. "He made me think, 'Yeah, why not?' I don't know if he ever realized how much that suggestion powered me."
Finding time
From college in Westerville to living and working in New York City, Smith hasn't had much time to himself in recent years, let alone enough to come back to his hometown.
But after he finished the tour of "Aida," the break in his work schedule was the perfect opportunity for him to come back to Youngstown to work with the youths to show them what's possible.
"I think more people who are from here should be more apt to come back and share their accomplishments and talk about how to achieve those dreams," Smith said. "It doesn't matter if you are a professional dancer, or a journalist, or anything else. We can all show kids that they can go and do whatever it is they want to do."
slshaulis@vindy.com