Art event to benefit dance students

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Visual and performing artists of African descent will take part in a show and sale at 6 p.m. Saturday at Soap Gallery, 117 S. Champion St., downtown. Admission is free.

The event is being staged by the mother-daughter team of Deborah Benton and Lindsay Renea as a fundraiser to provide scholarships for the Lindsay Renea Dance Theatre (LRDT) of Youngstown. The two women both mark their birthdays in February and created the event as a way to celebrate with the entire community.

Each of the following artists have donated their work in order to help LRDT: LaMarr Benton, Maple Turner, Bill Ferguson, Sade Bully, Norwood Pennewell, Vitolio Jeune, Andre Belton, Brian Alls and Jayaira Grhim. Each artist will be exhibiting original works or creating new works on the spot against the backdrop of a live music performed by the Beck-Ward Project band.

All artwork will be auctioned and sold at the event.

The Beck-Ward Project includes Billy Beck and Rick Ward, Grammy Award winners and members of the Ohio Players.Other band members include Alonzo Smith and Alex Hines.

Lindsay Renea Dance Theatre offers training in dance and wellness. It has roughly 60 students, most of whom are from low-income families. Scholarships make it possible for these students to take classes.

For information about Lindsay Renea Dance Theatre, go to LindsayRenea.com or call 330-732-5738.