From 1921-1930, nearly 100,000 Poles came to America. Nearly 30,000 Polish people came to the country in the last three years. Polish dance troupes flourished as immigrants clung to their European heritage. Nkenge said students at the academy emphasizing black culture have formed the African Dance Troupe. The youth group reproduces dance derived from western African countries, she said.
Girls perform a fast-paced dance, while their male classmates drum a rhythmic beat.
Canton Township's Michael Belvitch is a classic example of an American studying dance to satisfy a parent's whim to maintain links to his Irish ancestors. Belvitch took his study a step further, becoming an international champion in Irish dancing. Belvitch's father said his son gained not only an understanding of Irish culture, but learned about others as he traveled the world to compete.