North Columbus News

Assistant Professor of Dance Irvin Gonzalez has been dedicated to advocacy throughout his life. "Growing up, I would translate for my parents," said Gonzalez, whose parents immigrated from Mexico. "I've always been ready to defend and advocate for people."

At The Ohio State University, Gonzalez has used dance as a tool for connection and storytelling. Recently, he shared these passions with students through the Ohio Prison Education Exchange Project (OPEEP). Gonzalez taught a class of 21 students at London Correctional Institution (LoCI), combining Ohio State's Columbus campus students with incarcerated individuals.

The course, Citizen Artists, met weekly for three hours over 16 weeks. Instead of focusing on technique, it allowed students to express their stories through choreography and improvisation. "I was working with people who are institutionalized," Gonzalez said. "A technique class – like a ballet class – there's a rigidity to it."

Mary Thomas, co-director of OPEEP and professor of women's studies at Ohio State, emphasized the program's aim: "Ohio State is known for its high-quality education," she said. "We want to bring that excellence to incarcerated students." She highlighted how courses like Citizen Artists foster empathy and self-expression.

Students collaborated on dances inspired by personal stories and written text while navigating restrictions such as no physical contact between participants. “We took time to imagine how to connect without touching,” Gonzalez explained.

Gonzalez also addressed the vulnerability associated with dancing in a male prison setting. “There were questions,” he noted about the stigma around male dancing. His goal was creating an inclusive space: “You can take whatever you want from that.”

Unlike previous short-term teaching experiences in prisons, this program allowed Gonzalez extended interaction with his students over several weeks. He described witnessing growth among participants as they built community together.

However, once the semester ended communication ceased due lack permission within system regulations despite strong bonds formed during classes themselves leaving lasting impact on those involved according statement given by professor himself stating: “The contact lives in lessons learned... It lives inside my body; it's archived inside my body.”