Pump House "Best of Ross County" Show Opens with Local Students' Work

Delayed for a week after being snowed and iced out, the Pump House Center for the Arts in Chillicothe finally hosted the opening for local high school students Thursday.

Students, families, teachers, and more packed the place for the "Best of Ross County" show, with more than 85 works on display by six schools: Unioto, CHS, Huntington, Southeastern, Adena, and the Ross County Christian Academy.

The show was judged, and twelve ribbons were handed out, with the top four including cash prizes.

iHeart Media reporter Kevin Coleman was able to catch one of the winners, who had a unique work. It was an iPad showing a video with two views of a dance routine involving several colors of chalk powder. Unioto student Josie Valette said it took her two weeks to choreograph the almost two-minute routine, "In My Mind."

She said she had the chance to do the dance project, with chalk colors representing her feelings, dusting onto her white clothes. She composed the routine herself but her teacher gave her support, including even a camera view from above. (She said the title card crawl was for her Star Wars fan father!)

Josie said she has been dancing since she was three, and has done dance competitions.

The students' show will stay up through February 26th. Learn more on the Pump House's Facebook Page.

Kevin Coleman reports on local government and culture