Tears glistened on people's faces as they left Pruis Hall, some stopping to hug one another before they left.
"We'll be praying for you," whispered one audience member as he tightly hugged Ball State University dance instructor Susan Koper as she shook sobbing.
More than 200 friends and family members came to support Koper and her family at
"Dancing for Dylan" Sunday afternoon. Organized by the Student Dance Association, the event celebrated the life of Koper's son Dylan Heintzelman, an eighth grader at Burris Laboratory School who would have celebrated his 14th birthday last Friday. Dylan died on Dec. 22, 2009, in a car crash on his way to visit family in New Jersey.
SDA members wore a white ribbon with Dylan's name on it in remembrance of him. The group set up the event and performed in it as well, collecting $1,810 worth of donations for
the family.
Support came from all areas of the community, including the Ball State Theatre and Dance Department as well as Burris Laboratory School, whose orchestra performed three songs.
Carol Jenkins, the orchestra's director, chose the songs that the group played. She said two were lively to represent the playfulness of a child and the last was a waltz to give a more reminiscent feeling to the event.
A classmate and close friend of Dylan, Hannah Calvert came along with her classmates to provide her own tribute to Dylan in the form of a song she wrote after the accident.
"Dylan affected so many people," Calvert said as she described the sadness that surrounded the school. "At Burris, we're like one big family so everyone knows each other. Everyone knew him."
Hannah played the guitar and sang, "You are the air I breathe, the other piece of me / You're not really gone, and so I wrote this song."
Hannah, who had known Dylan since kindergarten, said music was a large part of Dylan's life. Not only did he play trombone in the school band, but whenever they were together, she said they would always have iTunes open or play SingStar.
Bob Dylan was his favorite artist, an attitude shared by the whole family and his best friend Simeon Allocco. Simeon, who has known Dylan since they were 3 years old, wrote a poem for Dylan composed of Bob Dylan lyrics and read it to the crowd, choking up at some points. Dylan's mom joined him onstage for support.
"It was more or less a rude awakening kind of thing. Nothing I would have ever expected," Simeon said of the accident. "It just proved how fragile everything is and how mortal people are. It really took me by surprise. I haven't felt the same way since it's happened.
Although many of the readings and dances performed had a somber air and portrayed a feeling of loss and grief, there were many hopeful moments.
In between the main acts, Jonathan Becker, assistant professor of theater, performed mime routines, which made some members of the audience laugh.
"He was always smiling," Hannah said about Dylan. "He had such a funny personality. He was always making jokes about everything."
Simeon agreed, describing himself and Dylan as "little rebels" at times. Laughingly, he recalled a memory of when he told Dylan's mother he was leaving their house but actually ended up spending the night.
As the event came to a close, a slideshow played showing pictures of Dylan as he grew up, smiling in every one. Silence filled the room as it ended, sniffles heard among the crowd.
As the show opened, dance professor Christie Zimmerman recalled what Koper had once said to her.
"Dance is something I use to find my way through difficult times," Zimmerman said.
For those who could not attend but still wish to make donations to the family, dylanheintzelmanfund.org shares the family's story and shows how to contribute.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
