Mime uses art of silence to inspire young imaginations, enhance creative writing curriculum

A program featuring the “art of silence” is quietly helping local school kids tap into their imaginations while sharpening their creative writing skills.

Toma the mime, also known as Thomas K. Johnson, has been teaching his Young Authors Day program in local schools as part of the RiverCenter on the Road program by the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. The program brings arts programming into local schools.

Toma’s school presentation introduces children to pantomime and illustrates the difference between writing for the page and opposed to writing for stage. The kids then write their own stories, some of which Toma turns into pantomime performances he does for the school.

“It’s a fabulous way to get kids imagination sparked, organize their thoughts, and in a fun interesting way,” said Rick McKnight, education program manager for the RiverCenter.

Toma said it’s his 32nd year touring the Young Authors Day program to schools and the fourth year RiverCenter has brought him to Columbus. He said it combines his love of live performance with the chance to inspire children to use their imaginations. He said in today’s society video games and television leaves little for children to imagine. It’s reading that stretches their imagination, and performances such as his, he said.

“It’s their creativity, they come up with the ideas,” Toma said. “When they watch a mime show they have to do all the imagination.”