Kathleen Pletcher had a great vision when she introduced Firstworks nearly 20 years ago.

She believed that the arts were for everyone and should be performed everyplace, from inner-city schools to Veterans Auditorium.

Whether it is cellist Yo Yo Ma or an African dance group, people of all ages and backgrounds should have the opportunity to experience the arts in all forms.

Whether it is Alvin Ailey or an American Street Dance Theatre, arts are for everyone.

Rennie Harris’ Philadelphia hip-hop dance company wowed the audience, even us old folks, with their 95-minute production of “Rome and Jewels,” based on Romeo and Juliet” and the more hip “West Side Story.”

The combination of hip hop, drama, multi-media, dance, song, and rap culminated in a powerful performance that the younger folks in the audience could relate to, and us older folks learned from and enjoyed.