Dance ED

What an opportunity! Our grades 1 - 8 were able to experience a week-long creation and performance opportunity under the leadership of two very talented instructors, Andrea Gregorio and Krista Deady (http://www.danced-mp.com). Each class covered a different genre. My class did a piece based on traditional West African music, performed to the music of Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Something”. Every day, Monday to Thursday, each class was provided with a 40 minute lesson/rehearsal. Those 4 x 40 minute lessons for each of our 7 classes culminated into a fantastic 30 minute show (complete with an audience of parents) that demonstrated the students’ skills as dancers. Our own dance project was extended into learning about Nigeria, a West African country I had travelled to. There was exploration of food, which turned into a big connection: My students whose background was South American recognized the African staple of cassava as a food they regularly eat in their own home. They drew pictures of people in traditional costume (and said, “Cool!”, when they saw me where my own dress), danced to traditional West African music, and recognized that Africa is not ONE place, but a continent consisting of many countries with similar and/or very different languages and cultures. One of my students, born in Egypt, and her classmates, saw that she was very different from some of the West African people we saw in my pictures, and on found videos. They were able to recognize not to judge by appearance, but by learning about their whole being.

AFRO-CARIBBEAN DANCE

Afro-Caribbean dancer Kevin Ormsby let a week long workshop for three intermediate classes.  The students learned some basics of dance and a sequence of dance movements.  In smaller groups the students used the elements of dance to modify the sequence and create their own version of the dance.  At the end of the week, the groups of students put their dances together and performed for members of the school community.  All the students (even the most hesitant at the beginning of the week) learned a great deal, increased their confidence in dance and participated in the final performance.  

BALLET CREOLE

On April 18, Ballet Creole performed at the school to the accompaniment of two drummers.  This exciting celebration of Carnival showcased dances from Afro-Caribbean traditions. At the end of the performance students and teachers were taught a dance sequence. To the delight of the school assembly the teachers performed this dance for them.

Sacred Spirit Dancers

On March 30, the Sacred Spirit Dancers performed at the school.  Four Traditional Dancers (Hoop, Men's Traditional, Jingle and Shaw) performed to the music of Four Drummers on Grandfather Drum.

An Elder introduced the performers and shared  information about First Nation's traditions and cultures.

"Waltzing Matilda"

The students at St. Nicholas School have been familiarizing themselves with Australia through learning the song, “Waltzing Matilda.”  While practicing the song with the glockenspiels and toned handbells, one of the students has learned how to pluck the song out on the guitar.

Khac Chi Bamboo Music

Khac Chi Bamboo Music

Our exploration of Asian cultures lead us to explore Vietnam. What a great introduction: Our whole school was invited to experience a performance by Khac Chi Bamboo Music.

These international performers were in our region for one week only, and were booked through Prologue to the Performing Arts (www.prologue.org).

Not only did they demonstrate a variety of instruments new and unfamiliar to most of us, they also allowed our students a chance to participate in performances using the percussion pieces.

We followed up with activities in my classroom, including geography lessons, drawing cartoon blocks which explained different things about Vietnam, and our favourite thing, doing projects about animals unique to Vietnam. Did you know there’s an actual unicorn species living in Vietnam? (The saola.) Using techniques that we refined in our Chinese drama experience (addressing your audience, voice, proper stance) they did wonderful presentations on 20 animals I had never before heard of! This was a perfect example of using art to inspire curiosity, and then other learning.

DANCING REFUGEE'S STORIES

The Grade 6 class participated in a variety of drama activities as a kickoff to their Social Studies unit on Refugees (Canada’s Trading Partners).  They then created a dance to show the story of refugees from Vietnam (1970’s), Germany (WWII), Iraq (2000’s).