We are under way after meeting with all the classes for the first time -- we being myself, Kevin Clarke and Rowena Richie. We have 5 groups: 5th grade all at once and 2 classes each in 3rd and 4th grade. It was a whirlwind of trying to learn names and personalities... and it was FUN. We're starting with the kids' favorite locations in the school -- places like the garden, the library, the playground -- and building movement about what they do in those places. Some kids drew pictures in the air, some acted out the activity they performed in their favorite space. We started linking them together, with the kids teaching one another their movement.
Favorite moments so far:
A boy grabbed a partner and created the shape of the circular courtyard and bench where assemblies happen, creating gestures that were surprisingly large, fluid and rhythmic.
A girl proudly told some boys that dance is indeed just as exciting and challenging as sports.
Several kids made sure their classmate who doesn't speak much English understood what he should do.
It's going to be a challenge to create 5 mini pieces that we can string together and the logistics of scheduling a group showing are complicated... but we have 8 weeks to figure it all out.
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