If academics are opportunities for the mind, so are field trips opportunities for the senses. “This is all a part of integrated learning, and we have all we need right here in our city – what an awesome opportunity!” Jen Aldrich, the teacher who came to SEF with her vision of this event, says she came up with the idea of the program in part because, “I have often been concerned about the lack of dance education in our country I feel this is an expressive art form that too often gets ignored though it can have some very positive impacts on our students.” Pairing dance and music seemed a perfect combination and using an 19th century model allowed students to gain a better appreciation for their city’s important role in history. Given fabric and patterns during early rehearsals, they were tasked with recreating 19th century garments full length gowns for the girls, ruffled shirts, vests, jackets and knee breeches for the boys. Though on this day, their primary job was simply to watch and enjoy their children’s accomplishments, they had been kept busy sewing costumes to make the event even more authentic. Between sets, participants cooled off with ice cream and stood in groups, laughing and chatting with far less formality than they might have in 1850. Students in grades 4&5 learned six different dances along with many period songs and on this day, held “dance cards” which reminded them of their partners for each of the sets. Salem Public School music teachers Jen Aldrich and Ben Chertok, working with local folk musicians Jim and Maggi Dalton had been preparing students for this moment for six weeks in their after school hours. It was a scene out of time, but what made it so extraordinary is that it took place just one week ago. Rapt parents, grandparents and sometimes restless younger siblings looked on from nearby tables with pride. Young dancers, decked out in period gowns with hoop skirts and linen shirts with vests, curtsied and bowed to each other before beginning an intricate version of the Virginia Reel. The week was filled with lots of exploring in and lots of activities while immersed in the beautiful city of Madrid, Spain.The upper rooms of historic Hamilton Hall were filled with late afternoon light. Classes were also given to learn the Spanish flamenco dance - La Sevillana, and then a flamenco show was performed. For entertainment in the arts, we were treated to a special concert by a famous flamenco singer. Many restaurants were visited to try different authentic cuisines and the students also had a cooking class to learn how to prepare some of the dishes we tasted. Students also visited a local high school and interacted with the Spanish students exchanging information about their town, school, food, and music. The food theme involved going to the market and buying food as well as asking locals about certain items and their costs. The sports theme involved touring the Bernabeu Stadium. The art and history theme involved visiting the Royal Palace. The students attended Spanish classes every morning to practice speaking about the theme of the day. Their itinerary consisted of visiting famous museums in Madrid, and touring Toledo, the first capital of Spain and the birthplace of the Spanish artist Fransisco Goya. Nine students from Plymouth South took part in a language immersion program in Spain over April vacation.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |