8:30 am: a rainy day in the Tenderloin and my Performance Project students at Redding Elementary are eager to tell me about their recent field trip to the Opera House, to see San Francisco Ballet perform during the first Community Matinee of the year. They were excited to describe the costumes, different dances, and of peeking in the orchestra pit to see where the music comes from. Their favorite ballet happened to be Balanchine’s Serenade (one of my all time favorites too!) because they liked all the different patterns, and can now connect them to the patterns we are working on in our own dance. I can see that they are gaining a deeper understanding of longer dances and what it will be like to participate in their own performance.
We have almost finished the Tibetan section of our dance and are learning different formations for the Mongolian horse dance. Each rehearsal we also try some new Bhangra moves and it’s fun to see the students simultaneously becoming more refined and adventurous in their movements.
I am so pleased that the dancers are gaining strength and confidence as we practice. Cybastian is able to remain focused the entire time. Sergio knows not only his steps and spacing, but also those of his fellow classmates and has been helpful to catch other students up. Paul has great rhythm for our first triplet step. Fannie is showing more of herself as a strong dancer. Erica, Chao, and Lizette are great leaders by being positive examples of how to listen and focus.
For many of these students, this is their first organized activity with the high demands of a performance. Unlike many of their peers around the Bay Area, they are not able to participate in sports teams, or play practice, so part of our learning is actually how to participate in a rehearsal. We are currently facing the challenges of consistency, stamina, and which way to go first in our three-step turn!
I am confident though, that all goals can be achieved by performance day.
Good morning!
Working on shapes
Tibetan dance using practice scarves
We all went the correct way on our three-step turn!
2 Comments
This is marvelous. A great way for the students, parents, school and community to be involved. Congratulations
These photos and blogs are always inspiring. Erica must be doing an amazing job! I absolutely love the write-ups as well. As a fellow dance educator I wish I could see some videos of her work-are those available?
thank you-Roberta Wong