By Stacey Blakeman Dance in Schools and Communities Manager at San Francisco Ballet April 19, 2010
With only three weeks until the show, it is crunch time with my students at New Traditions Elementary. I will start by saying that I’m so impressed with their progress. Those kids can dance and remember so much choreography! In fact, they did so well at completing the Country Western dance in such short time that we have added a second performance piece, which is an adaptation of Alvin Ailey’s Wade in the Water. While both dance numbers are very energetic, they are completely different. It has been an amazing learning experience for my students. We have discussed how our Country Western number is built around the barn dance tradition and how that served as a means of community building for folks in rural American farming towns. While learning the Wade in the Water composition, my students have begun to understand how childhood memories greatly influenced the work of Alvin Ailey and how his company helped change the face of dance in America.
Now we just have to do a little clean-up and finish getting all the costumes ready for the big show! All of the students from the four participating schools will come together at the Young at Art Festival to show off all of their hard work. Hopefully, you can join us for the final performance at the de Young Museum, Saturday, May 8, from 12:30-1:30 PM in the Koret Theater. See you there!
Students rehearsing Wade in the Water
The boys take center stage
The ladies learn to use their hats in Country Western Roundup
Young at Art Performance Draws Near
Dance in Schools and Communities Manager at San Francisco Ballet
April 19, 2010
With only three weeks until the show, it is crunch time with my students at New Traditions Elementary. I will start by saying that I’m so impressed with their progress. Those kids can dance and remember so much choreography! In fact, they did so well at completing the Country Western dance in such short time that we have added a second performance piece, which is an adaptation of Alvin Ailey’s Wade in the Water. While both dance numbers are very energetic, they are completely different. It has been an amazing learning experience for my students. We have discussed how our Country Western number is built around the barn dance tradition and how that served as a means of community building for folks in rural American farming towns. While learning the Wade in the Water composition, my students have begun to understand how childhood memories greatly influenced the work of Alvin Ailey and how his company helped change the face of dance in America.
Now we just have to do a little clean-up and finish getting all the costumes ready for the big show! All of the students from the four participating schools will come together at the Young at Art Festival to show off all of their hard work. Hopefully, you can join us for the final performance at the de Young Museum, Saturday, May 8, from 12:30-1:30 PM in the Koret Theater. See you there!
Students rehearsing Wade in the Water
The boys take center stage
The ladies learn to use their hats in Country Western Roundup
Students rehearsing the square dance section