Projects

”How To Cry @ an African Funeral”

This comedy was written by Mambo Tse and available for student performances. The play examines stereotypes and helps students understand the different rituals associated with celebrating life. It can also help students and audience members deal with grief. The play is an arts-in-Education Piece that incorporates dance, theatre arts, visual arts, stage design, costume design and choreography. Presented as a workshop in a residency format, this program brings along some of the most world-renown teaching artist who help students rewrite the play to suit them, create authentic African costumes & visual arts & crafts from recycled materials taught by a National Endowment for the Arts sponsored artist, as well as original music under a doctorate candidate in musicologist. This comedic, dance, docudrama requires a minimum of 3 days a week for an 18-week residency and a minimum of 20 students participating. Ideal for High Schools Fulfils THE BLUEPRINTS FOR THE ARTS AS SET BY US DEPT OF EDUCATION. Students can receive credit toward graduation. All Teachers are fingerprinted by the NYC Dept of Education

Folktales from Brooklyn

Participants will have access to 10 African Folktales Book set that they will use as a base to write their own stories. Folktales are stories passed down through generations mainly by word of mouth. They include tall tales, trickster tales, myths, legends & fairy tales. They often take on the characteristics of the time and place in which they are told and are meant as tools to impart some moral advice. Our goal with this project is to read excerpts from other folktales and come up with one that is from the school community. Participants will write a script, create drum and dance sequences that will enhance the narration and act it out in front of the community and its stakeholders. This is an 18-week residency project. We have done a similar project like this under the Cinderella Project and also with Romeo & Juliet. Some participants opted to use puppets as opposed to acting out the characters themselves. Great for students looking for goal-based alternative activities that encourage socialization and leisure skills. Students in transition or students who have been disenfranchised by the school system or seeking to reenter society. Ideal for Middle & High Schools. FULFILS THE BLUEPRINTS FOR THE ARTS AS SET BY US DEPT OF EDUCATION. Students can receive credit toward graduation. All Teachers are fingerprinted by the NYC Dept of Education

Things Fall Apart

Students will work in small groups to write a screenplay of Things Fall Apart, A book by Chinua Achebe and with the assistance of the teacher, create choreography to aid in the delivery of the play. Students need no previous experience with African dance training, but it would be useful for them to have explored the use of level, directional, and rhythmic changes to create dance phrases that have multiple dimensions. The project is a 36-week residency that includes a performance in a professional theatre and includes a study on Spatial design concepts for the stage. This unit will also broaden students’ perspectives on other cultures through a cultural/historical and kinesthetic experience and so create understanding and acceptance of differences amongst peoples of the world. The essential questions: What is the relationship between music and dance in Nigerian dance culture? How does modern Nigerian dance evolve in America? How is personal space used in learning and performing on stage? What is the correlation between movement on stage and movement off stage How does spatial design influence how the audience perceives a performance? How does Nigerian dance in a cultural setting differ when danced in a theatrical performance setting? This unit is ideal for High School students. FULFILS THE BLUEPRINTS FOR THE ARTS AS SET BY US DEPT OF EDUCATION. Students can receive credit toward graduation. All Teachers are fingerprinted by the NYC Dept of Education
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