By: Shanequa Dasher
As the Necessary Arts team arrived to Kajiado Boarding School we were greeted by the trickling in of students of various ages.They greeted us with a handshake and awaited direction from their leadership. As they circled around for opening activity, I couldn’t help but wonder how our day would go. The students were extremely timid. More noticeable than the other sites the Necessary Arts team had the opportunity to visit in the days prior. I enlisted the help of my trusty animal sound name stating activity to help break the ice. Admittedly, it was a little difficult to get the students to say their names aloud AND sound like an animal, but it happened. We had a few giggles, and the students warmed up a little.
We learned the fundamentals of stage directions and did a few interactive exercises. I am extremely grateful for this time, because it allowed the nonverbal students to shine. The group as a whole was engaged and enjoyed moving around to share their newfound knowledge of theatre stage terminology.
After our formal whole group activities, we broke into groups. I lead a crafty costuming class where the young ladies had the opportunity to learn how to make tutus. I shared photos of what a tutu was, and immediately the ladies smiled in anticipation of starting. After being instructed on how to complete only one strand of the tutu, the girls were immediately hooked. As they worked, they shared that they really enjoyed what they were doing. They felt that it was relaxing, and they were anxious to complete their tutus to see the end results. Once they were complete, (I am so sad that I did not video their responses.) they were smiling, twirling, and fluffing, all around the room. We did however capture a still moment of their finished products.
The girls were so confident, and felt beautiful in their tutus. I even overheard a few ladies repeating “pretty, pretty”. Those responses alone made my heart smile. I was overjoyed that I was able to share a skill that would not only enhance their repertoire of talents, but also have the ability to increase their confidence.
The power of art and creativity are alive and well. They can literally take a frowning, unsure, silent child and turn them into a confident, happy, boasting (in a positive way) one. It was my absolute pleasure to make a lasting creative impact on the children of Kajiado’s confidence, and creative skills.
No comments:
Post a Comment