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I have been offered an ‘Introduction to Dance’ Workshop Tour in April and May with Elementary school students in the Avon Maitland District School Board through The Foundation for Enriching Education Perth-Huron. I look forward to dancing with students again.

‘One, A Rose’ the show and workshop on the importance of human diversity toured this fall (2008) in schools of the Avon Maitland District School Board. Funded by the Foundation for the Enrichment of Education and Prologue to the Performing Arts, the program reached hundreds of students. Shannon Thunderbird, singer played Mother Earth and Lesley, dancer played the Tree of Life and the four elements.

Dear Lesley,

Hi Lesley it’s Tim from Gr. 3/4. How is your cat Whipper doing is she still stretching with you? Your dance was really fun. I liked when you had to cross over with your feet and when people had to make up a dance and I could do it! thack you love, Tim

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Dear Lesley,

It’s Ben from the 3/4 class (the mathy kid) how’s your cat Whipper? Is she still strrrrreeeeeetching with you? Thanks for coming to teach us how to dance. I reeeeeeely like the mideval dance, it was fun! Well thanks again for coming well I have to go it is almost lunch and I’m hungry!

Sincirly Ben (math kid) tap tap tap tap

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Dear Lesley,

I am the guy that is the best dancer how is Whipper doing? I am doing good I’ve been prakice dancing.

Josh

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Dear Lesley,

It’s Aliya from 3/4. I really liked when you came to teach our class. I was the one who made up the bird dance. I have been making up dances at my house. I have also been remembering to use whipper’s lucky seven. I also have been staying active so when I am old I will not be all hunched over.

from Aliya

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Dear Lesley,

Hi Lesley! Thank you for coming to our school, it was a lot of fun!! If you are wondering who I am I am Jill, the girl who made you faint by knowing what a choreographer is. How is Whipper? I hope she keeps stretching with you.

from Jill

Shannon Thunderbird and I will be working together to create a day long interactive participatory performance and workshop on Human Diversity. The program will feature Shannon’s singing and Lesley’s dancing. We will come together over the drum, heartbeat of Mother Earth. The workshop is called:

ONE, A ROSE

Presenters: Shannon Thunderbird, Prologue to the Performing Arts, Toronto Lesley Walker-Fitzpatrick, Foundation for Enriching Education Perth-Huron

Students embark on an interactive journey of discovery, to Heal the Bully and Value Each Other by Celebrating Human Diversity through creating a beautiful garden and building a human medicine wheel. What if there was only one colour of rose? What if there was only one kind of animal? What if there was only one type of human? What would the world be like if there was no diversity? What would happen if we were able to transcend our differences and rise above fear, hate, bullying, greed and jealousy and find within ourselves, love, generosity, sharing, caring, wisdom, humility, honour, respect, trust, integrity, courage, leadership. The educational world calls this Character Education, the Native world calls it Medicine Wheel Teachings. The day will start with a little entertainment from Thunderbird and Lesley after which students will spend a totally interactive day immersed in the joys and empowerment of human diversity. Mother Earth’s Garden will include great props, dance, drumming and song. Later, taking all the teachings and sharings that have emerged throughout the day, students will build a human medicine wheel. Maximum students: 35.

Photo of Shannon by L.Walker-Fitzpatrick

The DANCE WORKSHOP TOUR in Perth and Huron Counties through The Foundation For Enriching Education Perth-Huron is almost completed. It has been a joy and a challenge to bring dance and a love of movement to hundreds of students from grades two to four; from budding ballerinas to the young boy with his hands firmly glued inside his pockets as if to say “you are not even going to get me to take my hands out of my pockets let alone move my feet”. By the middle of the afternoon he was happily leading the whole class in improvisational dance to New Orleans style jazz!

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Coming Fall 2008

Workshop Tour Avon Maitland District School Board Schools

An Arts Education Partnership Project:
between The Foundation For The Enrichment Of Education Perrth-Huron and Prologue To The Performing Arts Toronto funded by the Ontario Arts Foundation Arts Access program.

Understanding Human Diversity

Check back in April for more details…

Spring 2008

DANCE! Workshops continue in Grade Three classes in Huron and Perth counties through The Foundation For Enriching Education Perth-Huron.

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