On
October 28, 2002 three dancers from the Redhawk Indian Arts Council
performed at a school-wide assembly.
This non-profit organization "is dedicated to educating the general
public about Native American heritage through song, dance, works of
art and other cultural forms of expression." The dancers addressed
many common negative stereotypes about Native people found in American
culture and helped students see
that Native people are part of society today, not
just a part of our country's past.
Students
learned that the round drum used in dances represents the earth and
that the rhythm of the drum in native dance is most often the rhythm
of a heartbeat.
Teachers
chose students from each classroom to participate in some of the dances.
One
teacher even played
an important
role in a story about the creation of
the wooden
love flute!
The
dancers emphasized that their dancing skill is not magic; it is the
result of years of practice.
The
hoop dance, their final dance, reminds us of the cycles in life and
indicates that what we put into life is what we get in return. KCS
Principal, Mr. Ron Viafore commented on the importance of this message
in his morning announcements the next day.
After
the dances were over, students had an opportunity to ask questions
of the dancers.
"We
always dance for fun."
"Do
you ever just dance for fun?"
Student
reactions included,
"I thought the hoop dance was pretty cool."
- Grade 8.
"I like how he said that we're connected to the earth.
That got my attention."
- Grade 5.
"I thought it was really amazing" "I liked the dancing."
"I liked their regalia." "I think it was nice how they
told their religion to us." "I liked how kids got to go
up and learn the dance." "The hoop dance looked really hard!"
- Grade
7.
Kent Center School 9 Judd Avenue,
P.O. Box 219, Kent CT 06757 860-927-3537
