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Two educators from Symphony Space brought the sounds, rhythms, and movements of African dance to school on Feb. 22, spending a morning with our early childhood and lower school students.
This event is part of an ongoing collaboration with Symphony Space to expand children’s awareness of different cultures and artistic traditions. Earlier this year, these educator/performers—Jerbean Gilkes and Sanga of the Valley—spent the morning dancing and drumming with second and third graders in physical education, and they returned last week to dance with nursery, junior kindergarten, and senior kindergarten students.
"Music and movement are so much a part of how we teach and how students learn, and our relationship with Symphony Space is such a great resource,” says Emily Holt, Lower Division Director. “These two men, specifically, bring such a wonderful energy and enthusiasm as performers and educators.”
The timing for this collaboration was carefully planned, said Ms. Holt. “It is a wonderful addition to our celebration of Black History Month,” she said. "It’s also a welcome change of pace during February—the sound of the drums combined with a different kind of movement is a thrilling sensory experience for children.”
Watch Our Students Dance!