Peace and jamming at Wales Fine Arts Day
A longtime tradition at Wales Elementary continues as the faculty, students and parent volunteers get ready for a special educational day.
"We are looking forward to the 29th annual Fine Arts Day on Friday, April 3. This is a long tradition at Wales that celebrates music, dance and the visual arts with our students," said Principal Rick Grothaus. "This year besides our guest artists presenting all day on Friday, the students will experience dancers and drummers from Senegal, Africa, through an artist-in-residence program," said Grothaus.
Jam Ak Jam is a well-known African Dance Theater that performs authentic African dance music and folklore as well as Afro-Jazz and contemporary dances, to audiences of all ages. Wales' students will learn about the origin and history of the traditional dances, music and culture of West Africa.
In the country of Senegal, "Jam Ak Jam" means "Peace and Peace." The essence of peace is what the company seeks to express in its work.
The company's founder and artistic director is Patrice Nassalang, a Senegalese master dancer and choreographer who creates his vocabularies of movement with echoes from his ancestors, as well as from the sprawling urban centers of modern West Africa. "At the end of the week, we will have a culminating performance of the dancers and students at Fine Arts Day" said Grothaus.
The school will be filled with a Latin beat when Zumba, a fitness program that integrates Latin dance rhythms, moves and music will be demonstrated. A certified Zumba instructor will teach Wales' students the dance moves that are also an aerobic workout.
Studio One Dance Company will be demonstrating dance exercise in the gym.
"Acoustic Backroads," a popular local music group who performs country, folk, gospel and Celtic tunes using guitars, dulcimers, mandolins, banjo, Irish whistle and bass will be giving hands-on performances to the students.
Tommy Greywolf, acclaimed violinist with Wisconsin roots will be working with the fifth-grade students.
"I was surrounded by music ever since I could remember. My mother was a big influence. She was an orchestra director for the public school system and director and organist of our church choir in the Milwaukee area," said Greywolf. He recalls that she wouldn't let him practice football until a full hour of music was practiced.
There will be a workshop with Kettle Moraine High School Drama Club cast members from the upcoming production of "A Midsummer's Night's Dream," and their drama teacher Abby Kean to share scenes from the show and talk about acting. The actual high school production will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 5 at KMHS, 349 Oak Crest Drive.
Students will also experience demonstrations in ceramics, tile-art, portrait photography, calligraphy, pottery, renaissance art and animation.
"We are grateful to the PTO for its continued support of this event," said Grothaus.
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