What: More than 300 Hartford elementary schoolchildren will perform an original dance/story focused on the importance of slowing down and appreciating the world around us. In colorful T-shirts they designed themselves, the children will present “Slowed Down,” featuring vibrant live music by the group of world musicians known as Sirius Coyote, and a set design with illustrations of natural landscapes and cityscapes.
When: Thursday, May 1, 2008 ~ 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Where: Trinity’s Koeppel Community Sports Center, 175 New Britain Avenue, Hartford
Who: Children in grades 3 through 6 from Parkville Community School and the Montessori Magnet School at the Learning Corridor will perform, along with Trinity College students, Judy Dworin Performance Project (JDPP Inc.) teaching artists, and world musicians Sirius Coyote.
Background: Now in its twelfth year as a collaboration between JDPP Inc., Parkville Community School, Trinity College and more recently the Montessori Magnet School, the Moving Matters! Residency Program has been described as “a program gem” by national arts educator Mitchell Korn. The residency uses movement and the arts to reinforce classroom learning for students in grades 3 through 6, with a particular focus on language arts. Trinity College students assist the teaching artists and become special mentors, friends and role models for the children. Each year a children’s book is selected to provide the theme for Moving Matters! This year “Slowed Down” was written by Judy Dworin especially for the program, with illustrations by Cheri Soule, Hartford visual artist and choreographer. The project was made possible through the generous support of the Travelers Foundation, MetLife Foundation, New Alliance Bank, the Hartford Courant Foundation, Parkville Community School, the City of Hartford, the Ellen Jeanne Goldfarb Memorial Charitable Trust, Trinity College, People’s Bank, and the families of the participating students.
This program is free and open to the public and free parking is available in the Koeppel Community Sports Center parking lot. For more information, call (860) 527-9800.