(All programs are approximately 45 minutes in duration)
Stories
and Songs of Latin America
(Grades K-6 with modifications
for older and language students, 7-9) An interactive program
which uses music, storytelling, puppetry and instruments to bring the
culture of Latin America to life and further a better understanding
of the people and their customs. Performed mostly in English in his
own bilingual style, Felix Pitre takes the audience on a journey filled
with laughter and learning. They may hear the story of Puerto Rico's
folk hero, Juan Bobo or find the Jíbaro's lessons in an alternate
story, Paco and the Witch. After learning the origins of La
Bamba they join in singing the chorus and later perform a tri-lingual
song (Spanish, English and sign language,) Pollito-Chicken. And
then there is Coquí, the lovable frog puppet who steals the show (and
sometimes a kiss) while helping us to understand and appreciate people
who speak with different accents. In the finale audience members play
Latin American percussion instruments as everyone joins in the Cuban
favorite, Guantanamera.
Animal
Tales (Grades
K-4) A program of lively stories and memorable songs, it
teaches respect for creatures large and small as well as lessons about
ourselves. Coyote Rings the Wrong Bell (Mexico,) presents animals
in the conflict for survival. How the Beetle Got Its Coat (Brazil,)
focuses on human emotions and The Boy who was Kind to the Birds and
the Animals (Peru,) a magical fable of kindness and reward, is performed
with the help of audience volunteers. The program teaches the importance
of caring for our environment. It engenders respect for the animals
in our lives and their right to exist while encouraging further study
through reading, writing and performing. The program opens with Froggie
Went a Courtin' and closes with a medley of traditional animal songs
including Alouette, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, How Much
is that Doggie in the Window and You Ain't Nothin' but a Hound
Dog.
The
Discovery of the New World
- More to the Story
(Grades K-6) A journey of discovery, both
personal and historical, that challenges the audience to reexamine accepted
beliefs and teachings about The Discovery, Puerto Rico and The Caribbean.
Using an original song (More to the Story) we are invited to
travel back in time and search for the truth in history. Audience members
are picked to help navigate a caravel (a small ship of its day) as it
makes the perilous voyage across the Atlantic. Next they learn about
the beliefs of the Tainos, the natives mistaken for "Indians" by Columbus,
in the story of how their world was created. We then meet the Coquí,
a small toad indigenous to the island who has an irreverently humorous
attitude towards the explorers and finally conclude with another original
tune (They Made Salsa) which is accompanied by audience members
and salsa music to celebrate the heritage (European, African and Taino)
of the Caribbean people. Students are encouraged to learn history not
only from their textbooks but also in discussions with their parents,
teachers and peers.
Mexican
Legends and Songs (Grades
K-6) The history, culture and language of Mexico experienced
through accounts of historical/legendary figures, folktales and folk
music. We hear of Cortes, the Spanish Conquistador, La Malinche, his
faithful translator and Montezuma, the leader of the ill fated Aztecs.
All the songs are traditional favorites, Cielito Lindo, Cu
cu ru cu cu Paloma, and La Cucaracha a tribute to the Mexican
folk hero, Pancho Villa. And though sung in Spanish, they are thoroughly
explained so the audience can fully appreciate their meaning while enjoying
the beauty of the language and rhythm. There is also a Mexican folktale,
Pepe and the Figs, about a poor farm boy who refuses to help
his parents at home and learns a valuable lesson when he leaves to find
his fortune in el pueblo (the town.) The students play "maracas"
in the form of fruits and vegetables as they help bring the program
to its rousing conclusion.
