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WHAT: The Prelude Ballet Ensemble has prepared "Peter and the Wolf" as an educational
outreach program to present to schools and other organizations interested in exploring dance and music. Our "Peter and
the Wolf" production has a target audience of grades Kindergarten though fifth introducing children to the
art of dance and musical instrumentation and how they combine to tell a story. We are currently booking performances with
local school systems and would love to work in conjunction with elementary school music teachers to bring this wonderful ballet
to your school. There is no cost associated with our presentation as education is foremost in our corporate mission. Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev wrote a piece of music to introduce children
to the instruments and sounds of the orchestra. He authored the story and composed the music we now call "Peter
and the Wolf." In the story, each character is represented by a tune from a specific musical instrument.
The story tells of Peter and his adventures with the animals in the meadow near him home. Proposed Program: - Explanation of ballet. Short history and basics. Includes having the audience stand and participate in
ballet positions
- Explanation of choreography. Classical
versus contemporary. Evoking a mood or feeling. Includes having the audience stand and participate in changing movements
to evoke a feeling.
- Presentation of Peter and the Wolf.
A narrated performance showing Peter and his animal friends, each represented by a different musical instrument, in the meadow
one day.
WHY:
"A growing body of studies, including those in the research compendium of Critical Links, presents compelling
evidence connecting student learning in the arts to a wide spectrum of academic and social benefits."*
"Learning experiences in the arts contribute to the development of academic skills, including the areas of reading and
language development, and mathematics."*
"Arts learning experiences contribute to the development of certain thinking, social and motivational skills that are considered
basic for success in school, work and life."*
*Source: National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. (2006). Critical Evidence:
How the Arts Benefit Student Achievement. Author: Sarah S. Ruppert. Funding provided in part by the National Endowment
for the Arts.
WHO:
Prelude Ballet Ensemble is a not-for-profit ballet company in the lower Hudson Valley.
Our mission is to bring to the community a love and respect for the art of ballet. The mission is accomplished by presenting
opportunities for the public to enjoy stories told through ballet in venues such as schools, churches and theaters. The Ensemble
presents lecture demonstrations and educational outreach through programs developed by the Prelude Ballet Ensemble to schools
and local groups such as the Girl Scouts of America. The Ensemble aims to promote an awareness of and appreciation for the
art of dance as a form of communication and expression to the local community. Prelude is a not a dance school, but a dance
company open to students of all dance schools.
WHERE:
We will bring our program to your auditorium, gym, or cafeteria. A stage is nice, but not required.
Additional Ideas:
This program can be integrated into the classroom through
the use of all or some of the following:
- Language: rewrite the ending
of the story or write a folk tale
- Art: make puppets for the characters and
perform to the music
- Science: discuss instruments and their different
sounds, make instruments
- Music: introduce the instruments, assign
children to an instrument, have them pretend to play it when heard in the music
- P.E.: make up movments to go with this or
another piece of music
- Reading: discuss, research and read folk
tales
RESPONSE:
"Your company provided a wonderful community service"
"The students thoroughly enjoyed both presentations by the ballet students"
"They especially loved seeing students their own age performing for them"
"You brought the Arts to our schools and you educated our students about
ballet at the same time"
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