Monday IFCC education Coordinator Julia and I visited two IFCC after school arts classes at Chief Joseph Elementary School. These were setup with help from a super PTA volunteer Diana who makes sure that the Chief Joe kids have access to some really great after school opportunities.
Professional Actress Jennifer Lanier, seen on IFCC’s stage in None of the Above had a rowdy but focused group of 6-8 year olds. They welcomed us into class and made sure that we had a lot of literal hand holding as we learned new games like the folk game “Adams kid”. They seemed so concerned that us big adults just wouldn’t get it. Well, my knees certainly acted their age. No way could I keep up with the fast plunges to the floor and the explosive jumps they took.
Next we joined Hip Hop artist Huy Pham- also known as Computer Fam the coordinator of IFCC’s Hip Hop Cabaret. He had a large group of 9-13 year old boys and a few girls knee dropping, spinning and holding some physically demanding break dancing poses. Clearly Huy had high expectations and after some drills the kids delivered in a mock break dancing battle. Two small boys, both wiry with glasses, really turned it up. During drills I didn’t think they were paying attention at all but Huy recognized their more physical learning style. Sure enough- they were bringing in all the new moves.
Huy makes sure to teach them the relevance and history of Hip Hop as he does with the Kindergarten through Second Graders he has in his MC:Spoken Word class. (Yeah you read that right. Not all of them can write yet but they are sure learning to play with words rhythm and rhyme!) You will see in our discussions with the kids it led to some interesting debate.
Here are some quotes from our chat with the kids-
FUN CREATIVE LEARNING
In this class we are able to act out something for instance- let you imagination out free- let it run to what ever it wants.
I learned a lot about eye contact- if you are acting like a ballerina you have to talk with your eyes.
We are learning lots of routines and a whole bunch of new moves like the knee drop, the 6 step, the 8step and the cross step.
This is very fun because there’s lots of games.
My mom signed me up and I was like whaaa? But I am really glad.
Break Dancing is not like Hip Hop Dancing. It is more complicated and you have to practice more.
You actually do a lot of ground work.
You use your hands.
No, break dancing is hip hop. I don’t know what you’re talking about. It is one of the three elements of hip hop. Like spinning or rhyming.
Yeah breaking is Hip Hop.
SHARING THE WORK OUTSIDE CLASS
I played Bird Beast of Fish in the car on a really long drive.
I played it in the bathroom.
How you gonna play Bird Beast of Fish alone?!
No, I played it with my Mom!
GAINING CONFIDENCE
I would like more time to act by ourselves. Yeah, I want to do a big thing on our own and show it to our teacher.
I signed up because I wanted to learn new games. I know a lot of them now.
You get to act out people that you never really were.
Usually I am expecting there to be people I don’t know but being able to have the same teacher again made me really comfortable.
PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AND EDUCATORS
Sometimes the teacher tells us stories. I like the head deep, knee deep one about the frogs. She knows a lot of games too we get to try new ones all the time.
Our teacher- he’s funny and I like it when he shows us new moves.
He is a professional break dancer and he can show us the moves he does in competition.
When our teacher does the moves it’s really fast. And he can do head spinning!
When we don’t really get it, he comes over to help. He is really nice.
WITHOUT IFCC’S AFTERSCHOOL ARTS PROGRAM
If I wasn’t in this class I would just be at home watching programs, drawing, bored.
I’d be at home watching TV and annoying my sister.
I’d be downstairs watching TV instead of dancing.
I’d probably take a shower. That’s the most funnest thing in my house. I would be bored if I weren’t here.
THE FACTS
4 out of 10 had taken an acting class before. 100% want to sign up again.
3 out of 15 had tried break dancing before and again 100% wanted to sign up again.
12 hours of class each week for 8 weeks was provided. Break Dancing, Improvisation and Spoken Word. Chief Joseph PTA contributes $4800 and IFCC contributes $1000 to the total cost of $5800. The PTA is furiously fundraising to be able to afford Spring Classes. Currently there are nor sponsors or underwriters for this program. You can help change that.
The Chief Joseph After School Arts is just one of the programs IFCC runs in our neighborhood schools. Ockely Green is beginning a year long program involving two visual arts teachers serving every child and culminating in a mural created by the entire school. Jefferson High School and the Young Women’s Academy are gearing up for the IFCC Professional Artists Mentoring Program beginning January. We are deeply committed to connecting children with Professional Artists and authentic, accessible programming. Your tax deductible donation to IFCC’s Education Program can make it happen.




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