In January, Washington Elementary School (Summit) students in grade three participated in their annual World Dance Celebration.
For the last 18 years, guest artist Joanna Pang Atkins has been bringing this very special program to WES, teaching the students about the culture and the dances of different countries.
This year, third graders learned and performed an Aboriginal dance from Australia, a Native American Blanket dance and War dance to represent the United States, and a Merengue from the Dominican Republic. The students spent one week with Atkins, rehearsing for 45 minutes a day, to learn and perfect their dances.
The week culminated with an assembly for the entire school, as well as an evening performance for parents. This dance residency is a program that has become a beloved rite of passage for all Washington Elementary School students.
Special thanks to the WES PTO, Morris Arts, Joanna Pang Atkins, Anne Hammond, Jennifer Lowe, Dana Folk and Kari Weinglass.
Submitted by Washington Elementary School