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Red Hawk Dancers Visit Region One Schools
The Red Hawk Dancers will present an educational program of Native American dance, music and other aspects of American Indian culture at five schools throughout Region One. Lee H. Kellogg School, Cornwall Consolidated School, Kent Center School, Sharon Center School and North Canaan Elementary School will host the three members of the Red Hawk troupe on Monday and Tuesday, October 28-29 for one-hour programs in each school.
World champion dancers will demonstrate their styles and deliver a description of the dances' origins and significance, and will give an explanation of the regalia worn during the performances as well. Students will have the rare opportunity to witness and participate in dances from the Southwest, Northern Plains and Eastern Woodlands. Stories will evolve into theatrical performances that will help break stereotypes and allow students to relate to Native Americans today.
Region One students studying Native American history of the Eastern Woodlands have the incomparable opportunity to meet a Native American educator from that area who can talk about his own history, culture and current life experiences. In advance of the performance, each teacher will work with study materials provided by the artist to be used as a resource for preparation and follow-up activities that can be integrated into the classroom.
The Red Hawk Indian Arts Council is a nonprofit organization founded and maintained by Native Americans. The Council is dedicated to educating the general public about Native American heritage through song, dance, works of art and other cultural forms of expression. Over the last six years, they have touched the hearts and opened the minds of thousands of people to the beauty of North, South and Central American as well as Caribbean indigenous cultures. Through their many pow-wows, events, workshops and educational programs, they have addressed stereotypes, fostered awareness of Native American cultures and created a venue for Native American artists to share their art forms with the public and other native peoples.
Since 1994, this small grass roots organization has produced many large events. During the past seven years, the Council's Gateway to the Nations pow-wow has become the official New York City Native American Heritage Festival with over 20,000 people visiting the three-day event. The Red Hawk Indian Arts Council also hosts two other large festivals, one in northern New Jersey and the other in Orange County, New York, attracting over 50,000 people to the two events each year.
On Monday, October 28, Red Hawk Dancers will perform for grades K-8 at Lee H. Kellogg School at 9 a.m., at Cornwall Consolidated School at 11 a.m., and at Kent Center School at 1:30 p.m. On Tuesday, October 29, the troupe will perform for students at Sharon Center School at 10 a.m., and at North Canaan Elementary School at 1:40 p.m.
The collaboration between the schools in Region One has benefited both the artists and the individual schools. The artists are able to perform for more schools during a concentrated visit to Connecticut's Northwest Corner, and the schools are able to engage an artist of considerable talent at a group rate. These coordinated presentations are co-sponsored by the Southern CT Library Council.
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