LEWISTON — As the students swirled and skipped across the rehearsal stage Friday afternoon, performing their own hip-hop choreography, Bates Youth Arts Program Director Priscilla Rivas looked at another teacher with wide eyes.
“That was beautiful,” Rivas said.
Rivas knows every single kid on stage at Bates’ Schaeffer Theatre. They’ve been together, performing and practicing for the last three weeks and they’ve learned a lot about their charges.
But she hasn’t necessarily had the chance to see them put it all together.
Rivas, an assistant principal in Houston for the rest of the year, also acts as the program’s visual arts teacher. She doesn’t get to see her students on stage, dancing or singing or playing instruments, until the very end.
“I’m running my own class at the time, so we don’t get to see each other’s class work,” Rivas said. “This was all brand new.”
The 63 kids took the stage for one last time in 2016 Saturday evening, performing a 20-minute piece that combined everything they’ve worked this summer as a part of the Bates Dance Festival Finale.
Friday, they showcased what they’d learned for each other and for their parents. And they’ve learned a lot, from music theory and rhythm to modern and hip hop dance to performing and improvisation.
“it’s a unique program in terms of the fact that it combines all the arts,” said Laura Faure, Director of the Bates Dance Festival. “It’s unique that they get to do a production that is embedded in a festival with world-class artists from all over the world.”
Rivas has been coming to Lewiston from Houston for eight years to teach and help lead. The annual day camp draws kids from around central Maine, with a few enjoying the camp while their parents participate in aspects of the dance festival.
Music Teacher Terrance Karn, a music teacher from Wisconsin, said that adds to the mix.
“In addition to the Lewiston kids, there is a sprinkling of dancer kids,” Karn said. “They bring a different energy and an understanding of what dance means to them. They’ve grown up with it all their lives and watched their parents do it at a high level. So they can show the other kids that ‘Hey, this is a normal thing that people do all the time.'”
It’s the draw for parent Samantha Montana and her daughter Ruby Ayer.
“It’s the only program around here, I think, that has all the arts — theater, music, dancing,” Montana said. “It’s a great program.”
Corinne Berta, left, Ella Fenderson, Lorelei Howe and Abbey Libby dance during their youth arts program show-and-tell performance at Bates College in Lewiston on Friday.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.