Bienvenido a España.
Here we have bullfights, theater, famous painters, discussions about culture and flamenco dancers.
This and plenty more is what the Contemporaries’ Hands-On program for third and fourth graders is all about.
Students are transported to the European continent for a literal hands-on experience at the Cultural Activities Center.
They star in a play, dance, paint and view Spanish culture as it is placed directly in front of them.
Teatro
The Spanish countryside is the backdrop for the story of “Ferdinand the Bull.”
Ferdinand is not your normal bull. He’d rather stop and smell the roses than fight with friends.
Every child is invited on the stage to act out a part. There is Ferdinand’s mom, bullfighters, spectators, flag wavers and the most important bumblebee.
Flowers are thrown as the matador enters the arena and the brave bull is brought in for battle.
After plenty of pleas, the fight doesn’t go as planned to the matador’s disgrace.
Ferdinand’s calm attitude is never tested and each child leaves the stage a full-fledged actor.
Movimiento
“Imagine that we are Spanish dancers,” said Joelle Bedwell, Contemporaries member.
Guitars, castanets and Spanish singers fill the room full of clapping and dancing.
Hand movement is the key to the flamenco. Directions such as “pick the apple” encourage students to push their hands into the air and the pull them back down to their waists. The final move is to “throw it away” and the children toss the imaginary apple behind them.
“Have an attitude,” said Juana Mari Ethridge, Contemporaries member. “Always an attitude.”
As the rhythm of the music increases so does the passion of the movement.
“No matter what you do,” Ms. Bedwell said. “Do it when the music tells you to.”
Art
Pablo Picasso and the mosaics of Spain are a few of the topics on board for this trip.
And so is what makes an artist good.
“Trying your best,” one student replies to the question.
“Doing something different,” says another.
Where does good art come from?
“Dreams,” said a child.
Exactly.
Then it’s time to create from those dreams with all the colors of the rainbow.
Each student is charged with the task of creating his or her own Spanish mosaic.
They are each given one block of paper that when combined will form a larger square.
Their small, singular ideas put together will create a masterpiece of epic proportions.
Galería
The gallery is full of Spain’s most famous masters.
Once the students have created their works of art, they get a crash course in the tools and styles of published art, and in artistic vision.
The difference between realistic and abstract art is where it begins and ends in this session.
No matter the medium, whether it’s chalk, paints or pencils the students will learn why an artist decided to use that device in their works.
¿Mas?
Most importantly, the students will learn what art is. Whether it is with a painter’s brush, actor’s tongue or a dancer’s feet.
That is what Hands-On is all about.
--rrenfrow@temple-telegram.com
