FULLY-FUNDED, EXCITING AND EDUCATIONAL IN-SCHOOL PERFORMANCES FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS
The Sandler Center Foundation, partially supported by funding from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, presents The Adventures of Don Quixote by Richmond Ballet.
Designed specifically for young audiences, these high-quality performances complete with music, a narrator, and a small cast of professional dancers, introduce students to the language of ballet through a combination of storytelling and dance.
Based on the Spanish literary classic by Miguel de Cervantes, Richmond Ballet’s Don Quixote for elementary school students offers an engaging connection to many English Standards of Learning. A small cast of professional dancers vibrantly brings to life an excerpt from Don Quixote’s adventures which include audience participation as well as a special role for a teacher or administrator. (This performance requires a teacher/administrator volunteer. Please have a teacher or administrator identified as the volunteer and let one of the dancers know prior to the start of the performance. The volunteer will do a few basic dance steps together with one of our dancers during the performance!) The dancers and costuming quickly capture the imaginations of K-5 students while highlighting aspects of historic Spanish culture. Theme, main ideas, plot, setting and characters are readily accessible as an experience that can enrich classroom learning. The narrator works directly with the audience, modeling and encouraging positive communication skills while including them in the captivating story. The Adventures of Don Quixote is a fun-filled 45 minutes that will inspire students through the magic of dance. To extend the experience, a teacher's guide will be provided. The teacher’s guide includes student activities and suggested lessons that lend themselves to differentiation and encourages teachers to be as creative and in-depth as they wish. Lesson ideas tie in with curriculum and Virginia SOL objectives, extending the performance experience into the classroom.
Content disclaimer: This performance of Don Quixote contains choreographed sword fighting as it pertains to the time period of the story. Please note that these performance swords are fake and are only a small part of the lecture demonstration.