That Uppity Theatre Company’s Missouri School for the Blind Project

>Inner Vision: Creating Performance at Missouri School for the Blind

From L to R, Students Zack, Kurt and Justin H.

Uppity Artistic Director, Joan Lipkin, Assistant Director, Sarah Shimchick, and Webster University intern, Karol von Flotow, offered a series of movement and creativity workshops to students and teachers at the Missouri School for the Blind (MSB) in South City mid-May 2006.

Workshop curriculum was designed by Uppity staff, with the input of veteran MSB art teacher, Lynnie McElwee. With over twenty years of staff experience at MSB, McElwee was helpful in selecting student participants and providing information regarding their background in movement and performance arts. In addition to providing students an opportunity to explore their creativity, Uppity staff were interested in expanding their range of motion and movement vocabulary. Class activity and progression was documented on video and in still shots, facilitated by von Flotow.

Workshops were open to three different age groups: 4th-6th graders, 8th-9th graders, and vocational students. Each group met with Uppity staff for three separate sessions of 90 minutes in length. Lynnie McElwee, and MSB music teachers, Wendy Cummings and Bethany Reed, acted as assistants and spotters.

“I liked when we made rhythms like a rainstorm and when we played with the tubes. I also liked dancing because we got to hop. And act stupid.”
-Ellaun Williams, 9th grader

“I like to move and be active and we did some fun stuff. The group massage has gotta go next time. Or, at least, no dudes.”
-David Brown, 6th grader

“I liked the part where we walked around on the mat and it got smaller and smaller. And I liked the massage circle.”
-Elijah Shick, 4th grader

“I liked pulling the ropes and being pulled by the other person.”
-Brittany Davis, 4th grader

The Sessions:

The first session focused on fostering group communication skills and trust. Students were encouraged to work together to problem solve group challenges. Other activities required participants to be aware of their movement across various planes, at different intensities, and in relation to the individual movements of others in the group.

During the second session, students were introduced to the concept of dance. The groups talked about the different reasons for dance: as expression of mood or emotions, as ceremonial rites, for social purposes, to mark special occasions, etc. Then, the youth packed their bags and took off on an adventure of dance pieces from around the globe. A medley of music from Ireland, China, Rio de Janeiro, Jamaica, and West Africa was sampled. Students were invited to guess the origin of music and to physically explore the various feelings different beats and instruments evoked. It was a world music dance party!

Groups were also introduced to three basic types of movement that often comprise dance: percussive, swinging, and vibratory. The students were asked to practice these movements with isolated body parts and then explore each type with whole body involvement. Additionally, they were encouraged to use their own creativity and experiment with movement working individually, in pairs, and as a whole group.

Using the song, “These Are a Few of My Favorite Things,” as an example, each group was asked to share their favorites--food, clothing, sound, smell, music, and time of day, among others. Students’ responses were recorded and used during the final session to begin creating student-inspired song and dance numbers that will be completed and debut when classes resume in the fall.

My Favorite Things

Group #1’s These Are a Few of My Favorite Things (& other song and dance medley)

Raindrops on roses (make percussive rainforest, cookie sheet for thunder, rainstick, snapping, open palms rubbing together)
and whiskers on kittens (petting cats, some people being cats, cat sounds, doog woofing and cat hissing)
The Cardinals are winning cause the homeruns they’re hitting (take me out to the ballgame—ho ha—wave, you’re out!, safe!, it’s outta the park)
Chocolate cake, sugarcane, warm mac & cheese (all: yummmmm) (each person shouts their favorite food: donuts, Chinese, sushi)
These are a few of our favorite things

The smell of fresh hay and of newly cut grass (lawnmower noises)
And recess and lunchtime that seem to go fast (David making the sound of the bell—beep)
Laughing while KC & JoJo both sing (sounds of laughter)
These are a few of our favorite things

David Brown’s birthday (Daivd: yeah) and hoopin’ it up (Swish)
Chinese and Greek food and salad for sup
R&B, Mick Jagger, Psalms we all sing
These are a few of our favorite things

When the phone rings, when my friend calls
I just have to stop…
Transition: Phone beat box (Leticia does her ring tone 3X, with the other phone noises). After 3rd time, David does his answering machine message:

This is David on the phone.
I’m not home. Which means that I’m gone.
After the beep, you know what to do.
Leave your number so I can get back to you.

Elijah: But who do I call? My school friends or my home friends?
Brittany: You can talk to any friends you want. You just gotta get their number.

(Beat change)
Hey David! (Wuzzup!)
Someone’s callin’ your name
Hey David (Hi, Mama!)
And you hear it again! (Hi Oprah! I just won a million dollars)
You’re wanted on the telephone, if it isn’t…(Brittany)

And he’s not home
With a rick-tick-tickety-tick bang-bang
And a rick-tick-tickety-tick bang bang
Hey Brittany (What’s crackalackin?)
Someone’s calling your name.
Hey Brittany (What it do?)
And you hear it again (What’s up?)
You’re wanted on the telephone if it isn’t…Leticia

And she’s not home
With a rick-tick-tickety-tick bang-bang
And a rick-tick-tickety-tick bang bang
Hey Leticia (Hi, Skylie)
Someone’s calling your name.
Hey Leticia (Hi, Brittany McCain)
And you hear it again (Hey, Kurt! Hey, Kenny!)
You’re wanted on the telephone if it isn’t…Trevon

And she’s not home
With a rick-tick-tickety-tick bang-bang
And a rick-tick-tickety-tick bang bang
Hey Trevon! (What’s it with, B?)
Someone’s calling your name.
Hey Trevon (What’s good?)
And you hear it again (What up, baby?)
You’re wanted on the telephone if it isn’t…Elijah

And he’s not home
With a rick-tick-tickety-tick bang-bang
And a rick-tick-tickety-tick bang bang
Hey Elijah (Hello?)
Someone’s calling your name.
Hey Elijah (How are you doing today?)
And you hear it again (Hi Brittany?)
You’re wanted on the telephone…(Gotta)

Everyone: Click (and hang up the phone)
Soundscape: Phones transition to clocks
Some sound ideas for clocks: Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Bong, Bing. Tic…tic…tic…Jeopardy theme song. Ding! It’s 3:12 PM. Bird calls.

It's astounding, time is fleeting
Madness takes its toll
But listen closely, not for very much longer
I've got to keep control

It's just a jump to the left
And then a step to the right
With your hands on your hips
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust that really drives you insane,
Let's do the Time Warp again!
(Repeat once)

(Back to Favorite Things melody)
A days at 12:30, B Tuesdays and Wednesdays
That’s when there’s music and creative chances
I like A Fridays at 1:15
These are a few of our favorite things

Fridays are best when I can see Daddy
Or leave all behind the girls that are chatty
June 2nd’s my fav, that when’s our school ends
These are a few of our favorite times

Playing the clarinet, saxophone practice
Teachers who teach you Mobility classes (keep your canes movin’, kids)
Numbering systems and how to use canes
These are a few of our favorite things

Leaving the schoolgrounds and riding a bike
Meeting some girls and then waving hi
Going to stores and learning what we’re doing
These are a few of our favorite things

When we cross streets, when we get lost
In 39th alleyway.
We simply remember our favorite things
And then we don’t feel so bad.

Students respond to My Favorite Things Exercise:

“I liked it all. They did some weird stuff and I like anything weird.”
-Kurt Elliot, 9th grader

“I didn't like the song My Favorite Things. That’s not my kind of music but then we put in our favorite things and made it more like the music I listen to. It was cool and I hope you all come back next year.”
-Trevon Graves, 6th grader

Group 2 My Favorite Things Brainstorming:

Favorite foods:
Amanda: Lasagna (Amanda is featured in this article in STL today)
Skiley: Pumpkin pie
Justin: Garlic
Elaun: Fried chicken
Zack: Top Ramen noodles
Bryan: Pizza
Kurt: Baked steak with A1 Steak Sauce at the best steakhouse over there

Favorite clothing:
Joan: Jammies
Elaun: Mink coat
Ms. Mccelwee: raggedy holy T-shirt b/c it’s comfortable
Zack: camouflage
Ms. Reed: my wedding dress, I just loved my dress
Justin: leather and silk coat that I borrowed. Looked like a biker. Another jacket I had was full polyester. Don’t get it near fire. Trust me. You put it on and you can barely feel it. It feels like flakes of snow.
Amanda: my nylon pants b/c I like the sound that they make, the swishing of the fabric. It’s silky and smooth.
Skiley: anything made with silky material. Love that type of material. Cool to your fingers.

Favorite time of day:
Kurt: lunchtime b/c I get to see my very nice teacher, Ms. Reed
Amanda: evening because that is when the sun goes down. I like the way the air feels and how it smells. It’s very quiet. It’s like you’re waiting for something. And you have to stop.
Skiley: evening. If you were standing in a forest, the last rays of light would be coming through the trees, leaf patterns would be dancing on your face, a soft breeze would be playing with your hair
Skiley: lunchtime b/c I’m always hungry
Bryan: nighttime b/c I can go to sleep
Kurt: 5:30—b/c “things” happen at that time, get to have my own free time, love the flowers at nighttime
Zack: 12 at night b/c it’s the beginning of a brand new day and the witching hour and time for magic
Elaun: 3:30—b/c school is over

Group 3 My Favorites
(Sing to the melody of “My Girl”)

I like red roses
On a springtime day.
When it's warm outside,
I like their bouquet.

Well, I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
Favorites. (Favorites, my favorites)
Talkin' 'bout my favorites. (My favorites)

I've got so much mac & cheese
My friends envy me.
Gotta go to Red Lobster
And eat all the fish in the sea.

Well, I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
Ramen. (Seafood, veggies)
Talkin' 'bout my favorites. (My favorites)

Ooooh, Hoooo.
Hey, hey, hey.
Hey, hey, hey.

I don’t need no money,
Fortune or fame.
I've got all the best teachers, baby,
One kid can claim.

Well, Ms. Cummings teaching me sax.
And Ms. Arnold gives the best snacks.
Ms. Croon. (Teach Braille, teach Speech)
Mrs. Fitzhenry. (My girl)

I like talkin’ on the phone
With all of my friends
Angel, Torey, and Chay
Like what I have to say

Well, I guess you’d say
What can me feel this way
My favorites.. Favorites. (Favorites, my favorites)
Talkin' 'bout my favorites. (My favorites)

Teachers respond to Movement and Creativity Workshops

"Everyone seemed more comfortable with moving in the space. Aslo they just seemed to move more freely, especially the totally blind kids who seem stiff."

"It was interesting watching different students take the lead."

"One student who has been kind of an outsider because of his aggressive behaviors was asked his opinion and included in a discussion the other students were having. After he participated and talked about clothes that had special memories for him, one student said to me, 'I didn't know he ever thought about stuff like that.' "

The Sessions:

My Favorite Things

Students respond to My Favorite Things Exercise:

Group 2 My Favorite Things Brainstorming:

Group 3 My Favorites (Sing to the melody of “My Girl”)

Teachers respond to Movement and Creativity Workshops

Group 3 My Favorites
(Sing to the melody of “My Girl”)