International Arts Consortium 2003-4:

Deep Roots in the Heart of the Caribbean

In Winter, 2004, artist-in-resident, Mark Lilly, met with physical education and Spanish classes to teach Afro-Cuban song, percussion, and dance. This residency introduced students to the geography, history, people, cultures, music and dance of Cuba. Students learned about the roles that song, dance and percussion play in traditional and contemporary settings in Cuba as historical records and archives, tools and vocabulary for conversation, and art spaces for expressing identity. Specifically, Mr. Lilly taught and helped students participate in the Congolese rooted Afro-Cuban music and dance complexes of Makuta, Rumba and Comparsa.

All student participants were engaged in this residency through many of their multiple intelligences. During the pre-residency class, students studied maps of African Diaspora in the Americas, and labeled a map of Spanish-speaking countries in the Caribbean Region and a map of Cuba. Mr. Maggart, Spanish teacher,l led the students through a power point presentation that introduced the students to many of the important places connected with this residency: Spain, Northern Africa, West Coast Africa, The Caribbean Islands, Cuba, Havana, Matanzas, and Santiago de Cuba. Each class session with Mr. Lilly included several short segments that reveal and involve the students in music listening, video viewing, writing, discussion, percussion/rhythm warm-ups, call-and-response singing, dance, and reflective self-assessment. After Mr. Lilly’s three residency sessions, students viewed the first hour of Roots of Rhythm with Harry Belafonte – “Across the Ocean” and used a Viewing Guide to help them become familiar with the people and musical traditions that came to Cuba from Europe and Africa.

“Roots of the Caribbean” is among projects sponsored by the International Arts Consortium, which serves John Stanford International School and Hamilton International Middle School, with major funding from Washington State Arts Commission, the International Business Breakfast, and PTSAs at each school. Thanks to all contributors. Thanks, especially, to teacher Justin Maggart for developing the materials for this residency.