Crawford International Ruimsig’s Grade 1 teachers performed their Rock ‘N Shock on various genres of music in the school theatre.
To demonstrate how music allows us to express ourselves in a variety of ways, the teachers performed and danced to a song of their choice. The central concept is to create and respond to music in order to develop an understanding of ourselves and others through various styles of music and how music conveys the composer’s ideas. The learners enjoyed watching and singing along with their teachers as they performed.
Shika Harrypaul, a Grade 6 teacher, introduced the Grade 1 learners to classical kathak and contemporary Indian dancing (Bollywood). Shika has been practicing North Indian classical kathak dancing for over two decades. For 14 years, she has been teaching kathak and educating young people in Gauteng about the journey of Indian dance from temples in India to South Africa. She told the story of Indian dance, including its history, components, and beauty. Her performance aimed to encourage students to express themselves through dance as a form of storytelling, one step at a time. Siya Dahiya, a Grade 1 learner at Darpan Kathak Specialists, demonstrated her dance steps with grace and confidence.
Crawford International Ruimsig provides a variety of performing arts opportunities, with contemporary Indian dancing (Bollywood) being particularly popular among the school’s talented learners. Piper Cookson and Ariele Rieckhoff, Grade 6 learners, performed a dance medley of Bollywood’s favorite musical best, demonstrating one of the many Indian dance genres available globally and in South Africa.
Throughout the dance demonstration, the focus was on respect, diversity, and inclusion, as well as loving oneself for who we are through love and appreciation.
