Field Trip to Performing Arts Festival

...That was presented by the Mississippi Puppetry Guild. The kids and I went with the CHEC group last Thursday (the day before the big storm). It was a blast! Our first stop was to a storyteller. There was a whole studio of kids to the left of the picture that I didn't get on camera. But this picture shows WHERE the storyteller was doing his thing. My mom probably recognizes it quite well. This is the studio where Ballet Mississippi holds classes. And, it was the same studio (sans the wonderful marley floor) that was used back when Ballet MS had a professional company. I spent a LOT of time in this room growing up. That winding staircase used to lead to an extra small studio space, but it is used for costume storage now. Sigh.... walking in the door really took my breath away. It felt so good to be in there. To put my hand on the ballet barre. I had a difficult time listening to the storyteller. No, I'll be honest. I wasn't listening. Between occupying Tooter and reminiscing in my mind, I paid very little attention. KD, I bet you can imagine what I was feeling too!






After we left the storyteller, we stopped at Inky the Clown's show as a sort of pit stop in between events.










Tooter, being back outside at that point, had no interest in being terribly still. So he did a lot of jumping around on the steps leading in to the new Art Museum.









Our next stop was to a puppet show. I had never seen a show like this before. It was really neat. And 3 of the CHEC kids ended up on stage with some other young students to participate in part of the show!












The show was "The Fisherman's Wife". I was really impressed with the puppeteers and all their work.







Then, after a "pit stop" at a puppet making station (no pictures from that stop - too hands on), we went to "Dr. Rhythm". Now, THIS fellow was set up in what I know as the alternate rehearsal hall. I have spent quite a few hours in this room also in the olden days of Nutcracker rehearsals. I also spent some time in here when some of us were asked to perform (dancing, NOT singing!) in Aida, the opera. That was YEARS ago. I'm not saying how many. :-)




Now, Dr. Rhythm was pretty groovy. And, he's also a bit "peace, love, and harmony".... but again, I was enjoying being in the room. And I liked watching the kids dance. Tooter got down on the floor in some kind of pseudo break-dance move that I had never seen before. Don't know where that came from. But, we ended up leaving early - actually the whole CHEC group did - because all the kids were hungry and ready to go. And that worked for us because we had a speech therapy session that afternoon at 2:00 anyway.

I would highly recommend this field trip. It was really unique and interesting. Not your usual "trip to the zoo" type of thing. Don't think I'm dis'ing the zoo - I think the zoo is really cool. (And we haven't been in awhile. Hmmm. Time to bring the boy, I think. I digress.) This was an art trip from a unique perspective, and it was really kid friendly. They did a great job. Thanks for arranging this for us Amy!!!