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Show Expressions Community Calendar Basin Life Art Works By Janine Shannon Express Writer I A world without dancing, music, art, and drama would be like a world without color. These four subjects make up the fine arts, which are fast disappearing dis-appearing in public schools due to a lack of funding. "Art Works for Kids" (AWFK) is an organization organi-zation that has helped keep the fine arts alive at two Uintah School District elementary schools. ; For the past six years, Lapoint and Todd Elementary Schools have benefited from Art Works for Kids, a non-profit organization that promotes the fine arts in Utah schools through funding and training. Schools apply for grants that may be used to pay teacher salaries, purchase supplies, and train teachers. Without this program and other funding fund-ing sources, Lapoint Principal Carol Parrish said the fine arts would not be taught at all in public elementary schools. This year Todd Elementary received a grant of $20,000 matched by another $20,000 from the Uintah School District, which was used to purchase musical instruments and to pay for fine art specialists to work full time instead of part-time. part-time. For the past five years at Lapoint, AWFK paid part of the salary for art teacher Mimi Thomas, who helped many teachers at Lapoint earn their art endorsements. This year, a grant allowed the school to hire Kim Daggett, a dance artist. art-ist. In addition, AWFK provides pro-vides monthly training in Salt Lake City for fine arts teachers to learn and collaborate with other teachers. . Both Parrish and Todd 'Principal Debbie Chatham cannot can-not stress enough how much Art Works for Kids has benefited bene-fited their schools. Walking the halls of Lapoint Elementary, it is clear that art takes a prominent promi-nent place at the school with colorful drawings, posters, and 14 Funding from AWFK purchased musical IT Wf "St Art Works for Kids made it possible to . "ft if mm f sional ballerina, to teach dance at Lapoint Elementary School. paintings on all the walls. "The joy in our schools is often lost because we are so compelled to be testing all the time," Parrish said. "We are very grateful for the Art Works for Kids program." A highlight this year for Lapoint Elementary students was the Nutcracker production, produc-tion, made possible by Art Works for Kids. Funding from the program made it possible to bring in Kim Daggett, a former professional ballerina, to teach dance at the school. Daggett choreographed the production, with Valerie Bobo as director and Maurine Luck as producer. The school began working on it at the end of October, and all students were involved. Parents also participated by creating all the costumes for the production. produc-tion. Students performed the Nutcracker last night at the West Middle School auditorium. auditori-um. Each class learned a dance, for example the Arabian or Russian dances, and performed in brightly colored costumes to the traditional Nutcracker music. With nearly 300 students involved, it was a major production. pro-duction. At a dress rehearsal Friday, the children excitedly awaited their turn on stage. "The students have learned so much from doing the Nutcracker," Daggett said. "It's been a crash course in movement, move-ment, spacing, musical phasing, and stage presence." Without Art Works for Kids, Lapoint would not have been able to hire a dance teacher, especially one as qualified as Daggett. She has over 20 years of experience dancing: ; eight years of training, five years dancing professionally, and eight years teaching in schools and ballet studios. She received "a scholarship to the School of American Ballet in New York City, was the principal dancer at Tulsa Ballet Theatre, and was a soloist with Chicago Lyric Opera. Daggett also has a degree in education from the University of Tulsa, and taught instruments at Todd Elementary. IIUMI 0 hire Kim Daggett, a former profes- for Kids' Works S 1- 4 v 'J r - llllit Lapoint Elementary student council in public schools in Oklahoma before moving to Vernal earlier ear-lier this year. Now she teaches . dance to all students at Lapoint . and advanced" ballet at Piner " Dance Studio in Vernal. "I was privileged to study with many of the most famous dancers of my generation," Daggett said. "Now I want to pass that knowledge on to the next generation." In Oklahoma, Daggett worked for the Arts and Humanities Council of Oklahoma to bring fine arts, specifically dance, into the schools there. Clearly funding poses challenges everywhere, every-where, not just in Utah. "Educators know that participation par-ticipation in the arts raises academic scores, but there is a funding problem," she said. "That is where Art Works for Kids so graciously steps in." Studies show that exposure to the fine arts increases understanding under-standing in other subjects like math and reading. The four disciplines also develop a student's stu-dent's ability to focus, organize, memorize; work as a team, communicate com-municate and create. An evaluation evalu-ation of Art Works for Kids in June of 2005 showed that in schools where the program is implemented, ' students are more emotionally mature, have higher self-esteem, and ; are more motivated to learn. The program has received positive reactions from communities, parents, teachers, principals, and students alike. Art Works for Kids was founded in 1995 by Beverly Taylor Sorenson, a philanthropist philan-thropist and arts education advocate who believes that arts education is vital to comprehensive com-prehensive education and life experience. The Sorenson Legacy Foundation donates millions of dollars to universi-. ties, school districts, individual schools, and community organizations orga-nizations each year to promote the fine arts in Utah schools. The program first started in six Utah schools, but now benefits thousands of school children and teachers through grants, support services, and advocacy work. - , Ihiiiian . ... art wfk f r kids hl: ) V a, G i members dressed for an AWFK performance of the Nutcracker. 0 a : ...''ii't ' L . ' : i Clara laments over the fall of the Nutcracker prince. Two boys, in Russian costumes, wait ji1) Oof) V 7 . : r n K i - , 1 X to practice their dance. Dec. 1-December 29 The art show at the Western Heritage Museum is a showing show-ing of the work of Vernal artist art-ist Randy Fullbright. December 13, 2006 through March 2007 The Utah Field House of Natural History is proud to announce a temporary exhibit of Ernest Untermann Sr. portraits. por-traits. The display will begin the week of December 13 and continue through March. Regular admission fees apply. For more information please contact the museum at (435)789-3799, or stop by at 496 E. Main St., Vernal. December 20 UHS Band will present their Christmas Concert beginning begin-ning with the Jazz Band, Pandemonium, at 6 p.m., along with the Uintah High and Vernal Junior High percussion per-cussion ensembles. The UHS Concert Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. with the Vernal Junior High 8th and 9th grade bands. Come enjoy the music! Split Mountain Archers will hold their winter meeting at 7 p.m. at the Vernal Rod and Gun Club. December 21 Bedtime Story Hour at Duchesne County Library Children's Room at 6 p.m. Contact DDI Vantage, 58 East 100 North, Roosevelt, or 722-3008 722-3008 for more information. December 22 Community dance at the Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West from 8 to 10 p.m. every Friday night. Kay's Band provides the music. December 28 An Open House Retirement Party for Donna Richens will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Court Room down the hall from the Treasurer's Office. Staff, - county employees, and the public are invited to attend. Cake and punch will be served. December 29 Community dance at the Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West from 8 to 10 p.m. every Friday night. Kay's Band provides the music. January 5 Community dance at the Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West from 8 to 10 p.m. every Friday night. Kay's Band provides the music. To place items of public interest inter-est in the Community Calendar, call 789-3511 or email them to editorgvernal.com. 1100 West Highway 40, Vernal - Utah Phone:(435)7834525 Open Monday through Saturday 9:C0amto6:C0pm Cloaed on Sunday |