Local artist produces dance manual
for Kentucky schools
What started out as an exercise in frustration has evolved into a labor of love for local artist/singer Jennifer Rose Escobar.
It started when Escobar went in search of recordings of folk music to use in a dance class she taught. She was surprised, however, to find that there were very such resources available.
 Jennifer Escobar and Amanda McGuire |
To remedy that problem, Escobar rallied some local musicians to record folk music she could use in teaching her classes. But that effort inspired her to embark on a more ambitious project: create a learning resource that could be used by teachers all over the Bluegrass State. “I knew that there were very few of those [resources] available to Kentucky teachers. I decided to create a dance manual that included both American folk and modern dance, historical notes on each traditional dance, and advice from experts on how to best teach each dance activity,” Rose explained. Escobar’s first dance manual was published last year under the title American Folk and Modern Dance for Schools. Her latest work, to be released this fall, is entitled American Heritage Playparty and Singing Games, which includes a video in addition to the music CD and other materials. Escobar expressed hope that her knew manual will encourage Kentucky youths to explore their Appalachian heritage, and take pride in the unique culture their home state has to offer. |
“Children in Kentucky have a great deal to proud of, and they’re often surprised to learn that there are others who envy our culture,” Escobar said, noting that local people can be negatively influenced by stereotypes that portray Appalachian people as being ignorant or bereft of culture. But she added that by teaching children about Kentucky’s cultural traditions, teachers can dispel many of those harmful stereotypes. “If we can instill in our school children a knowledge and pride about Kentucky’s cultural heritage, perhaps we can educate a new generation of Appalachians, and hence, a new generation of Americans, that are people are to be respected rather than ridiculed.”
Escobar secured the assistance of the Berea College Dancers as well as local youths, who participated in the filming of the video portion of the manual. Alfredo Escobar, Jennifer’s husband, directed the video, while Jennifer’s sister, musician Laura Compton, assisted in instructing the dancers. |
 Laura Compton assists dancers |
Compton said her early education in music and dance helped her to foster an appreciation of cultures of all kinds, but it also yielded important social lessons – lessons she hopes can be passed on through Escobar’s new manual for the benefit Kentucky school children.
 Stephen Compton dances with friends. |
“I love to see children laughing with each in
a cooperative activity rather than in the competitive arena,”
Compton said. “These play party games build a sense of community
as children play together. You are all equal in a circle formation.
There is eye contact, holding of hands, and smiles to connect the
group.” Escobar agrees that there is more to folk dance and music than mere cultural enrichment, noting that in a time when kids are increasingly withdrawing into the world of video games or the Internet, dance can provide positive social opportunities that are non-threatening and non-competitive. “I think that the dance and singing resources are coming
out at a good time, and I hope fervently that I can help make a
difference in the social and cultural personality of Kentucky’s
youth,” Escobar said. |
Written by Andy McDonald - BereaOnline.com Contributing Editor
