My students need tap shoes to replace old ones that fell apart. We need closets to store costumes. We need a boy's tuxedo, and antique phones for our production of Annie.
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
Fidgety, wriggly, jiggly these are negative words used to describe kids in my school. But, in my class, those words are not negative, but positive. I teach tap dance. I have for so many years that the tap shoes we had fell apart. Those fidgety feet need new shoes. Put that jiggle to good use.
For over 35 years it has been my joy to teach dance and theater at our school.
I love the energy and enthusiasm my students bring to the classroom.
It is a high poverty school, with many students coming from immigrant families trying hard to make a better life for their children. The kids are eager to learn, but most have not had access to experiences other than those found right in the neighborhood. None has been to see live theater, even though they live in NYC, only a few miles from Broadway. I believe every child dreams of being a star. I believe that every child has talent and the urge to show off. Although some might be shy, and others outgoing, everyone wants to shine. All love to be up on the stage, frightened and exhilarated and the center of everyone's attention (especially their own family). I try to nurture this urge. In September of each year, I make a pledge to have every child in the school perform in front of an audience.
My Project
This year our production is Annie. We have been hard at work rehearsing since the Fall. Now, as we are trying to organize costumes, we have found that many of the tap shoes we had have fallen apart. We really need to replace them, both for the show and for tap class. We are also short a few pairs of ballet slippers (the actors wear them instead of their sneakers onstage). There are three full classes working on the show. Therefore, we need closets to hold all those costumes. Many of the costumes we have in storage are from previous shows, but we do not have a tuxedo for the character Drake. He's the butler to the richest man in the world, Oliver Warbucks. A butler really news to wear a tuxedo! Working on a show is a total learning experience. The show Annie takes place during the 1930s. My kids are learning about the issues of that time period. They are learning bout the styles of clothing and what people did during that time. We need 1930s phones to make scenes realistic.
In putting on a show such as Annie, I feel I am empowering students through art.
Students learn not only acting and singing and dancing, although those are quite important elements, but, more importantly, they learn teamwork and professionalism. They gain pride in their own work and in working together to bring a large project to fruition. The show helps to motivate students in a multitude of ways, from improving self-esteem to improving attendance. Their confidence becomes self sustaining.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Morganstern and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
