BROADWAY IN SOUTH AFRICA'S Travel Blog - Day 3

The Word of the Day has recently become a consistent element of the Broadway in South Africa camp curriculum. Every morning at the Opening Assembly we all gather together in a big group circle to do a quick physical warm-up, breathing exercises to get everyone on the same page, we play a theater game or two to get our blood pumping and minds racing and then we introduce a Word of the Day: one word or concept that the students can focus on throughout the day as they rotate through each of their 4 classes (Acting, Playwriting, Music and Dance.)

Our first word was AWARENESS: openness. To the things and people and space around us. We talked through several definitions, translated the word into several different languages (Zulu, Xhosa, Venda and Tswana to name a few) and collectively decided that awareness means not simply looking at something... but really seeing it. Sensing and feeling it. Acknowledging ourselves, our environment, our situation and the others around us. Self-awareness, Spatial-awareness, social-awareness and personal responsibility were all touched on in our acting Viewpoints work, in dance and in music classes.

Wednesday brought us one of the most powerful words we can present, IMAGINE. Imagination; dreams, mental visions. This word, believe it or not, is actually not an easy concept for our students to grasp. The word imagination is at the core of our curriculum structure because we realize the power of the imagination in relationship to the realization of personal dreams and goals. However, most of our students though they are 10-15 years old have not been afforded the luxury of their own imagination and have a pretty difficult time breaking from literal reality and accessing the inner world of their own creativity. Their immediate, daily survival depends so heavily on them being present in the current moment that there often simply isn't the time or space to just sit down and dream. And that's when we as facilitators truly understand the urgency and importance of the work we are doing here. Creativity is innate in us all, but only by specifically accessing and engaging the imagination, cultivating and reinforcing it's use, can we harness all the skill sets it provides.

Today we discussed another rather tricky concept as well, VALUE. It proved a bit difficult to nail down one solid definition or meaning to this word because it's applications are all across the board. So we just went with that given and left the interpretation fairly broad. We did collectively decide however, that value is ultimately based in appreciation. Values change depending on the circumstances. We played another of Steven's awesome games today that involved groups working together to collect 3 balls inside of a hula-hoop. It was a race, and believe me- these kids love a little competition. Afterwards we discussed that if I were to have thrown one of the small, colored plastic balls out into the street it wouldn't have seemed that valuable. However, in the context of the game- in the space and time we created by the rules we were following- the small, plastic balls became extremely important. And thus, extremely valuable. Crucial to the victory of one of the 6 teams. The concept of value trickled into music class with discussions of music appreciation (yesterday they listened to 12 different pieces... everything from Mozart to Michael Jackson and journaled what each song made them feel like) and more obviously in basic music theory with note and rhythm value.

We have incorporated a visually expressive element to the curriculum over the past few months as well, a Collective art piece that is created in one day by all of the camp participants. We used this opportunity to discuss collective value systems- what do we as a group hold to be true? What do we as human beings all value most? Before each student added on to the canvas we asked them to remain aware, to take-in what was created before them, and to value the contributions their classmates added to the painting as well as value the impulse of their own contribution yet to be made. Even in picking up litter off the playground after lunch we were able to discuss the value of the environment and of being a positive example and role model for others.

Tomorrow is the last day of our Diepsloot camp and will bring one final word, CHOICE. And I don't think there could be a better concept to leave them with. We have absolutely fallen in love with these kids and though it's going to be sad saying goodbye- we are hopefully arming them with the knowledge and hope present in the power of choice. Everyday we are all asked to make difficult decisions. Sometimes we are supported in our decision and in agreement with others. Sometimes we are left standing alone. Sometimes we know we are right. And other times we just have to follow our gut.

But there's always a choice. What will yours be?

 

-Christopher Spaulding

 

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