A new perspective
African dance group teaches youngsters about cultural diversity
Brookfield Preschool students were treated to a visit from Maritime Centre of African Dance, who presented a workshop on African dancing and drumming.
A group of preschool students received a lesson in diversity and inclusion through cultural dancing and performances in Brookfield.
The Brookfield Preschool youngsters were treated to a visit from the Maritime Centre of African Dance, who held an interactive workshop on African dancing and drumming at the Don Henderson Memorial Sportsplex.
“We visit different schools around the Maritimes to teach kids about African dancing and culture,” said Kadijatu Timeo, a member of MCAD.
“I think it’s important for kids to know and understand different types of cultures. It allows them to grow up knowing and respecting these other cultures and also gives them a chance to see what they like.”
During their visit, three members of MCAD brought the children into a ballfield at the sportsplex and demonstrated how to perform a traditional African dance before inviting the kids to try dancing along with them.
The group was invited to the school to help introduce kids to a new culture and to show them how diverse the province is.
“The preschool strives to encourage the children to try different things,” said Jeannette Decker, director of the Brookfield Preschool.
“We teach them new things, diversity being one of them. We teach them everyone is special no matter their race or culture, which we’ve always done, but there is a big push to sort of verbalize that now.”
Children were also invited to participate in drumming exercises with the MCAD members, who supplied eight African drums for the students to use during their visit.
As director, Decker tries to incorporate culture into as much programming at the preschool as she can. And coming from a bi-racial background, she understands the importance of being understanding and accepting toward others.
“The younger they are, the better it is to teach them about other cultures,” she said.
“We try to teach them that everyone should be accepted for who they are. We don’t decline any family due to race, culture or anything like that, we’re inclusive
and welcome all families.”
In the fall, the preschool will get another visit, this time from Indigenous performers of Millbrook First Nations, to help roll out new programming within the preschool.
“I’ve purchased some musical
instruments from different cultures and would like to have them integrated into our programming by December,” said Decker.
“We’ve got instruments from the African communities, Aboriginal communities and Asian communities, among others.”