Montessori performers come out to play
The Knysna Montessori middle and high schools (Grades 7 to 12) presented their annual Performing Arts Evening recently. These evenings are designed to provide learners the opportunity to showcase their talents, as many participate in a wide range of extramural activities.
Although some of the items presented are coordinated by teachers, many are selfclass, motivated and express the confidence and ability of Montessori scholars, who, because of processes in the school, are able to chair meetings by their early teens.
For this year’s event, teacher Nadia Ballan condensed Shakespeare’s Macbeth into a mini-production that told the story and contained all the famous soliloquies of the play. This was ably acted by the Grade 11 with notable performances by Arum Glogauer and Zoë Metelerkamp as Lady Macbeth and Macbeth respectively.
Other notable items included the middle school’s Round the World in Four Minutes, wherein students used movement and music to tell the story of a journey, using shadows cast on a screen lit from behind. The middle school also presented a number of fast-paced skits that kept the audience highly entertained.
Performing solo is always a test of a performer’s focus, confidence and ability. Some of the most memorable of the evening were Jethro Stead singing and playing the ukulele, and junior black belt Khia van der Meulen’s riveting karate display. JemDara Glogauer sang a beautiful rendition of Christina Perry’s A Thousand Years, despite some nerve-wracking technical hitches (ably sorted by senior students), and Zoë Metelerkamp’s self-choreographed contemporary dance piece was testament to this young dancer’s hard work, dedication and talent.
To close the show, the Grade 9s entertained with a hilarious interpretation of a wellknown Monty Python scene, with insults in outrageous accents and soft-toy missiles adding to the fun. The highly entertaining evening was enjoyed by all, with efficient behind-the-scenes organisation by the Grade 11 Matric Dance Fundraising group handling front of house, and the Knysna Montessori Interact club providing catering at interval.
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