Performing Arts: Northern Group

What an amazing experience it was for me to come and visit your beautiful Northern Group Islands. It was an especially exciting time due to the Life skills program, which brought new learning and friendship and wonderful examples of how the Performing Arts afford people an opportunity to express their culture and build community. Traditional Arts are a great strength in all the communities I visited.

Special thanks to Ruamanu School, Tukao School and Rakahanga School for their gracious hosting.  It was a privilege working with both students and teachers. Not only did I learn a lot, I had a lot of fun and people fed me delicious uto everyday.

(Still missing it) I thank you for your openness to trying new things and strengthen classroom practice through the use of the performing arts.

The Life-skills Program created the opportunity for the Principals of Penrhyn, Pukapuka and Manihiki to come together and explore the draft curriculum. Despite heat that nearly melted a couple of us into a puddle, we braved our way through numerous practical activities that led to a deeper understanding of the different strands of the document. Along the way we created some very ‘original’ creative dance performances and made music out of fishing boats and water tanks. The Arts are so much about imagination and these leaders had lots. We also made time to review and make recommendations re our next version of the Arts curriculum. This is now being put into place. Meitaki maata to the special teachers who added their support to our workshop by participating so enthusiastically.

Rakahanga School experimented with creative dance and dramatic story telling.
The senior students learned the basics of reading music. In the evening the students put on a wonderful show for the community with both traditional and some new performing arts skills on display. The show included many activities everyone was invited to join in and people did so with bells on. Ring ring ring.

We have so much to look forward to in education as the Arts are recognized more and more as a learning tool that can strengthen our learning experiences right across the curriculum. Please remember that I am here to help and would always love to hear from you via phone or email. Best of all, I hope to see you again in person on you beautiful Islands to continue the learning, both yours and mine.

Nancy Fulford, Performing Arts Advisor, Cook Islands Ministry of Education.