Students step into culture, confidence

Marisa O’Neil

Shaking maracas and throbbing drums kept time while hundreds of

little feet danced the day away at UC Irvine’s Aldrich Park on

Friday.

Students from eight local elementary schools, including Pomona

Elementary School, performed folk dances from around the globe at the

campus’ fourth World Dance Day. The students all take part in UCI’s

arts outreach program, ArtsBridge.

All 20 third-graders in Cathleen Barnes’ class at Pomona showed up

to perform a Nigerian dance.

“It’s fun,” 8-year-old Andreani Plews said of the tribal dance.

“It’s a dance for the god Orisa.”

ArtsBridge brings UCI arts students to area classrooms for two

hours a week to teach students about the arts, history and other

lessons aligned with state standards, program coordinator Jasmine Yep

said. In return, the UCI students get experience in arts education.

The program is supported by private donations and state funds, but

it has seen recent cuts that have forced the program to scale back,

Yep said.

UCI dance student Amanda Bean comes to Barnes’ class every Monday

and Wednesday for an hour-long lesson with students. They learn about

geography, culture and math and get a workout at the same time.

“It’s their favorite thing,” Barnes said. “Even their writing has

improved. When they’re talking about something they enjoy so much,

they can’t stand missing the class.”

Friday marked the culmination of the year’s work. Students from

other schools performed dances from China, Mexico, Israel and India.

Pomona’s Nigerian dance had a lively accompaniment from the

Nigerian Talking Drum Ensemble. As the drums beat away, the students

stomped their feet, spun in circles and performed lots of “pride

steps,” pumping hands out from the chest.

They even learned a new dance from the band. The students and

audience members watched carefully and tried to follow along with all

the high-energy steps.

Marcelina Aguilar came along to watch her 8-year-old daughter

Bienna. She said she’s happy that her daughter can participate in the

program, and she hopes that her daughter will become a dance teacher

one day.

Frida Ramos, 8, said the lessons have taught her about unity,

diversity and confidence.

“It’s fun because we’re doing an activity,” she said. “And it

makes you happy and strong.”