On a sunny Thursday afternoon last week, students put on a spirited, joy-filled program of music and dance in the Garden for families, faculty, and staff at this year’s May Day Arts Festival. Performances ranged from a fourth grade reboot of Eye of the Tiger to a division-wide presentation of the South African hymn Siyahamba. The celebration kicked off with the annual twirl around the Maypole, performed by seventh and eighth graders and choreographed by Krislyn ‘23. 

As in years past, the May Day program was designed to put the Lower School Dance and Music programs on full display. Dance instruction in the Lower School prepares students for creative problem solving and group collaborative processes which is further emphasized in the Middle School Core Arts program. The Festival gave students an opportunity to work on memorization, spatial awareness, and partnering. 

The goal of the Preschool and Lower School Music Program is to provide an opportunity for all students to learn, develop, and refine their musical knowledge and skills. On May Day, each musical number highlighted the melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic concepts students focus on in class.

Head to the Flickr album for more photos of the event.