Dance is not usually a requirement in high school English classes, but it is at Laguna Blanca,
where a collaboration with State Street Ballet puts students on stage with professionals in a show
that’s based on a great work of literature.
The Library Dances project first came to Laguna Blanca three years ago when English Teacher
Charles Donelan, Ph.D. and Drama Teacher Kate Bergstrom invited State Street Ballet dancer and
choreographer Cecily Stewart to bring the program to the school. During the summer, Charles and
Cecily select a classic work of literature from the eleventh and twelfth grade English curriculum,
dividing up the action into dances and dramatic scenes. Together they create a hybrid of dance and
theater that students then learn as part of the Library Dances performance.
“Students gain a greater depth and understanding of the characters through acting and dance,”
Charles says. “It allows for a much more personal engagement with the book, and a greater sense of
trust and camaraderie for every student who participates.”
When students arrive at school in September, they are greeted by the participating teachers—a
group that this year will include Charles, Jillian Honorof, Dana Caldwell, and a team of four
professional ballet dancers from State Street’s roster, including Cecily. In less than a month, the
students learn their lines and their dance moves, and perform the literature live for family and
friends.
State Street Ballet has long made dance education a part of its mission, hoping to inspire a
lifelong participation in the arts from a young age. Library Dances is one of its public outreach
programs, and Laguna is the only high school in Santa Barbara currently offering this experience.
Past performances have included such classics as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Scarlet Letter.
Throughout the Library Dances unit, Donelan pushes the limits of traditional literary analysis
This year’s Library Dances
performance will take place on
October 13, 2016 in Spaulding Auditorium at
7pm. Family and friends are welcome!
LAGUNA
DANCES
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