PROGRESSIVE ARTS ALLIANCE INNA HOUSE!!!

This quintet of hip-hop enthusiasts descended upon St. Mel's today for an awesome, morning, in-house field trip. A brief history of rap and hip-hop including hands-on work using turntables (excuse me - decks) rhymes by Suave and some b-boying (word up? never breakdancing) where some of our students handily impressed our guests with their *ahem* mad skills.

This was a fabulous compliment to last week's technology seminar at the Rock Hall, and let off some much needed steam. It has been a busy, busy week at SMART CAMP, heading into the homestretch.

In 1984 I took pictures of some breakdancers on a college campus, but the images were awfully static. I turned off the flash for this one. I like it a lot better.

Yesterday was dedicated to putting it together. Gary brought down the risers and the campers sat and watched each other present their work as we cobbled together scenes and dances and gave an impression of what next Thursday's event will be all about. We also threw some new scripts at them featuring their own words, creating new movement and lyrics pieces about their own take on the world of conflict and how to resolve it.

In addition to our visitors, Jodi and Rachel were on big-time today, revealing the black and white "tissue" shirts they had painted earlier in the week, as well as leading them through tie-dye this afternoon.

And when the day was done? Oh my, we were all ready to go home. It has been an active, expressive, explosive week. We have three days to put the finishing touches on our culminating event, and I truly believe it will be something to remember.