Funding for Lied Center performance

Through a generous donor at the Lied Center, Lefler Middle School eighth graders have the opportunity to attend Passing it Forward: The American Dream? by the Tapestry Dance Company.

This performance explores the rich and complicated history of our country, encouraging the audience to reflect on the role of immigration in creating the diversity of cultures that make up our American heritage. Through historical traditions and new works of tap dance set to a diversified musical score of spoken-word poetry, hip-hop, jazz, and American classics, Tapestry sets a rhythm of communication, hope, and healing.

The donor has covered the cost of 120 tickets. We will need to pay for 80 additional tickets and the cost of transportation. This performance will be a special opportunity for our students, many of whom are first generation Americans. Lefler is a Title I school, with 60 percent of our students receiving free or reduced lunch. For many students, this will be the first opportunity to attend an event at the Lied Center. That opportunity alone is enriching, but the content relates directly to our studies in American History and to the lives of our students. Requesting $1,670 plus cost reimbursement.

A huge thank you to everyone who donated so that Lefler 8th graders could attend this performance at the Lied Center! We went this morning and the performance was fantastic. Our kids were engaged and dazzled by the tap dancing talent and by the hip hop, rhyming performance of the spoken word artist. For many of our students, this was the first time they were able to see a cultural event of this caliber. The performance struck a chord with many as the performers introduced themselves and told how their family history is a part of the American Dream. At the end of the performance, kids got to ask questions and one student asked if any of them dealt with anxiety and stage fright. The answers that question garnered were incredibly important for 8th grade kids to hear. They all spoke about dealing with anxiety and the ways they have learned to cope with it. It’s always good for kids to hear about those issues from adults who are not their teachers or their parents.

Thank you again. This was truly an important field trip experience for our kids.

Becky Boswell