The Seth W. Ahlborn Performing Arts and Lecture Series (PALS)
In it’s 7th year, the Seth W. Ahlborn Performing Arts and Lecture Series (PALS) is hosted by Chesapeake Academy to provide quality art, music, science, theatrical, and social enrichment programs to students in Preschool through Eighth Grade. PALS was originally established as the Early Childhood Enrichment Series as a way to bring professional performers and educators to our Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten students, since most performance venues are located in cities too far away for early childhood field trips. The popularity of the performances inspired the Academy to offer the programs free of charge to public and private preschools and daycare centers in our counties. PALS has grown to include interactive workshops, events, and presentations for lower and middle school aged students, a character education lecture series, and parenting workshops. PALS has hosted exceptional organizations such as The Science Place, Poetry Alive!, Jamestown Foundation, Theatre IV, the Virginia Aquarium, Jim Weiss Storytelling, and Wolf Trap, and has been successful in bringing a bevy of professional story tellers, acting companies, scientists, historians, and dance troupes to our rural area to the benefit of hundreds of local children. PALS is made possible by the generosity of philanthropic organizations like The Wiley Foundation, the Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts, the Target Foundation, and CAPPA.
PALS Events 2009-10
The Shoemaker's Elves
(PS to 5th Grade, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) — December 1
A heartwarming, holiday musical about wish-fulfillment and the spirit of Christmas! Join us as Theatre IV takes a yuletide spin on the class Brothers' Grimm fairy tale. Young audiences will delight in the magical story of a poor shoemaker and the magical elves who show him the rewards of doing for others.
Ocean in Motion!
(PS to 4th Grade, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) — January 12
The Virginia Aquarium presents "P.T. Phylum's Amazing Animal Adaptations of the Chesapeake Bay!" Through comedy, song, and lively participatation, children are introduced to some of the amazing adaptations animals hae to survive in the Bay and ocean. Following the 45-minute play, children visit a Touch Tank with marine snails, sea stars, and hermit crabs, and then partake in an exciting tour of the Virginia Aquarium's traveling Aquarium Truck! PLEASE NOTE: While the performers set up the touch tank and aquarium tours, we will provide a snack and music and movement break for our visiting students.
Mathematics of Hip Hop
(K to 5th Grade, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.) — February 4
Urgeworks, a professional dance troupe from Houston, Texas, explores the role that math and numbers play in the elements of hip hop, reinforcing everyday mathematical concepts. Student participation helps bring home the understanding how dance communicate meaning and is an essential aspect of the human experience.
Be You
(6th to 8th Grade, 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.) — February 4
Using poetry, dance, rhythm, and music, they encourage individuality, self-confidence, and self-esteem, urban movement dance team Urgeworks incorporates positive aspects of life into Hip Hop culture.
Fairy Tales and Fables
(PS to 1st Grade, 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.) — February 25
Using a variety of character voices, fun, image-provoking vocabulary and loads of laugh-producing gestures, nationally renowned storyteller Jim Weiss presents “Fairy Tales, Fables, and Fantasy.” Includes tried and true preschool favorites such as “The Tortoise & the Hare,” “The Lion & the Mouse, “ and “Snow White.”
Six Geniuses of Science
(2nd to 5th Grade, 10:45 a.m. to 11:45) — February 25
Storyteller Jim Weiss weaves the related tales of six geniuses of science all working on the same challenge over six centuries. Each gets a piece of the answer and hands it on to the next one until the challenge is solved. Includes such notables as Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Keppler, and a surprise swashbuckler or two...
Writers Workshop
(6th and 7th Grade, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.) — February 25
Jim Weiss leads middle school writing students in a workshop geared towards idea generation and prewriting.
My Piano
(PS to K, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) — March 10
An interactive performance by preschooler performer and musician Sheila Arnold exploring the sounds and music children can make with a variety of “Do-Re-Mi” activities. Includes fun songs and fanciful movements to “The Bear Jazz,” “Charlie Parker Played Be-Bop,” and “My Daddy Sings the Blues.”
PALS events are generously sponsored by The Wiley Foundation, Target, and the Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts.
