Our Russian Folk Dancers

Meri, Phoebe, Gary, Amiee and Liz show the children Russian Folk dancing.

More folk dancing.

Meri with Jim Zimmerman, our special guest dancers.

Jim Zimmerman showing classic Russian Folk dancing moves.

More Russian Folk dancing moves but Jim Zimmerman.

More FAME pictures

Contestants: Olga the Flautist (Karen), Ellen the Singer, Banana (Dona) the pianist.

Sue as Paula.

Meri, Dona and Liz relax between shows.

Our guest actor, Ryan Mortenson as Ryan Seacrest

March FAME Alexander Borodin and Marc Chagall

I am Alexander Borodin, famous Russian composer and doctor!

Ellen singing "Somewhere in Paradise" from Kizmit using the

melody from "Polovotizan Dances" by Alexander Borodin

from his opera "Prince Igor."

Our judges, Scott as Randy, Sue as Paula,

and Idyll as Simon in our FAME show "Russian Idol."

The judges invited Alexander Borodin, Doug, to be a guest judge.

Contestant #1, Olga (Karen) playing "Polovotizan Dancers."

Chicken (Juliet) keeping Borodin (Doug) on script

Chagall (Christiaan) showing his famous works to the audience

Doug as Borodin listening to his melody.

Banana (Dona) playing Borodin's famous tune "Chopsticks"

Christiaan as Marc Chagall

Christiaan as Marc Chagall showing his picture "My Village"

That's right scarecrow, Aaron Copland made mucis for all American people
Posted by Inge

Master videographer
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Our version of American Gothic
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Pulled a straw
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How Down by Aaron Copland is from the ballet Rodeo by Agnes de Mille
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Grant Wood is a regionalist
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Put 'em up
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Wake up Scarecrow.
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Perfect timing!
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I feel a "Yee Haw" coming on...
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FAME stands for Fine Arts Mini Experience
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That's right chicken, our painting today is "American Gothic"
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more rehearsing
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rehearsing square dancing
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Multi-tasking
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Master Minds
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Going over "Caller" lines
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Scarecrow
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more greeting students
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After the show mixing with students
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The chicken comes out to greet students
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American Gothic

I was so excited to be able to wear a bald cap all throughout the performance. (right!)

The glue used to put it on my head was not quite as easy to take off as advertised. I looked like I had some sort of skin disease. After a long bath in luke-warm 100-proof rubbing alcohol I was fine, thank you.

Dona Spaugh
Posted by Inge

Hoe Down Wrap-up

What a pleasure it was to see a terrific and funny show yesterday. You guys were awesome.

From excellent script writing (Kim, Renee and Lori) to hilarious artistic license (Doug and Scott), you taught the children the keywords and entertained. Our 4-square dancers really made the show polished. Under Phoebe’s guidance, Kim, Renee, Liz, Sue, Dona, Christiaan, Julie, and Aimee made it seem like a real Hoe Down! Scott, excellent dance calling, too! Nevine, the fiddle playing was terrific and made it seem like a realistic Hoe Down! Each of you stepped forward and spoke your lines clearly. Thank you! Lori, you made an awesome chicken. I was viewing the video and you walked around in such a way that it reminded me of a chicken. Good job!

Mrs. Bennett, kindergarten teacher, stopped me later in the day and had only one complaint. She wished the FAME show lasted longer.

The square dancing costumes looked terrific on stage, thank you Phoebe. The stage decorating made you feel like we were really on an Iowa farm going to a Hoe Down. Ellen and Dona and Phoebe and Nevine did an awesome job decorating the stage. Everyone dressed up like farmers and made it realistic for the children.

Be sure to thank Christy and Manny Ambrosio for the use of the hay. Manny delivered, unloaded, and placed hay as well as removed the hay. That is a huge, labor intensive job. They have Jon Luke in Mrs. Hodges classroom.

Behind the scenes, making the show and actors look and sound good, were Kim Ness on music (thank you Scott for burning the music CD’s), John Cloke on power point, Alan on mics, Sumner Houston and Laura Donohue on spotlights and Kathy Rains on greeting and room lights. Great work! Sometimes it is hard to keep up with the improv on stage but you guys rally, adjust and laugh through it. Thank you very much.

Ellen and Patti, thank you for the video and the pictures. John Cloke already made copies of the still pictures; maybe a few will end up in the yearbook!! These will be archived for future FAME groups.

I hope ya’all had a terrific time teaching the students and having fun. Those who were not able to make it this FAME, I hope you can make the next FAME and join in the fun.

Speaking of which, the next FAME is right around the corner on November 8th and we will be getting started right away (next week). Watch for planning meeting e-mails to come out soon (today) and respond your availability.