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Day of the Dead Dance Morning Ex
The week of Halloween got off to a festive start at the school as Upper School dance students collaborated with their peers in Upper School Spanish class for a Morning Ex experience focusing on dia de los muertos or the Day of the Dead—a multi-day Mexican holiday focusing on remembering friends and family members who have died to help support their spiritual journey.
To set the stage, students first shared the meaning of the celebration and the altars typically associated with its observance. Next, students took turns speaking about the significance of each of the traditional offerings placed on an ofrenda or Day of the Dead altar before adding the element to the one on display at center stage. Items included candles, fancy cut paper flowers called papel picado, salt, water, incense, pan dolce and other items specially selected to honor the memory of the person or people who have passed on.
Students then invited faculty and staff members to approach the stage to add framed photos of loved ones to the growing altar on stage before the lights were dimmed and the stage came alive with the rhythm, motion, color and passion of our Upper School student dancers, as they used dance as a way to honor the dead and celebrate the lives of those represented around the altar.
Click here for photos from this Morning Ex.
Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.