This month, Reach Teach Play’s Guest Artists in the Classroom brought the Clinard Dance Flamenco Quartet to Hitch Elementary School for two performances in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
The performances took place under strict Covid guidelines bringing zapateado—a Spanish word referring to the shoe strikes flamenco dancers make—to over 100 students along with mesmerizing sounds from traditional Spanish guitar, a cantaora or cante singer, and a violin.
Students experienced an art form that dates back to the 18th century Andalusia in Spain, where Spanish, the second most widely spoken first language in the world, originated. The dance was performed by Wendy Clinard, the artistic director of Clinard Dance and a flamenco dancer so authentic that attendees felt like they were in Andalusia. The performance was a grand success and represented a unique experience for students and teachers alike.
With the help of its music teacher Amy Cholod, Hitch Elementary is one of 50 schools that participates in the Guest Artists in the Classroom program, which enriches the lives of so many students throughout the school year. The program reaches over 10,000 children annually through many live classical performances like these, featuring renowned ensembles, dancers, and musicians that Ravinia brings to schools in Cook and Lake Counties.