In celebration of Black History Month, the Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County (CAC) brought African dance to life at Winston Elementary School through its ARTSventures program.
Students experienced vibrant performances by Miayekwa LLC, an organization known for
showcasing African diasporic movement, music and culture. The program was a part of the CAC’s ARTSventures season, which provides cultural and educational performances to Douglas County School System students throughout the school year.
Miayekwa’s mission is to preserve, present, and teach African cultural arts through dance, drums, fashion, drama, songs, and more. The organization offers performances, workshops and classes across the state in schools, camps and festivals.
From the very first beat of the drums, excitement filled the room. Students were fully engaged, clapping along, learning traditional movements, and discovering the history and meaning behind each dance. The energy was contagious and even our teachers joined in the fun and took the stage to show off their dance moves.
“It was incredible to watch our students light up as they experienced the music, movement, and stories of African culture,” said Winston school counselor Sharleta Smith. “Opportunities like this allow our students to learn beyond the classroom walls and truly connect with history in a joyful and meaningful way.”
Luciana Vinci, arts coordinator for the CAC, noted the enthusiasm generated among the students.
“The history presented through Miayekwa’s performance made students excited to share stories from their own cultural roots," she said.
One Winston Elementary School teacher added, “Amazing program! Students were engaged and loved the presentation.”
ARTSventures connects educators, artists and students across Douglas County through meaningful cultural experiences throughout the school year. Funding for the program is provided by the GreyStone Power Foundation, Georgia Council for the Arts, Douglas County Economic Development Authority and the Douglas County School System.