Fit Families: Theatre inspires students
By: Mark Gruba
Updated: February 23, 2012
Students at School 12 in Rochester recently saw their gymnasium transformed by the Rochester Children's Theatre Company and were inspired to make healthy choices when it comes to their body.
"This is such a big topic," said Producing Artistic Director Deborah Haber. "It is such a crisis in the nation for our younger generation to eat healthy, to do exercise, healthy choices."
The Company performed "Sweet House: Hansel and Gretel with a Bold New Flavor" for the students. Last year, five Rochester City schools saw the Children's Theatre Company perfrom at Nazareth College. This year, the Company is traveling to all 40 City elementary schools. The goal is to inspire young students through performance. "That's our message, just try a little bit, you know, go and have an apple or an orange instead of chips today, or just go outside and run around the block today, and that was you start that way of thinking," said Haber.
The message is getting through to students. "I learned that you don't need to eat sweets all the time, but sometimes because you can really get overweight, and it's really, really healthy to eat a lot of vegetables and fruits to keep your body going each day," said School 12 fifth grader Aryana Dykes.
As part of the Company's visit, students also got on their feet to reach for the sky, reinforcing exercise. "I'm an all-star cheerleader, I cheer for core athletics, so every Saturday when I cheer, I workout," said Dykes.
Haber said the impact on students should last well beyond each performance. Every teacher receives a video and there are follow up evaluations. "If it's catchy, if it's contemporary, which I think some of the music is really hip, we're really proud of it, and I really think it's making a dent," she said.
This week's Fit Families Report is brought to you by MVP Health.
"This is such a big topic," said Producing Artistic Director Deborah Haber. "It is such a crisis in the nation for our younger generation to eat healthy, to do exercise, healthy choices."
The Company performed "Sweet House: Hansel and Gretel with a Bold New Flavor" for the students. Last year, five Rochester City schools saw the Children's Theatre Company perfrom at Nazareth College. This year, the Company is traveling to all 40 City elementary schools. The goal is to inspire young students through performance. "That's our message, just try a little bit, you know, go and have an apple or an orange instead of chips today, or just go outside and run around the block today, and that was you start that way of thinking," said Haber.
The message is getting through to students. "I learned that you don't need to eat sweets all the time, but sometimes because you can really get overweight, and it's really, really healthy to eat a lot of vegetables and fruits to keep your body going each day," said School 12 fifth grader Aryana Dykes.
As part of the Company's visit, students also got on their feet to reach for the sky, reinforcing exercise. "I'm an all-star cheerleader, I cheer for core athletics, so every Saturday when I cheer, I workout," said Dykes.
Haber said the impact on students should last well beyond each performance. Every teacher receives a video and there are follow up evaluations. "If it's catchy, if it's contemporary, which I think some of the music is really hip, we're really proud of it, and I really think it's making a dent," she said.
This week's Fit Families Report is brought to you by MVP Health.
