Arts Alive!, a collaboration between HAI and Princeton University to provide New York City schoolchildren directly affected by September 11th and their classmates with live arts experiences while supporting New York arts organizations, has, as a component, complementary educational workshops led by Princeton students. Workshops range from intellectual discussions about the themes and morals of a play to participatory arts activities including song, dance and drama, all of which encourage schoolchildren to think critically about a performance.

Workshop highlights to date have included an exploration of Carmen by two Princeton students, Jen Borghi and Laura Winn, and HAI’s Laura Tichler, for students age 11–13 at PS 20 (Manhattan). As a warm-up exercise, the students stood in a circle and “sang” their names, opera-style. Even the principal participated, creating an elaborate, impromptu aria. If this did not already get the kids’ attention, Jen Borghi, a trained opera singer, performed two selections from Carmen, then played an excerpt of a recording of the soundtrack while describing the plot and characters in detail.

To get 6th through 8th graders at IS 51 (Staten Island) excited about the Broadway show Aida, Princeton students Jeffrey Vinikoor and Anne Sutula began by asking questions about theater and the history and culture of Egypt. They played a song from the CD and talked about the play’s composer Elton John. The last activity, by far the most engaging and challenging, had the students break into small groups and choose one member to wrap into a mummy with toilet paper.

Teacher and student workshop participants have been enthusiastic. As one teacher stated, “Our school greatly appreciates the time and effort of the workshop leaders. Professional and flexible, these young people created an environment in which normally shy students acted, sang and danced in front of an audience, which they not only did well, but also impressed us all! The material was definitely age appropriate and allowed an outlet for a class of students who normally have a high energy level.”
- Ms. E. Kostakis, JHS 189 (Queens)

In the words of Princeton student and workshop leader Jeffrey Vinikoor, “Working with the children to help them learn about the arts was challenging and highly rewarding. Knowing that the workshop helped broaden their knowledge of culture and will hopefully help rebuild their community, at least in some small way, I couldn’t have spent my Friday morning doing anything better.”