UMKC dancers perform 'Peter & the Wolf'

By: Nicole English

Posted: 9/8/08

On Sat., Sept. 6 at 3 p.m., the White Recital Hall lobby was the filled with pre-schoolers and parents, as well as dancers in whimsical costumes. The event was a birthday party honoring the UMKC School of Education's Edgar L. and Rheta A. Berkley Child and Family Development Center and its 15 years of service to the community and teacher education. To celebrate the event, the UMKC Dance Division reprised its performance of the traditional musical narrative of Peter and the Wolf, a children's story composed and written by Sergei Prokofiev in 1936.

In the story, which has voice-over narration, each of the story's characters is represented by a musical instrument: Bird - flute, Duck - oboe, Cat - clarinet, Grandfather - bassoon, Wolf - 3 French horns, Hunters/Gunshots - woodwinds with timpani and bass drum, and Peter by the string instruments. A dancer in costume played each character in the story, dancing to the appropriate musical themes and acting out the roles as the story was unfolded by the narration.

The children, all rambunctious pre-schoolers and infants, were enthralled by the story as portrayed by the dancers. After the show was over, the children and parents were invited to share cake and candy with the performers. The children quickly clustered around the dancers asking questions, mimicking the dancers' movements, and expressing their appreciation by showing off some of their own dancing.

"We hope to take the show on the road to other schools and children's centers," said choreographer, Paula Weber. "The children really seem to enjoy the show ... almost as much as we enjoy performing it for them."

The proceeds of the concert from ticket sales will go to support the Berkley Center's Program Enrichment Campaign. The Berkley Child and Family Development Center (CFDC) was established in 1993 on the UMKC campus at 52nd and Troost. The CFDC serves as a learning laboratory for early childhood students as well as a resource for children of UMKC employees, students, and the community. More information about the CFDC can be found by calling 816-235-2600 or at http://education.umkc.edu/berkley/.

nenglish@unews.com