{"id":4799,"date":"2021-06-03T22:41:28","date_gmt":"2021-06-04T03:41:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gracegazette.org\/wordpress1\/?p=4799"},"modified":"2021-10-04T11:13:47","modified_gmt":"2021-10-04T16:13:47","slug":"final-community-week-celebrates-the-arts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gracegazette.org\/wordpress1\/final-community-week-celebrates-the-arts\/","title":{"rendered":"Final Community Week Celebrates the Arts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On the week of May 17, 2021, Grace Church School hosted its sixth and final Community Week. \u201cCommunity Week\u201d is a new concept implemented during this virtual school year which not only allows students and teachers a week off from classes and a much-needed break from their screens but also time for symposiums centered around anti-racism and community building. This past week served as an  \u201cArt\u2019s Festival,\u201d highlighting the final products of the art majors, the launch of the art and literary magazine, ephemera<\/em>, Jazz Ensemble, the Grace Theatre Company\u2019s spring musical titled \u201cA Guide To Getting Through,\u201d and the Grace Dance Ensemble\u2019s performance \u201cIn These Unprecedented Times\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dance Ensemble: \u201cIn These Unprecedented Times\u2026<\/em><\/strong>” — Ashleigh Phillips <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Still from the recorded performance of “In These Unprecedented Times…” available on Vimeo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The end-of-year performance by Grace’s Dance Ensemble embodied a powerful message of unity, community, collaboration, expression, and creativity, through a uniquely virtual medium. The live Zoom performance, which was recorded and is available on Vimeo<\/a> using the password \u201cUnprecedented,\u201d encapsulates this emotionally draining, chaotic, and surreal school year. Ms. Jenny Pommiss leads The Dance Ensemble and this performance was co-directed by Simon Thomas-Train and guest-choreographed by Alice Gosti who Ms. Pommiss said “[pushed] the limits of the Zoom platform.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We wanted to encourage people to embrace their surroundings using the objects in the space to create a place of familiarity,\u201d shared Ms. Pommiss. “The overall performance truly encapsulates the creativity and adaptation the year of 2021 heaved upon us. This performance in particular helped reveal students’ creativity and expression through a constant and exciting presentation of the arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jazz Ensemble<\/em><\/strong> — Brando Babini<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this arts-themed Community Week, the four Jazz ensembles at Grace performed covers by Thundercat, the Black Keys, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, and more which can be accessed on Vimeo<\/a>. The performances boasted over one hundred virtual attendees throughout the week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eli Nelson \u201823, a jazzist in Mr. Kadajski\u2019s Jazz Lab 2, described the difficulties of performing remotely as  \u201cimpossible.\u201d He explained that the experience is akin to \u201c running a marathon after you\u2019ve gotten out of bed.\u201d He continued, saying that the audio delay and your own background noise make it hard to \u201cget cues or feel the atmosphere.\u201d   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While he assured that the performances would\u2019ve been far better in person, Nelson notes that his teacher, Mr. Kadajski, \u201cwas very proactive in organizing the band over Zoom.\u201d Nelson, along with the other jazzists, are eagerly anticipating the return to in-person performances next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n