Throughout the school year, Act One Arizona funds experiences at venues across the Valley for students in Title 1 schools to provide access and connect students to the arts (submitted photo).
More than 100 kids squealed with delight and surprise when Fabian Fontenelle danced onto the stage at Madison Center for the Arts in late October. Fontenelle wore his tribal ceremonial garments and called to the students from offstage after his wife, Shelley Morningsong, introduced him. The students, kindergarten through early college, were on a field trip, thanks to Act One Arizona.
The couple, nationally and internationally known for their music and art, captured the attention and imagination of every student in the performance hall. The students had traveled to the center from their Title 1 schools all over the Valley, and they knew they were in for a treat, but Merci wasn’t prepared for what she experienced.
“Teacher said we would learn about Native American history and stuff, but we thought it would be a movie or somebody reading us a book,” she said. The first grader’s eyes were wide and dancing as she shared her reaction to Morningsong and Fontenelle, who spent their morning with the field trippers.
“The man wore really cool feathers that looked like tall – really tall – wings and the lady played different flautas – one sounded like a dove. She wrote songs that she sang. My tio is picking me up today and he won’t believe it! And my brother will be jealous he didn’t get to come.”
Act One Arizona funds experiences like this one for students in Title 1 schools, and this performance is one of many the organization will host this year.
“Our mission is to connect arts and culture partners with Arizona educators who are seeking experiences for their students, many of whom have never seen a live performance,” said Dr. Beth Maloney, executive director of Act One.
The organization was founded in 2011 by Russ and Mac Perlich, and not only has funded tickets and transportation for hundreds of field trips, but also provided remote field trips using virtual reality sets shared with schools all over Arizona.
“This is called Arts Immersion, and it helps us provide arts and cultural experiences to children outside of Tucson and Phoenix. We also created the Culture Pass program, linking 175 academic and public libraries with cultural institutions in 12 of our state’s 15 counties. Families can check out a Culture Pass and use it to admit two people to an arts event. It’s really enabled a lot of families to see live performances or go to museums,” said Maloney.
Maloney taught in classrooms for 20 years, and in 2014 was named Arizona Teacher of the Year. She is also a board-certified teacher, and has been recognized with several other educational honors.
“I see how these experiences impact children, and I know these students will remember today’s performance for the rest of their lives,” she said.
Merci and her classmates will certainly remember it. They sat in reverent silence as Fontenelle and Morningsong shared not only music and photographs, but also wise counsel: “Learn about your ancestors – the traditions in your families. Respect them. And respect yourselves. Your families are special, and so are you. Always remember that,” said Fontenelle.
The traditions the Native American couple shared came from their own tribes (Zuni and Omaha), each different but each a part of their cultures and their life together.
“We came here from New Mexico to get to know you all,” said Morningsong, as the students looked at slides from the couples’ home and listened to haunting as well as lilting songs from her flute.
“See that little church? It is very, very old, and it is across the street from our house! What is in your neighborhood? What is close to your school?” she asked. “I’m sure there are some very special places. Pay attention to them and learn about them from your families, your neighbors and your teachers. And from one another!”
The students, even the youngest ones, paid attention.
“They taught us to say ‘hello!’ in their native languages! And the costume the man wore was so cool. There were rattles made out of shells on his feet and lots of beads and stuff. He said it is sacred,” said Merci. “I wonder if those flautas are sacred? They sounded sacred to me.”
Contact Act One Arizona at www.act1az.org or 602-343-6239.
