Santa Barbara Bowl Hosts Cultural Performance as Part of School Field Trip
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - Off their campuses and learning through dance and culture, students were in the seats at the Santa Barbara Bowl as part of a unique field trip.
The group "Step Afrika!" put on a show using thier voices, hands and feet without any instruments as part of a high energy program.
It was a collaboration with the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation's Outreach Program and the Children's Creative Project through the Santa Barbara County Education Office.
The kids were brought in from throughout Santa Barbara County, and for some it was the first time they have been to an outside amphitheater that is as historic as the bowl.
It was inspiring and interactive.
Arden Kim, a student at Santa Barbara Middle School, said, "honestly I never have seen anything like that before it was the first time I have seen a step show and it was pretty awesome."
Another student, Mack Flanigan, said, "I was very much inspired, it was really nice showed a lot of culture, the dancing. It was new, it was fun. I liked it a lot."
Kai Tepper Jahnke is the Executive Director of the Children's Creative Project and said these programs connect, regardless of what school a child is coming from.
"I think it makes us a little more inclusive that way anyone who can stomp their feet and clap their hands they can make some music and they can make some sound and make some movement and it sparks joy."
The students took part in the show with some moves and learned about teamwork for all levels of skills.
An estimated 2,000 kids attended the event.
They came in from areas including Santa Maria, Guadalupe, Orcutt, Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara and Carpinteria along with many other schools – including some kids from Kern County.
Step Afrika! has toured to more than 60 countries and at the Juneteenth celebration at the White House.
The kids at the bowl event is an annual program and it is the final show for the season at the bowl.
The performers blend the percussive traditions of historically African American fraternities and sororities with traditional African dance and contemporary movement. The group says songs, storytelling, humor, and audience participation bring each performance to life.
For more than 30 years, the Santa Barbara Bowl Outreach has invested in youth performing arts through grants, instruments, artist residencies, subsidized tickets, and special events. The staff says Kids at the Bowl is a cornerstone of that work, introducing young audiences to the magic of live performance at one of the region’s most iconic venues.
This was the final show of the year for the Santa Barbara Bowl which featured touring acts including Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, Trevor Noah, David Byrne and James Taylor.
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