#natyamnaatak – “I’m Going to Tell on You!”
I taught a 1 week Bharatanatyam residency at a local STEM elementary school. With 4 different groups of 2nd graders over 4 days, there was much to share and learn (and entertainment to be had.)
But it nearly came to an end before I really got started.
It was Day 1 and the 2nd class. With any residency, after getting to know a little about each of the kids, I introduce some basic vocal percussion we use for rhythmic counting in our dancing.
“I’ll say it in rhythm, and you repeat after me. And clap along with me too.”
Heads nodded in anticipation. Eyes on me.
“Tha – Ka – Dhi – Mi – Tha – Ka – Jha – Nu”
“I’M GOING TO TELL ON YOU! TO THE TEACHERS, TO MY PARENTS, TO THE PRINCIPAL! YOU ARE GOING TO BE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE!”
I was perplexed, but intrigued. “Can you tell me what’s wrong?”
“YOU ARE MAKING US SWEAR AND SAY BAD WORDS. THAT ISN’T NICE AT ALL.”
I froze… “I’m making kids cuss?” Before I could ask what the student meant, he burst out…
“You want us to say Fa – Ka – Dhi – Mi Fa – Ka – Dhi – Mi”
It took every ounce of my being to keep a straight face. “I’m so sorry that’s what you thought – here, let me write it on the whiteboard so you can see it’s not bad words.”
After seeing it, the student replies “Oh, you are nice after all, you aren’t making us say swear words.”
NOTE TO SELF – next time, WRITE IT ON THE BOARD FIRST.
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