International Academy of Arts and Sciences Performance Day 2013

This weekend the students at The International Academy of Arts and Sciences in Closter New Jersey celebrated their annual Holiday Recital. Every holiday season the music, art and dance departments work together to chose a variety of themes for the children to learn and perform for their families and community. This year the focus for the youngest students was a piece ofmusic based on the popular song “The lion sleeps tonight”.  The next group of studentsshowcased the famous story of “The three Billy Goats Gruff”. The senior students of the schoolwere given more challenging roles of Broadway Songs. The Sound of Music and Mary Poppinswere chosen this year. Each score was carefully choreographed so all children were given equalparts of singing and dancing. Adding to the sophistication of the event was the bilingual aspect.All students sang both in English and Japanese. The backdrops and scenery were painted andcompleted by each class that performed in their showcase. In addition to the score and dancethe students learned they were also given an opportunity to learn and play a variety ofinstruments. Castanets, triangles, tambourines, cymbals, and taiko drums were used throughoutthe recital. The head of the music department who also teaches an after school piano programshowcased her piano students.  The showstopper was the hand bells! The seniors of the schoolperformed Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. This event was over the top spectacular and each studentwas so proud to be a part of this day! The teachers and staff at IAAS are very passionate about these students and it showed in their performance!