In 2006 CDT created and performed Around The Table, a collection of dance pieces about family andcommunity. CDT members enjoy working in groups, sharing creative ideas and promoting dance to audiencesnot always familiar with the art form. CDT choreographers/ dancers have many years of professionalexperience working with and performing for children.

Jamie Nakama is thrilled for this opportunity to combine all of her passions: education, environment, andperforming! Besides twelve years experience as a dancer/performer, she is also the senior environmentaleducator at the Hawaii Nature Center. Jamie has over seven years experience teaching childrenenvironmental science in the outdoors and is committed to preserving the health of our communities andenvironments here in Hawaii. She also has many years of experience working with children with autism.Jamie received a masters degree in Ecological Anthropology from University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2006 andis now teaching ecological anthropology at the college level. She has studied and performed numerous formsof dance including, modern, West African, jazz, tap, ballet, and contact improvisation, in Minneapolis, SanFrancisco, and Hawaii. In addition to dancing with and choreographing for Convergence Dance Theater, Jamiealso performs with IONA Contemporary Dance Theater, Giinko Maraschino, and Samadhi. She has taughtmovement classes for adults and children of all ages. Jamie dances hula with Ka La ‘Onohi Mai O Ha’eha’eand is a dedicated capoeirista with Capoeira Besouro Hawaii (Brazilian martial arts/dance).

Jennifer Butler Shannon is the Director/Owner of The Dance Space, a dance studio located in Honolulu,commited to teaching a varitey of dance styles and movement classes to local community members ages 18months to adults. Jennifer began teaching dance at age 15, and has continued to teach all ages and levels invarious settings from studios to college classes and children’s camps. She has taught in public and privateschools around the island and brings her passion for creative dance into the classroom. She received her MFAfrom the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2003; BFA from Cornish School of the Arts, Seattle, Washington,1998. Jennifer has studied dance and performed in Hawaii, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Maine, and NewMexico. She has choreographed numerous dance pieces including her MFA Thesis Concert, Fly High, Fallsilently, which earned the Carl Wolf Award of Excellence for choreography for her featured body of work.Jennifer also serves as Artistic Director for Convergence Dance Theater.

Maryann Peterson is excited to join Convergence Dance Theatre during her last semester at the Universityof Hawaii at Manoa, in which she will soon earn a BFA in Dance Theatre. Maryann started in musical theatre,mime, and tap/jazz dance for kids while still in High School and has added to her interests ballet, modern,choreography, stage combat, and straight play acting. Since arriving to O‘ahu, Maryann has participated innumerous shows at Kennedy Theatre, been part of the UH Dance Ensemble, danced with Honolulu DanceTheatre, and performed in the Shakespeare Festival at Mark’s Garage. As well as being a student, Maryannteaches Tap/Jazz and Musical Theatre at the Danspace, and will be choreographing Honolulu Broadway Babiesat the Hawai‘i Theatre in December.

THE THREE R’S

Recycling Education Performance

Convergence Dance Theatre is a grassroots collaborativedance company that has a mission to connect dance/art to thecommunity. Convergence Dance Theatre has been performing invarious Honolulu venues since 2002. Members of CDT areprofessional dancers, teachers, students and professionals inother fields. Each show presents a theme members agree toexplore through dance in new and original choreography. Pastshows include TREAD LIGHTLY (2005), a collection of originalwork created about environmental issues.

The Three Rs

Performed by: Convergence Dance Theatre

Jennifer Shannon, Maryann Peterson, Jaime Nakama

The Three Rs is a high energy, interactive dance performance about the importance of recycling and helpingto keep our islands clean. Students enjoy a fun and energetic 40-45 minute show involving storytelling,dance performance, and interactive recycle activity/games, plus the opportunity to learn a short dance!

Main Objective: To energize and motivate children (and hence their parents!) to practice the 3 Rs(reducing, reusing and recycling). With a fun and interactive approach, this show is designed to teach andreinforce the importance of everyone “doing” their part in helping to keep the islands clean and divertingtrash from going into the landfills. The Three Rs is an exciting hands-on learning experience that is sure tosend the kids home dancing and singing about the three Rs, which will hopefully translate to positiverecycling behaviors at home as well as at school.

Summary (5 parts):

1. Introduction: The Three Rs. The show opens with a short energetic dance performed to thepopular Jack Johnson’s 3R’s song. The three dancers spin, cartwheel and slide to create an exciting,attention getting performance. The physicality and high energy of the dance gets the students excitedand in the mood to learn more about the 3R’s.

2. The Three What?? This dance/story drives the recycling message home to the kids through bothmovement and text. The act begins with one “student” telling another student about seeing trashthrown out the window. The other student responds with a “So What? Who Cares and It’s not myProblem” attitude. The student points out trash can make fish sick…..but what to do? Suddenly thethird dancer - “teacher” - slides onto stage and begins teaching the students about the importance ofRecycling, Reducing and Reusing. The act ends with the crowd echoing the Three R’s. Two dancersexit as the “teacher” asks some questions about recycling to see what the kids have been absorbingfrom the performance thus far.

3. Traveling Trash. Suddenly a pile of trash begins moving around the stage and sneaking up on theTeacher. Upset by all the “trash” she needs help cleaning it up before it blows into the park or ocean.Students are asked to come up (one at a time) and helpremove some of the rubbish and put it in its properplace. They find that most of it isn’t trash but can byrecycled. They are encouraged to think about ways inwhich some of the items could be reused and then mustput the items in the proper recycle bins. Building on theinformation that was provided in the previous act, thissection is designed to promote creative and criticalthinking skills. They are prompted to really think abouthow certain items could be reduced and reused evenbefore they are recycled. Receiving a cool recycled opalaprize for volunteering to participate, the kids get veryexcited to come up and help put the trash in it’s properplace.

4. The Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Line Dance.Students finally get a chance to get up and really move! CDT dancers teach the students a simple“line” dance to a recycling song. The students learn simple moves that they can perform in their placesas they dance and sing along to the message about Reducing, Reusing and Recycling. Volunteers arecalled up to dance with CDT dancers.

The Three Rs continued

Take home materials: CDT provides teachers with fun recycling activity sheets for the kids to complete inpreparation for the performance. After the show, CDT also leaves each audience group with a CD with therecycling songs from the performance so the kids can continue dancing and singing the 3Rs!

The ideal “performance” space: Open area and without structures and/or furniture. The Three Rs showdoes not need special lighting or sound. If required, CDT can supply their own stereo equipment. Dependingon size of audience, a microphone may be required.

The ideal audience: K-5. Up to 200 kids (larger groups may be accommodated if the space allows andaudio equipment is available).

The program and activities can be tailored to teacher needs and goals. Please feel free to ask about options.

Cost: $400 per show

Contact: CDT requests that the performance dates be scheduled at least 4 weeks in advance. For moreinformation and to schedule this exciting educational show to perform at your school pleaseemail Jamie Nakama at: jknakama@yahoo.com