Education

Forget winter math, kids seek stardom

By Wang Wei (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-01-18 07:47

Choreographer Roberto Gilabert stands with students (from left to right) Ming-Wei Fasquelle, Gessie Grey, Cici Guo, Sharon Liu, and Leo Grey at the theater camp audition. Photos by Wang Jing / China Daily

Gilabert teaches a dance move to 8-year-old Gessie Grey.

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, Liu Xiaoyun, 8, danced, sang and gave English lines on stage in front of a handful of American, French and Chinese onlookers.

This was her audition for a play to be staged by children - Treasure Island - and it was Liu's first time to try her hand at acting.

While most of her classmates are readying themselves to attend standardized extra classes over the winter vacation, the second grader from Beijing No 2 Middle School is looking forward to an exceptional holiday.

She has signed up for a kids theater winter camp that will run from Feb 7 to 19 at the No 4 Middle School.

"Most of my friends will send their children to English or math training centers in the holiday," said Zhong Cuihua, Liu's mother.

"But I will send her to this theater camp because I want her to do something different and have fun at the same time."

She added that she also considered the camp as a good opportunity for her daughter to meet foreign friends and practice her English.

Together with 24 peers from Beijing and abroad, Liu will have classes in acting, music and dance.

"The camp experience culminates with a performance of Treasure Island on Feb 19 in front of family members, friends and the community," said Chris Verrill, executive director of China's English Broadway Theatre - the organizer of the camp.

Tuition is 5,500 yuan for an 11-day camp from 9 am to 4 pm. Lunch, snacks and beverages are included. It is specifically designed for children aged between 6 and 13 with an above-intermediate level of English.

The camp's artistic director will modify the script to make sure all participants have an equal time on stage. This means occasionally boys will have to play girl parts and vice versa.

Verrill is a big believer that "children learn as they have fun", so he said he plans to make the camp as interesting as possible. Children will also participate in set painting, prop making and costume design.

"We teach students how to speak on stage with confidence," he said.

And to add some education into the theater experience, there will be English sessions for non-native English speakers.

Verrill said the English teacher will explain the story of Treasure Island and provide an opportunity for written exercises to help the children with their English. Those with advanced English will also be able to learn something.

Ming-Wei Fasquelle, 9, a shy French student from Day Star Academy - a bilingual kindergarten and elementary school in Beijing, rarely exposes himself to art programs at school.

"He is too shy sometimes," said his French father. "I want him to be able to express himself in front of people so I sent him here."

According to the American Camp Association, more than 8 million children in the US attend a mixture of camps offering activities that range from sports and outdoor survival skills to singing and dancing.

"The phenomenon is still relatively new in China," said Wang Yong, founder of an educational organization that offers winter and summer educational camps.

"Most 'winter camps' are just private training centers that provide English and math classes."

He said as parents put more emphasis on the quality of their kids' education, different types of camps have emerged in recent years, such as skiing camp, basketball camp and volunteer camps.

China Daily

(China Daily 01/18/2011)