The Indiana Area School District’s community partner, the Indiana Free Library (IFL), was recently recognized as one of 22 libraries/nonprofits to receive funding through Pennsylvania’s Youth-led Humanities program. The purpose of the award is to bring the humanities to the teens/patrons of the IFL. IFL staff members will rely on the library’s Teen Advisory Board to plan and execute many of the funded projects and programs, but there are also projects underway that involve IASD staff and students.
Among them is the collaboration with IHS 9th grade English teachers Amy Kukula and Beth Sabatini, who brought 45 students to the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh on Valentine’s Day for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater’s (PBT) production of Romeo and Juliet. Students are currently reading Shakespeare's famous play in English class and can now connect the original text to the dance adaptation they got to experience.
Prior to the performance, the teachers and IFL staff had the opportunity to participate in an educational workshop with the PBT, where they observed rehearsals, were part of a movement class, interacted with the costume designers, and learned about many versions of Shakespeare’s classic tale. They also collaborated on a lesson with the 9th graders prior to the trip to Pittsburgh.
“This opportunity not only helped students visualize the characters and actions of the plot from the classic play,” said Kukula, “but also gave them a unique experience diving into theater etiquette, adaptations of classic texts, and artistic expression of theme and emotion.”
The IFL will host a ballet and movement class at the library on April 14 from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
In addition to the Youth-led Humanities award, YA librarian Jacque Benhart also credited Kukula and Sabatini for making the event possible. “The collaboration to enhance literature through the arts was amazing.”