Engaging Students Through the Arts with Shop Floor Theatre Company

Beecher High School students participate in first-day activities with
 Shop Floor Theatre Company program facilitator Emma Davis
Photo Credit Shop Floor Theatre Company

Sounds of Flamenco guitar, tap dancing, and a keyboard greeted sleepy students entering their English classroom at 7:35 a.m. on March 18, 2016. It was not a typical morning at Beecher High School, located just outside Flint's northern edge, as teaching artists from Shop Floor Theatre Company kicked-off the beginning of a four-month residency. The program, held during the first three hours of the school day, includes opportunities to explore self-identity through music, spoken word, theater, dance, and multi-modal communications.

Immediately, students were up on their feet and joined in a "shake down" exercise to warm up the vocal chords, to increase blood flow, and to wake up the body. "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8!" they shouted in unison while vigorously shaking the right hand, then the left, then the feet. A spectrum of nervousness, to too cool, to eager willingness spread across their faces. Each round cut in half until they reached count one with a big "WOOOO!" and jump at the end.