Traditional Andean Music

One of the pitfalls of living with a single mom like me is that my poor kids don’t get to sit around on the couch all afternoon on Super Bowl Sunday eating Doritos and watching beer commercials.  No, a mom like me brings her kids to a cultural event while the rest of America is preparing for a football game as though its outcome will somehow affect their personal lives.  Luckily, my kids are still too young to know that our family is a little different from the rest of the country.

We were in Virginia, visiting my sister and her family, so I thought it would be fun to check out Creative Cauldron in Falls Church.  I was so glad we did.  Luke, Leah, and I went to see a Story Theatre Presentation called “Folktales from the Andes”.  It featured live traditional music, a professional storyteller, and actors who played the parts of the animals in the tales.  The kids really enjoyed the stories.  They were simple enough to be age appropriate, and the music and actors provided both auditory and visual interest.  Luke and Leah were entranced.  I don’t think either one of them made a peep the entire performance, except to exclaim, “Yes!” when the storyteller said she had another story to tell.

Folktales from the Andes

At the end of the story telling presentation, the children were invited to dance to the traditional music.  I practically had to drag my kids out of their seats.  I didn’t understand it.  My kids love to dance.  They are constantly listening to my iPod and running around the living room like whirling dervishes.  When I asked Luke why he wasn’t dancing, he replied matter-of-factly,  “I don’t dance to flutes and guitars.  I like hip hop better.  Next time take me to a hip hop dancing place.  If I hear Party Rockers, I’ll be dancing and shuffling all over the place.”  Hmmm… that might be an idea for another New Experience!