 This week is the City of Evanston's Victorian Camp. I'll be there two days to teach the kids dances from the mid-19th century. Then, I'll visit at the end of the week as H.M., where the campers will have an opportunity to apply some of what they've learned.
I'll try to engineer pictures of the event!
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 I can't even begin to convey how fulfilling my relationship with the City of Evanston's Art Camps has been over the last several years. This year, their lineup included the return of Princess Camp, described like this in the brochure:
"Women leaders are in the news. Explore what it’s like to be a leader-in-training. Being a princess isn’t all sparkles and glamour (though we will take a little time off for some fairy tale reading). We’ll look at Queens from ancient days to today and explore all the things a leader-in-training needs to know, from manners to the minuet!" I appeared as Queen Elizabeth I on the final day of their week-long camp. I taught the 6–11-year old princesses some dances and about deportment. I talked to them about "my" days as a Princess, including some of the most difficult times and what it required of the young Elizabeth Tudor to rise to the throne ("How haps it, Governor, yesterday my Lady Princess, and today but my Lady Elizabeth?") And then we all celebrated by having tea! I feel very passionately about the life of Queen Elizabeth I, who was a very complicated woman, and an incredibly successful ruler. It is always an honor to be asked to share some of what I know. To have the opportunity to appear as/teach about this specific historical figure, and to counter some of the negative connotations of "being a princess," are both very close to my heart. I look forward to hearing, in future years, about these young leaders as they meet their challenges and opportunities like the princesses they are! Thanks again, Evanston, for letting me be part of your programs! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A page will be coming elsewhere on this site about the various possibilities of bringing Queen Elizabeth and/or the Elizabethan period to your school, public library, historical society or civic group. In the meanwhile, inquire directly at bookings(at)marykababik(dot)com.  I’ve recently had the opportunity to teach Antique and Heritage Dances to several groups of 6–11-year-olds as part of the City of Evanston Arts Camp on the theme of Inheritance where we were Discovering Dance History.
It was loads of fun for me, and I’m pretty sure the kids enjoyed it, too! They certainly learned the dances, including “Gathering Peascods” and “Strip the Willow” with enthusiasm. All the groups learned one in common, and then dances of different social classes and periods by group. The range of activities offered a the Noyes Cultural Arts Center are well worth investigating if you live within proximity. You need not be a resident of Evanston to enroll; check them out and support the terrific work they are doing with kids of all ages (adults included!). |
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