I have been performing this story, "Journey to the Mountain-A Roots Tale" in elementary schools across North Carolina since 2005. The story is brought to life with music, song and dance. The performance includes the playing of many different folk instruments and lots of audience participation. The performance is tied closely to the Standard Course of Study Teaching Objectives in North Carolina schools, especially grades 3-5. This program supports teaching objectives in history, music, dance and character education.
Recent performances include:
Turner Creek Elementary School, Apex,NC
Saint Ann Catholic School, Fayetteville, NC
Easley Elementary School, Durham, NC
Adams Year Round Elementary School, Cary, NC
Ballentine Elementary School, Fuquay-Varina, NC
Parkwood Elementary School, Durham, NC
Eastover-Central Elementary School, Fayetteville, NC
Pitts School Road Elementary School, Concord, NC
Wesley Hall Elementary School, Monroe, NC
Comments and Reactions from Teachers
"I can't even begin to tell you how much we appreciated and enjoyed your performance yesterday! You are so gifted and we are all envious of your talents! We hope you will come perform for us again! Thank you! Enjoy your holiday! God Bless!" Christy Cook, 2nd grade teacher, St. Ann Catholic School, Fayetteville, NC
"We were absolutely delighted with the performance. The children received lots of history in a short time period with fun, interactive music and interesting instruments. We hope to invite you back next year for the rising fourth graders!" Karin Oliver, PTA Cultural Arts Chairman, Easley Elementary, Durham, NC
"Outstanding story-told at the level of students' understanding. In addition, you added character education. Great job of engaging and managing with signals. This fits North Carolina history so well. It is a great integration of social studies, character ed, music and folklore." Barbara Gustafson, 4th grade lead teacher, Turner Creek Elementary, Apex, NC
"I think it was a fantastic program! If only my professor in college had taught N.C. History the way you did! I really enjoyed the way it all came together at the end, with each person's story connecting like it did. Most movies aren't as good as that! Plus, the children were enthused. The different music and dancing served to keep their interest peaked. Not to mention the chances they had to participate. Well done!" Sarah McDaniel, 3rd grade teacher, St. Ann Catholic School, Fayetteville, NC
"You did a great job of explaining concepts and history of the legend. Excellent scenary-loved your seat and how you explained hand slaps. I think the students really enjoyed seeing the culture and music. Great job on using rattles with students. Explained and practiced the quiet signal very well. Excellent participation by having kids repeat the words. I know all 4th grade students should see this show as it ties the curriculum into a live performance. If they love to sing, dance, clap and have fun they are sure to love this. Students will go home with the beat in their head." Wanda Hanley, 4th grade teacher, Turner Creek Elementary, Apex, NC
"Mr. Levitt's demonstrations were great. He had the student's full attention at all times. It was wonderful the way he incorporated singing, dancing, history and story telling." D. Humphries, 5th grade teacher, Eastover-Central Elementary, Fayetteville, NC
"I enjoyed the story with all the social studies connections. It also integrated language arts with fiction and non-fiction. The music (songs, dancing and instruments) were so good! The pace was good for antsy 4th and 5th graders." Rosita Garrett, 5th grade teacher, Easley Elementary, Durham, NC
"An outstanding performance. Children listened very well! Mr. Levitt let the children get involved. Questions at end of program showed how well children has listened. Would highly recommend Mr. Levitt to perform at other schools. Again, thanks for a super program." Jean Outlaw, substitute teacher, Eastover-Central Elementary, Fayetteville, NC
"I greatly enjoyed how Mr. Levitt incorporated the stories of people from different cultures and lands into his show. The children could identify with the European, African and Native American characters. They also enjoyed being able to sing along and being able to learn the hand movements." Irene Johnson, 4th grade teacher, St. Ann Catholic School, Fayetteville, NC
"I can really see how this is a great program that touches on a lot of the geography and movement of people in and around NC. It also gives great information as to the culture of the South as it was influenced by Europe! It crosses into the music curriculum too, which is wonderful, reinforcing tempo, the beat and the emotion music can evoke. I love how the whole story culminates with the 4 kids blending their steps! Great lessons in character and life. It shows how so many cultures blend together to form one. This program hits on the movement of people to the Americas through such a cool story! I love how it integrates music, maps, geography all at the students' level. 10! The kids really seemed to enjoy the music and stories and participation. It has really kept their interest and engaged them in the learning. Great job! Mr. Levitt seems to really have a good handle on keeping the interest of students. This wonderful program brings in a lot of wonderful stories to help students learn about cultures that influenced NC and America. It uses wonderful story-telling and music!" Amanda MacLachlan, 5th grade teacher, Turner Creek Elementary, Apex, NC
"We all enjoyed how the different stories came together to explain how clogging came to be. The students enjoyed the instruments and the interaction. Thank you for your commitment." 4th Grade Team, Easley Elementary, Durham, NC
"Excellent. Loved your map (I'm going to make one for my room). Excellent performance-hand gestures, voice, audience interaction. Your question/answer session with the students (loved it)." Holly Jackson, 2nd grade teacher, Eastover-Central Elementary, Fayetteville, NC
Students learned about the cultures and hardships of people from different countries and learned about the different instruments they played. Very entertaining-the students enjoyed it. Student participation made it fun for them and helped to keep them focused and attentive. Performer was very engaging and held the students' interest. The program was enjoyable and educational. The different instruments were interesting and the students enjoyed listening to the sounds along with the dancing, all while learning about the cultures and histories of those people." Donna Henry, substitute teacher, Turner Creek Elementary, Apex, NC
"Excellent presentation. Mr. Levitt related well to the students. His performance generated interest to his art form." E.P. Hedgecoe, 5th grade teacher, Eastover-Central Elementary, Fayetteville, NC
"All that was said was very useful to introduce NC history from the 4th grade curriculum. My students are now excited and very eager to learn our Social Studies objectives. Everything was presented in a very interesting manner. Your story was very logical and included very important facts and details. They enjoyed it and learned things from the past that they will use in the future. This program was filled with 4th grade objectives. Also, it was taught using a variety of strategies and all 3 modalities for learning. My students loved your program and were sad to see it end. The students loved participating by singing the songs and answering questions. They were completely engaged. Your management was surperb! I would recommend this to any school. As a teacher, I appreciated the way in which you told the story of clogging. I learned a lot through you. Thanks." Lisa Fleming, 4th grade teacher, Turner Creek Elementary, Apex, NC
"The program strongly correlated with 4th grade social studies curriculum. It creates a good background for 3rd graders and review for 5th graders. American culture has been influenced by so many different cultures. This was a nice way to show kids how 3 distinctly different cultures came together to create something new and unique." "The program was a great way to introduce students to odd/atypical musical instruments. I was even surprised at what can be used to make music." "The students overwhelmingly liked the program. They liked the stories about the 3 people, but most of all they loved all the different instruments and the sounds they made." "I loved how the program tied together the 3 different cultures/people and tied them together as the roots for American culture in NC. The folk songs and dance heightened the experience." Joni Millsap, 3rd grade teaching assistant, Adams Year-Round Elementary, Cary, NC
"Mr. Levitt brings history and multiculturism in a friendly and understandable way to all children." Nena A. Callaghan, Kindergarten teacher, St. Ann Catholic School, Fayetteville, NC
"The performance was very entertaining and educational. I think you did an outstanding job! The kids all seemed to enjoy the performance and you held their attention well. Thank you for coming." Tiffany Sessons, substitute teacher, Eastover-Central Elementary School, Concord, NC
"Thanks for your presentation today. I learned a great deal about the origin of the steps and rhythms that combine to form the clogging dance. I've always enjoyed watching this type of dance and feel that it may peak an interest in some of the students to take lessons now." SueSpruill, 1st grade teacher, Eastover-Central Elementary School, Concord, NC
"This program was educational and entertaining. You allowed audience participation and provided the students an opportunity to stand up and move during the presentation. I especially enjoyed the variety of musical instruments used." Donna Davis, 4th grade teacher, Eastover-Central Elementary School, Concord, NC
"I felt that you incorporated the exact amount of audience participation and instruction. The students never lost interest, and that's not an easy accomplishment." Sally Swanson, 2nd grade teacher, Eastover-Central Elementary School, Concord, NC
"The students really enjoyed your performance and learned sone interesting things about how music played an important part of our history." Rebecca Stoudt, 4th grade teacher, Pitts School Road Elementary, Concord, NC
"Great Show. The kids were very involved and engaged. Thanks so much!" Amanda Dyer, 5th grade teacher, Pitts School Road Elementary, Concord, NC
"The students really enjoyed the program. It was very entertaining and informative. Everyone learned something new, even the teachers! The students were amazed at the dancing, fiddle playing and the many different instruments used to create music. The program was very worthwhile and the students couldn't wait to check out Mr. Levitt's book from the library! Fun for Everyone!
Karen Mathieson, 4th grade teacher, Wesley Chapel Elem, Monroe, NC
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I have been accepted as a member of the Artists in Schools Program sponsored by the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. Details of the school program can be found in the Artists in Schools Directory 2006-2007 at www.TheArtsCouncil.com
I have also been accepted as a member of the 2007-2008 Artists in the Schools (AIS) program sponsored by the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County. www.unitedarts.org
This performing arts program is also available to museums, libraries, festivals, corporations and other organizations interested in educating the public about North Carolina history and culture and/or the multi-cultural origins of Southern Appalachian dance.
For more information about performances go to www.duelingshoes.com and click on "School Show."
