Roots parents’ day: From Boogie Woogie to ‘We are the World’, Peace through Cultural Fusion

ISLAMABAD:

While school life becomes increasingly hectic as students climb the ladder of academic success, parents of students in smaller classes have something other than O-level exams and tuition to look forward to: parents day.

Each year schools make a special effort to showcase the young ones in adorable outfits and choreographed performances, complete with the one-off crying and emotional upheavals of little one’s spotting their parents in the audience.

Roots School System hosted its annual parent’s day with a twist at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts. All performances were adopted through the theme of “Peace through Cultural Fusion”.

Barney’s “I Love You” was adapted into Urdu, English, Spanish and Portuguese. The young performers took the stage and entertained the audience with their animated pieces.

The diversity of performances ranged from them doing the “Boogie Woogie”, to kids displaying their love for animals, to a karate demonstration.

Each performance was centred on culture, showcasing activities from different parts of the world. The show captured the styles of Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Pakistan. Montessori students performed an exquisite journey of fashion variations along the same theme.

They also performed the 80’s song “We are the World”.

The occasional outburst of tears and playful naughtiness of the children on stage added flavour and humour to the entire event.

Later, Brazilian Ambassador Alferdo Leoni, the chief guest, presented a football and a book on Brazilian culture and history to the students.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2011.