We have a lot of costumes… Having a wife with a theatre production company comes with some perks. Halloween in our household has become a bit more of an event since the kids came along. Katy now organizes and dresses up the family based on one of the upcoming sets in her annual production the Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular. This has resulted in some unique and memorable costumes over the past 5 years:
2013 – Charlie Chaplin
2014 – Toy Soldiers
2015 – Grease ‘T Birds’
As the boys have grown, it has resulted in some entertaining moments as they assume the identities of their costumes. In 2015, Nicholas (3 years old at the time) had memorized the lyrics and dance moves to John Travolta’s Grease Lightning by the time this production was over. When he was asking to watch Grease Live instead of Paw Patrol like his friends, it definitely raised a few eyebrows, but we know the exposure our boys have had (and we will work to ensure they have) to music and the arts will be invaluable to them in the future. As we try to raise creative, well-rounded kids that have the ability to persevere, we know music and the arts will play a huge role. The work ethic and continued practice necessary to successfully learn and play a musical instrument and the ability to stick with it when it gets difficult are just two of the character traits we are trying to instill in our kids. Not many four year olds have seen a live Opera in an old Roman Amphitheatre in Provence and can count a 1/16th violin as one of their prize possessions, so we think we are on the right track.
Ensuring all students in my school have the same experiences is a more difficult task. Halloween provides a great opportunity. Halloween can be a difficult time for teachers with the chaos of student costumes breaking and the ensuing tears, but I believe teachers should embrace this opportunity instead of trying to organize an “orange and black” day. We need to take the opportunity for students to be creative, research and become their character and costume. Engaging students in something they are connected to and have ownership in results in much deeper learning. It may not be as tidy and organized, but it is worth the mess. As Ken Robinson states, “Imagination is the source of all human achievement.” http://sirkenrobinson.com, Out of Our Minds: The Power of Being Creative
2016 proved a most memorable Halloween for our family, as both boys were now in on the act and practicing their best versions of Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog”. Katy purchased a Pro Elvis Jumpsuit for me to squeeze into. Pro Elvis is a Nanaimo based company that supplies Elvis impersonators and was successful in obtaining investment from Brett Wilson on CBC’s the Dragon’s Den back in 2009. Sarah MacDonald, their head seamstress, has been doing an amazing job of all our costume alterations with the Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular for the last 6 years. The jumpsuit looked fantastic (and we love being able to support a local company), but it was definitely well fitted, making me feel more like a later years Elvis.
2017 saw the crew in flight suits as the pilots from “Top Gun“. The boys were a very enthusiastic Maverick and IceMan, while mom and dad were told they were both Goose. Living in Comox, it was surprising how many people on the streets thought I actually was a pilot, it must have been the moustache…
Stay tuned for pictures of next year’s “Halloween Production”… and please leave a comment if you have some feedback or an example of how the arts have helped you or those around you live a more full and successful life.
It's About the Ride 