Performing Arts Develops Talented 4-H'ers
By Dianna Carlson, Pierce County 4-H Performing Arts Countywide Project Leader
A single performer played her flute at the Pierce County Fair in 1994. The next year three youth performed. Within five years there were 39 kids performing, with their own emcees and some were even running sound. Today the Pierce County performing arts project has grown to 44 performers who sing, strum, dance and do a myriad of other remarkable artistic endeavors.
Most people think that this project is just for fun but some former Pierce County 4-H members continue to pursue their interest in performing arts professionally. The most familiar is professional actress, Antonia MacFadden, whose stage name Antonia Darlene. Others include Rachel Zeller who is working in the Portland area as a stage lighting specialist and Jonathan Kvamme who is a sound engineer at a recording studio in Tacoma. These young people have talent and dreams they shared with others while in 4-H. By her example, Antonia showed other performers how to take risks and try bold and different ways of presenting themselves. Rachel worked with puppets and drama in 4-H and in her church community. Jonathan ran sound and was a teen leader teaching others sound project and also played drums with his band. Although each of these kids enjoyed the spotlight, they learned to listen to and respect each other as an important part of a team and members of an audience for each other.
Some young people say, “Oh, I can’t do that. I don’t play an instrument and I can’t sing.” Their words are how and why the sound and emceeing parts of our project began. Impromptu speaking is an important part of learning to be an emcee. One young lady whose parents “made her” join the emcee group introduced herself as being “terrified” of public speaking. She had an amazing talent for emphasis and we believed her. She went on to enjoy her experience so much that she came back again the next year! As for the sound part of the project, at first a friendly sound pro hired by our Fair offered his equipment and expertise in return for stagehand help. Between donations and a grant our kids are now running their own sound equipment for our Spring and Fall Leaders’ meetings, Achievement Night and our performances at 4-H State Fair.
The average performing arts participant begins as an intermediate and stays with 4-H when youth, in other projects at the same age, are leaving the program. Over the years we have had quite a variety of performances including singing, musical instruments, bands, dancing, drama, puppetry, clowning, poetry, a unicyclist, and karate. It draws in friends who may never have thought of 4-H in terms of music, dance and drama. Unexpectedly, community performing arts professionals and hobbyists have also been drawn in as judges. They may or may not have been in 4-H as young people but sometimes like and enjoy what they see enough to offer help with workshops or materials.
Most 4-H members, their friends and families simply enjoy performing arts together. They gain an interest and insight into different aspects of the performing arts that may lead to lifelong appreciation and enjoyment. Through this project they have had the opportunity to develop an understanding of their talents, set goals, and develop new skills, self-confidence and poise.