Getting to the Heart of Art: Keystone Summer Bliss Performing and Visual Arts Festival
The Keystone cafeteria is a place drenched in familiar routine. The murmurs of daily gossip bounce off the walls, and the clatter of trays and dishes create a calming cacophony that repeats daily at mealtimes. However, this past Tuesday witnessed a massive shakeup of the familiar routine in the form of a spontaneous dance party that broke out in the cafeteria. Complete with conga lines and singing, this unexpected dance party was just one of the many treats in store for Keystone Academy at this week’s Summer Bliss Performing and Visual Arts Festival celebrating all the amazing art around the school.
This year, Keystone’s Performing and Visual Arts Festival is back and bigger than ever! The event kicked off Tuesday morning with a stupendous serenade welcoming everyone to the Archway. Their amazing performance set the tone for the fantastic week that was to come. The festival had many more events scattered packed into the week, including daily morning music performances, pop-up dance parties, and student-led Recess Rhapsodies as well as many special events throughout the day.
Tuesday saw a beautiful blend of music and visual arts at the afternoon Gallery Walk around the school. Starting in the archway, students, teachers, and parents moved around the school, exploring amazing artwork done by students including the Primary School Visual Art Exhibition, as well as art from Secondary School students and the Photography Keystone Activity Program (KAP). Each stop on the tour was accompanied by lovely music from Keystone students. That night, student performers hit the stage for The One and Only Dance competition, wowing the audience with their stellar moves. Even Primary School students got on the stage for a surprise performance, their coordinated dance drawing a massive round of applause.
Wednesday evening witnessed another stunning performance from some talented Keystone KAPs. That night, the Wind of Summer blew through the Performing Arts Center (PAC) like a summertime storm. The Wushu Team and Dance Ensembles all showed off their skills, performing amazing routines that dazzled the audience. Thursday offered even more opportunities to dance with morning music, Recess Rhapsody, and an afternoon performance by the Primary School students in Yunyin Orchestra. Friday features more excitement, with an evening performance by the KAP Music Ensembles on slate. Even as the school week comes to a close, the festival doesn’t stop. Saturday night features a performance by renounced jazz musician Nathaniel Gao.
This is the second year of the festival, which started as a collaborative project organized by the PAC Office and performing and visual arts KAPs and departments. The enthusiasm for the event was so great that this year’s event grew to encompass even more wonderful artistic displays. Keystone’s Director of PAC, Ms. De Anne Dubin, explains that there was an “energy and collaboration” that first brought the festival together, coinciding with the return of school events and the reopening of the PAC. When organizing this year’s festival, and looking ahead to next year, she explains, “that creative energy and excitement is still spreading, with more people having ideas and wanting to be involved.”
It's easy to see how much summertime excitement came to Keystone thanks to the Summer Bliss Performing and Visual Arts Festival. This event brought the whole community together, from student artists and performers to parents and staff. “That’s the heart of art – connection and community,” states Ms. Dubin. It is these connections that inspire young artists and performers to continue pursuing their passions, and having an audience brings performances fully to life. This year’s festival brought plenty of summer bliss to everyone around the community, becoming an annual school tradition to celebrate the amazing art all around Keystone!
