Press.3.14.2020

SC students attend Ranky Tanky concert at Charleston’s Gaillard in the name of learning by maura hogan mhogan@postandcourier.com mar 14, 2020 updated sep 14, 2020

Ranky Tanky performed at the Gaillard Center as part of the Gaillard Center’s Arts in Education program on March 9, 2020. Quentin Baxter, producer of the band Ranky Tanky and its drummer, said all tour dates in March and April were quickly canceled a couple of weeks ago. Brad Nettles/Staff bnettles@postandcourier.com

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The lines filing into the Charleston Gaillard Center were markedly a-jitter. That’s not altogether surprising, considering that the crowd was among those lucky enough to have landed a seat to hear Ranky Tanky, the Gullah-powered Charleston band fresh off a Grammy win that regularly packs venues the world over.

And, while many in Charleston had struck out on seeing the group perform at the sold-out Charleston Symphony show, these whispering, giggling children had fared better, and free of charge.

This was thanks to the Charleston Gaillard Center Education and Community Program. On Monday morning at 11 a.m., 1,560 students spanning first through eighth grades enjoyed an hour-long concert, which was the culminating production of the program’s 2019-20 season.

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eighth grades enjoyed an hour-long concert, which was the culminating production

program’s 2019-20 season. yellow school buses wrapped around the For the event, ofa the merry band of bright

Gaillard’s stately neoclassical building, spilling its energized passengers into the sumptuous hall. columnists Little-Known Trick For Gutters On Johns Island, the roots are tangled. And so are the stories.

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by maura hogan mhogan@postandcourier.com Want You To Know About This

For the event, a merry band of bright yellow school buses wrapped around the Gaillard’s stately neoclassical building, spilling its energized passengers into the

If you think the show was a grand gesture to cultivate the arts among Charleston sumptuous hall. youth, perhaps you can benefit from some schooling on the subject, as I have. columnists

On Johns Island, the roots are tangled. And so are the stories.

Yes, there is plenty to gain from fostering a lifelong love of the arts among a new by maura hogan mhogan@postandcourier.com generation. And while that is a welcome side effect, the Gaillard’s program aims If you think show a grandlearning gesture to cultivate the arts among Charleston instead to leverage the the arts towas elevate in South Carolina. youth, perhaps you can benefit from some schooling on the subject, as I have.

Yes, there is plenty to gain from fostering a lifelong love of the arts among a new generation. And while that is a welcome side effect, the Gaillard’s program aims

Doing the math instead to leverage the arts to elevate learning in South Carolina.

Last month, my own arts-slanting Twitter feed was abuzz with news of “To Kill a Mockingbird.”Doing The Broadway the math production had shifted its location to Madison Square Last month, own arts-slantingfor Twitter feed was abuzz with news of “To Kill a students.

Garden for a single freemyperformance 18,000 middle and high school Mockingbird.” The Broadway production had shifted its location to Madison Square a single free performance for 18,000 middle and high school students.

That happens Garden to be for within striking distance of some of the Gaillard’s annual That happens to besince within2015, strikingthe distance of some of the Gaillard’s annual numbers. Up and running program serves the tri-county area, numbers. Up and running since 2015, the program serves the tri-county area,

presenting livepresenting performances and traveling to schools for lesson plans. In the past live performances and traveling to schools for lesson plans. In the past

year, 12 productions in the Education Performance series have have filled 20,000 year, 12 productions in the Education Performance series filledseats.

20,000 seats.

Charlton Singleton (front) and Kevin Hamilton, members of Ranky Tanky, perform at the Gaillard Center as part of the arts in education Monday, March 9, 2020. Gaillard Center’s arts in education involves them busing in hundreds of school children for special performances. Brad Nettles/Staff bnettles@postandcourier.com

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The program also has conducted 274 workshops at schools and has toured shows to Theschools program also has 274 at for schools has toured shows to high that find it conducted challenging toworkshops miss classes field and trips. high schools that find it challenging to miss classes for field trips.

Operating on a first-come, first-served basis with teachers signing up for slots, the Operating a first-come, first-served basis from with teachers signing up forcounties, slots, the program alsoon provides free tickets to schools other South Carolina programBeaufort, also provides free tickets to schools from other South Carolina counties, including Colleton, Georgetown, Clarendon and Anderson. including Beaufort, Colleton, Georgetown, Clarendon and Anderson.

The method to the merriment The method to the merriment

While, yes, there is plenty of fun to be had at the productions, director of education While, yes, there is plenty of fun to be had at the productions, director of education Sterling deVries emphasizes that the Gaillard’s program is first and foremost Sterling deVries emphasizes that the Gaillard’s program is first and foremost purposeful. From its lesson plans to its production selection, its mission is to purposeful. From its lesson plans to its production selection, its mission is to support education. A former Title 1 elementary school teacher, deVries knows from support education. A former Title 1 elementary school teacher, deVries knows from her 15 years in that field what the struggles are for both teachers and kids. her 15 years in that field what the struggles are for both teachers and kids.

“We pick performances that are going to connect with the South Carolina state “We pick performances that are going to connect with the South Carolina state standards,” said deVries. “I know a teacher is not going to leave the classroom unless standards,” said deVries. “I know a teacher is not going to leave the classroom unless it is a meaningful and valuable event for his or her schoolchildren.” it is a meaningful and valuable event for his or her schoolchildren.”

Quiana Parler (left) and Quentin Baxter, members of Ranky Tanky, perform at the Gaillard Center as part of the arts in education Monday, March 9, 2020.

Quiana Parler (left) sand Baxter, members ofbusing Ranky in Tanky, perform at thechildren Gaillard for Center as performances. part of the artsBrad in education Monday, March 9, 2020.

Gaillard Center’ artsQuentin in education involves them hundreds of school special Nettles/Staff Gaillard Center’s arts in education involves them busing in hundreds of school children for special performances. Brad Nettles/Staff bnettles@postandcourier.com bnettles@postandcourier.com

That means they look for traveling tours that connect to standards that will be That means they look for traveling tours that connect to standards that will be relevant to the classroom, such as elevated reading standards. When that became a relevant to the classroom, such as elevated reading standards. When that became a statewide priority, the Gaillard began focusing on literature-based performances to statewide priority, the Gaillard began focusing on literature-based performances to

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downtown Charleston, was also in the audience at the Gaillard in his formative That theyJames look for traveling that connect to standards years.means I suspect Islander andtours bassist Kevin Hamilton was as that well.will be relevant to the classroom, such as elevated reading standards. When that became a Lead vocalist Quiana needed merely clap her hands once performances to the music, and statewide priority, theParler Gaillard begantofocusing on literature-based to ahelp willing, wee mass clapped tooon — grade no awkward ensure that students arealong, reading level. adult reticence here. When she gave glorious voice to “All For You,” it was hard to imagine any child feeling left Through the program, who don’t necessarily enjoyofreading or have a behind. That’s ditto forstudents lead guitarist Clay Ross’ launching “Good Time,” difficult time doing sointo havea the option high-energy of seeing a book harnessing the house collective, vibe.live on stage. ”The comes to opinion life for them so they are able to grasp the story elements that Signcontent up for our new newsletter way rather than just sitting down and reading a book,” she said.

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‘Good Time’ with great purpose It was delightfully loud and clear during Monday’s concert that the kids were having Sign Up! quite a good time singing along with Ranky Tanky’s album, “Good Time.”

Trumpeter and vocalist Charlton Singleton, artist-in-residence emeritus at the Gaillard, did not have to dig too deep into his own esteemed background teaching music at elementary, middle and high school levels to engage them.

The Awendaw native shared how, at their age, he was in that self-same hall as an audience member listening to music. Drummer Quentin Baxter, who is from Little-Known Trick For Gutters

downtown Charleston, was also in the audience at the Gaillard in his formative Gutter Cleaning Companies Don't Want You To Know About This

years. I suspect James Islander and bassist Kevin Hamilton was as well.

Lead vocalist Quiana Parler needed to merely clap her hands once to the music, and columnists

a willing, wee mass clapped along, too — no awkward adult reticence here. When

Long part of American culture, Gullah artists from SC now name and she gave glorious voicetheir to “All For You,” it was hard to imagine any child feeling left reclaim heritage by maura hogan mhogan@postandcourier.com behind. That’s ditto for lead guitarist Clay Ross’ launching of “Good Time,”

harnessing the house into a collective, high-energy vibe.

Tackling a topic took anewsletter turn for the joyful. Informed by its Gullah Sign up for our like newpain opinion influences, Singleton dashed about the audience, disappearing from the orchestra Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings. and popping up in the mezzanine, as he cherry-picked kids claiming a pain in the

head, Email leg and even soul, urging the audience to come together to heal them by shouting “Ranky Tanky!”

An arts in education primer

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Amid such spirit and style, educational rigor rules. The program develops lesson plans to correlate with the production and the state standards. For instance, when it comes to reading and book-based productions, they support what the teacher is focusing on, such as an author’s purpose.

“We are trying to supportLittle-Known what they areTrick already doing and make their lives a little bit For Gutters easier,” said deVries.

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Virginia Repertory Theatre’s work, “Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad,” features an actor up on the stage in costume speaking to the kids as columnists

arts and travel

Charleston band Ranky Tanky, ambassador of Gullah culture, wins Grammy Award by adam parker aparker@postandcourier.com

“They have really simple productions, but their content is really meaningful,” said deVries of the company, which helps kids understand challenging concepts like slavery. “It’s virtually impossible for a child to understand people being owned by other people.”

Arts and teaching, deVries said, are actually are a perfect combination. “It’s so much easier to teach multiplication if you dance it.”

For the Ranky Tanky workshops, they began with its influences in African culture, sharing Johns Island Gullah chants and also connecting it with the slave trade. They then culminated with another tradition, sweetgrass baskets, and provided a STEAM challenge of creating a basket that will hold the most weight.

Educational impact According to deVries, some impact of the program can be seen instantaneously, such as the making of broader cultural connections.

At Ranky Tanky, she sat next to the North Charleston-based Morningside Middle School. “I saw so many kids sit up in their seats and clap their hands when they heard a familiar song. They were making connections with hearing it at home or at church or in their community.”

After the concert, a few shared impressions.

“I’m thinking it’s very important,” said Cadoc, 10, a fifth-grader, due to the Gullah traditions in the songs. He particularly liked “Freedom” because it covered black history.

“Green Sally,” with its accompanying movements, was also a hit. Fourth-grader Nicholas, 10, said “I could stand up and dance.” His classmate Jordyn, 10, enjoyed how everyone was brought together when they were doing so.

Fourth-grader Nicholas gives his buy now impression of the Ranky Tanky performance at the Gaillard Center Monday, March 9, 2020. Gaillard Center’s arts in education involves them busing in hundreds of school children for special performances. Brad Nettles/Staff bnettles@postandcourier.com

Deborah Kinard, a fourth-grade teacher, has taken her students to three performances at the Gaillard this season.

She is currently working with them on a Gullah art project, which she said ties in nicely with the Ranky Tanky performance.

Deborah Kinard, a fourth-grade teacher, has taken her students to three performances at the Gaillard this season.

She is currently working with them on a Gullah art project, which she said ties in nicely with the Ranky Tanky performance.

“I think it’s wonderful because the kids get to Fourth-grader Jordyn gives her impression buy now of the Ranky Tanky performance at the Gaillard Center Monday, March 9, 2020. Gaillard Center’s arts in education involves them busing in hundreds of school children for special performances. Brad Nettles/Staff

experience things that they normally would not get to ... if we could not bring them here for free,” she said.

bnettles@postandcourier.com

Through pre- and post-assessments, the program can gauge results from their efforts. One second grade class, for example, was assessed on growth in their reading skills.

“In that particular case the class grew by 100%,” said deVries. “The growth isn’t always that spectacular but there is always growth.”

During the performance, the students

Teacher Deborah Kinard talks of the buy now importance of the arts in education programs that the Gaillard Center offers after the Ranky Tanky performance Monday, March 9, 2020. Gaillard Center’s arts in education involves them busing in hundreds of school children for special performances.

Brad Nettles/Staff bnettles@postandcourier.com

twittered and whispered, clapping and bouncing lightly in the plush, padded seats. Their comfort level was palpable.

Another time in the concert hall, deVries recalled the transformation of a particular class, who had been given bow ties to attend the shows. Poised and dashing, they had come to understand what the program works so hard to impart: The Charleston Gaillard Center is truly theirs.

Follow Maura Hogan on Twitter at @msmaurahogan. more information

Review: Ranky Tanky and CSO lift up the Gaillard (before it temporarily closes down) In the throes of homeschooling? Charleston arts and cultural organizations have your back.

James Edwards, Charleston educator and singer who helped break color barrier, dies at 85

maura hogan Maura Hogan is the arts critic at The Post and Courier. She has previously written about arts, culture and lifestyle for The New York Times, Gourmet, Garden & Gun, among other publications.