Mariko's Magical Mix: A Dance Adventure

Watch for…

2 Mariko’s new friends and how they’re each different or unique.

2 movements the dancers make that you’ve seen before or have made yourself.

2 how Mariko moves with the shadows.

Listen for…

2 songs that sound familiar. Can you name any of them?

2 strong beats. Sometimes dancers move with the beat and sometimes they don’t.

2 how the music helps set the mood.

Think about…

2 how Mariko’s character changes from the beginning of the story to the end.

2 the way music and dance make Mariko see her “boring” world in a new way.

2 how “old” music can feel new to someone who’s never listened to it.

2 your favorite moment in the performance. Why did you like it best?

And remember that a good audience… stays seated, stays quiet, doesn’t eat, listens, and claps.

Have fun!

Deborah F. Rutter President Mario R. Rossero Vice President, Education Additional support for Mariko’s Magical Mix: A Dance Adventure is provided by The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; and the U.S. Department of Education.

Funding for Access and Accommodation Programs at the Kennedy Center is provided

by Mike and Julie Connors and the U.S. Department of Education.

Mariko’s Magical Mix:

Cuesheet

You can play a part in Mariko’s adventure by doing these things:

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

A world premiere Kennedy Center co-commission with Hubbard Street 2, in collaboration with Manual Cinema

PERFORMANCE GUIDE

Join the Journey

A Dance Adventure

Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center.

Learn more about Education at the Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. © 2015 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Choreography and original concept by Robyn Mineko Williams Story by Sarah Fornace, Julia Miller, and Robyn Mineko Williams Music direction and sound design by Kyle Vegter Puppetry and projection devised by Sarah Fornace and Julia Miller Puppetry and projection design by Lizi Breit, Drew Dir, Sarah Fornace, and Julia Miller

Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by

Can MUSIC turn an ordinary day into something

EXTRAORDINARY?

Dance, Music, Shadows, and More!

Screens and Shadows

Prepare to take a magical journey with music, dance—and puppets!

Mariko’s Magical Mix tells the story of a young girl’s adventure through all kinds of movement and songs. The show also includes special puppets that use light to create interesting shapes and shadows. Sit back and enjoy the ride as six dancers—three men and three women—tell the tale of Mariko (pronounced MAH-ree-koh) and her fantastic travels.

Mariko’s story will include lots of light and shadows. You may think of a shadow as being a shape you see when something solid gets in the way of a beam of light (like when your body blocks the sunshine and your own shadow appears on a wall or a sidewalk). During the performance, shadows are cast when something or someone stands between a bright light and one of the show’s screens. These screens set the scene as Mariko travels to places like a busy city or to a tricky maze. Watch how the dancers and cardboard cutouts (known as “shadow puppets”) create interesting shadows.

Mariko and the Gift of Music Have you ever been bored or felt like you wanted to do something different? Have you ever felt like you don’t “fit in”? Mariko knows how that feels, too. When we first meet Mariko, she’s tired of doing the same things every day. She feels out of step with the kids at school and sometimes fights with her little brother. Her favorite thing to do is listen to music by herself, wearing headphones. But soon, she discovers an old box of her mom’s vinyl records in the attic and starts to listen to sounds and musical beats she’s never heard before. And—just like that—the music takes her on a surprising voyage to different and exciting places, where she makes new friends, and finds out that music and adventures are even better when shared with others.

Let’s Dance!

As you watch the show, you’ll see the dancers use only their bodies (including their faces, arms, and legs) to tell Mariko’s story. As they dance, look closely—sometimes smaller movements like raising an eyebrow or pointing a finger can mean big things. At other times, the music gives you important clues about what’s going on (the songs might sound happy or sad depending on what Mariko sees or feels). Watch for movements you might do in everyday life along with more choreographed dance steps.

Cover Illustration by Drew Dir for Manual Cinema

Mariko’s Music Mix Mariko’s magical, musical mix of jazz, rock, and pop songs includes some new tunes written especially for the show and some older songs you may have heard before. The songs may make you think of different In things like dreams (when the music is soft and sweet), animals (when the Record Time music is loud and bouncy), or machines In the performance, the music (when the beat is extra strong).

Mariko hears comes from her mom’s old vinyl (VY-null) records. These are large discs that hold music on them. They were very popular in the days before computers and are still made today.

Can MUSIC turn an ordinary day into something

EXTRAORDINARY?

Dance, Music, Shadows, and More!

Screens and Shadows

Prepare to take a magical journey with music, dance—and puppets!

Mariko’s Magical Mix tells the story of a young girl’s adventure through all kinds of movement and songs. The show also includes special puppets that use light to create interesting shapes and shadows. Sit back and enjoy the ride as six dancers—three men and three women—tell the tale of Mariko (pronounced MAH-ree-koh) and her fantastic travels.

Mariko’s story will include lots of light and shadows. You may think of a shadow as being a shape you see when something solid gets in the way of a beam of light (like when your body blocks the sunshine and your own shadow appears on a wall or a sidewalk). During the performance, shadows are cast when something or someone stands between a bright light and one of the show’s screens. These screens set the scene as Mariko travels to places like a busy city or to a tricky maze. Watch how the dancers and cardboard cutouts (known as “shadow puppets”) create interesting shadows.

Mariko and the Gift of Music Have you ever been bored or felt like you wanted to do something different? Have you ever felt like you don’t “fit in”? Mariko knows how that feels, too. When we first meet Mariko, she’s tired of doing the same things every day. She feels out of step with the kids at school and sometimes fights with her little brother. Her favorite thing to do is listen to music by herself, wearing headphones. But soon, she discovers an old box of her mom’s vinyl records in the attic and starts to listen to sounds and musical beats she’s never heard before. And—just like that—the music takes her on a surprising voyage to different and exciting places, where she makes new friends, and finds out that music and adventures are even better when shared with others.

Let’s Dance!

As you watch the show, you’ll see the dancers use only their bodies (including their faces, arms, and legs) to tell Mariko’s story. As they dance, look closely—sometimes smaller movements like raising an eyebrow or pointing a finger can mean big things. At other times, the music gives you important clues about what’s going on (the songs might sound happy or sad depending on what Mariko sees or feels). Watch for movements you might do in everyday life along with more choreographed dance steps.

Cover Illustration by Drew Dir for Manual Cinema

Mariko’s Music Mix Mariko’s magical, musical mix of jazz, rock, and pop songs includes some new tunes written especially for the show and some older songs you may have heard before. The songs may make you think of different In things like dreams (when the music is soft and sweet), animals (when the Record Time music is loud and bouncy), or machines In the performance, the music (when the beat is extra strong).

Mariko hears comes from her mom’s old vinyl (VY-null) records. These are large discs that hold music on them. They were very popular in the days before computers and are still made today.

Watch for…

2 Mariko’s new friends and how they’re each different or unique.

2 movements the dancers make that you’ve seen before or have made yourself.

2 how Mariko moves with the shadows.

Listen for…

2 songs that sound familiar. Can you name any of them?

2 strong beats. Sometimes dancers move with the beat and sometimes they don’t.

2 how the music helps set the mood.

Think about…

2 how Mariko’s character changes from the beginning of the story to the end.

2 the way music and dance make Mariko see her “boring” world in a new way.

2 how “old” music can feel new to someone who’s never listened to it.

2 your favorite moment in the performance. Why did you like it best?

And remember that a good audience… stays seated, stays quiet, doesn’t eat, listens, and claps.

Have fun!

Deborah F. Rutter President Mario R. Rossero Vice President, Education Additional support for Mariko’s Magical Mix: A Dance Adventure is provided by The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; and the U.S. Department of Education.

Funding for Access and Accommodation Programs at the Kennedy Center is provided

by Mike and Julie Connors and the U.S. Department of Education.

Mariko’s Magical Mix:

Cuesheet

You can play a part in Mariko’s adventure by doing these things:

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

A world premiere Kennedy Center co-commission with Hubbard Street 2, in collaboration with Manual Cinema

PERFORMANCE GUIDE

Join the Journey

A Dance Adventure

Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center.

Learn more about Education at the Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. © 2015 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Choreography and original concept by Robyn Mineko Williams Story by Sarah Fornace, Julia Miller, and Robyn Mineko Williams Music direction and sound design by Kyle Vegter Puppetry and projection devised by Sarah Fornace and Julia Miller Puppetry and projection design by Lizi Breit, Drew Dir, Sarah Fornace, and Julia Miller

Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by