Howe Students Take to 'Air'

special education students will perform “A Day & a Night in the Air,” a dance show, in their school’s gym at 10 a.m. Thursday and Friday.

Howe art teacher Kate Blair said her classes have a theme every year, and this year’s theme is the air. Students from four classes will wear head pieces and costumes of animals that use the air–like birds–and perform.

Blair said that due to the limited physical ability of some of the students, the performance will be more of a “movement” show, rather than a formal dance show.

Students made the costumes and trained with puppeteer, artists and magician Eugene Clark of Amazing Clark and two dancers from dance group DDCdances (formerly known as Detroit Dance Collective).

“The show is a way of involving our students in the arts,” said Blair.

She stressed the importance of art because it enhances students’ learning abilities. “When students perform well in art, they do better in their classes,” she added.

The event is funded by grants from Target and the Dearborn Outer Drive Kiwanis. Blair said Howe needed to pay the trainers, and Target and Dearborn Outer Drive Kiwanis were “gracious” to provide the funds.

“They helped a lot with the money," she said. "They should be thanked."

According to Blair, the students are excited to perform. “They put on the head pieces, and they were just laughing,” added the art teacher. “They’re pretty thrilled. They’re quite into it. It’s charming and uplifting.”

And days before the show, Blair said the students look relaxed and ready to perform.

The show is free and open to the public. Students, parents and members of the Dearborn Outer Drive Kiwanis will attend.