Family-Friendly Programs Featuring Music, Dance, Storytelling and More
Wednesday Mornings, 10:30 – 11:30 am, June 20 through August 8
Penn Museum’s Summer Wonder series returns this season with a stellar lineup of performances and demonstrations that are perfect for the whole family. This weekly program offers an opportunity to enjoy international music, learn traditional Aztec dance, hear stories about the ancient Maya, and much more!
Summer Wonder 2012 programs run Wednesday mornings, June 20 through August 8, from 10:30 to 11:30 am (excluding July 4). The programs are free with Museum admission donation. For more information or to pre-register groups of 10 or more (no pre-registration necessary for individuals and families), contact the Education department at 215.746.6774 or education@pennmuseum.org.
The 2012 schedule follows:
June 20: Phil-A-Rhythm—Shake, Scrape and Strike
Shake, scrape and strike—three of the ways that percussion instruments are played. The Phil-A-Rhythm Percussion Quartet explores the amazing range of instruments in the percussion family,their origins, and their unique sounds.
June 27: Doc Gibbs Ensemble—African Percussion and Dance
The drum has been used as a communication tool for centuries. Explore drums and percussion instruments from Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean. Jam out as you learn the history of African drumming, percussion, and dance.
July 11: Tom Lee—Tales from the Popol Vuh
Popol Vuh, the Quiche Maya book, is an amazing document that has survived against all odds and contains a trove of amazing stories and myths. Tom Lee brings the world of the Maya vividly to life in these stories, which reference not only religious beliefs and cultural traditions, but also small details of daily living among the Maya.
July 18: Rebel Heart Irish Dancers—Beyond Lord of the Dance
"Beyond Lord of the Dance" creatively weaves the history of Irish Dance through dramatized storytelling and reveals some of the many mysteries of Irish Dance. Learn the difference between a Reel and a Jig and give Irish Dance a try for yourself.
July 25: Al Bustan Seeds of Culture—Arabic Music
Members of the Philadelphia Arab Music Ensemble with director Hanna Khoury play a reopertoire of classical Arab music from Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria.
August 1: Bill Bowers—Mime Over Matter
Master mime and Broadway veteran Bill Bowers presents a lively and thought-provoking show, as he explores a variety of topics about silent storytelling through music and pantomime.
August 8: Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac—Aztec Music and Dance
In the Nahuatl language, Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac translates “school of blood moving in the heart.” Learn about the pre-Inquisition Mexicayotl culture as you delight in Aztec music and dance, and participate in the White Eagle Dance.
Following each Summer Wonder presentation, children and their families are invited to explore the Penn Museum’s three floors of galleries featuring artifacts from Egypt, Asia, the Mediterranean, the Near East, North and Central America, and Africa. Throughout the summer, guests can experience MAYA 2012: Lords of Time, a world premiere exhibition exploring the time-ordered universe of the ancient Maya. Guests planning to visit MAYA 2012 must buy special timed tickets for the exhibition.
Both Museum Shops are participating in the Summer Wonder 2012 program. In addition to the Museum Shop’s regular hours, the Pyramid Shop for children opens on Summer Wonder Wednesdays from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. The Shop features games, toys, books, crafts, and jewelry geared to young visitors.
For more information: www.penn.museum.
Location: 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Cost: General admission donation is $12 for adults; $10 for senior citizens (65 and above); $8 for U.S. Military; $8 for children (6 to 17) and full-time students with ID; free to Members
