Grades 5 - 12
World Music and Earthlore - For Kids!

Journey around the world on a carpet of song and story! A storyteller and string quartet share folktales and songs passed down through the ages that honor and celebrate our planet.

Why is the sky so far away? Who is damming the river and killing all the fish? What did little Amrita do to protect her favorite tree? String quartet and storyteller present international folktales that speak to the necessity of respecting nature and caring for the earth. Each tale is accompanied by traditional music from its respective region – Nigeria, Thailand, the United States, India, and the Amazon Rainforest. Kids ages 4–12 participate in clapping, singing, and calling the name of the giant, “Ham Pok!” Chicago Folklore Ensemble takes students on a musical adventure around the world!

Follow The Butterfly is an hour-long show for kids that presents international music and traditional folktales with environmental themes. The show contains five sections:

Why Is The Sky So Far Away? – Edo folktale from Nigeria
Fox Rules The Stream – Folktale from Thailand
Oh, Groundhog! – Song and natural history from Appalachia, USA
Amrita's Tree – historical tale from the Bishnoi culture in Rajasthan, India
The Wings of a Butterfly – Tikuna folktale from Amazonia (border regions of Brazil, Colombia, and Peru)

Audience interaction is a strong emphasis. Kids participate in singing and clapping, and in a part of each story, they have a key role.

This show features many education opportunities for students:

-Students learn about folk practices of earth preservation, music and instruments from many cultures, flora and fauna in different countries, and words in several languages.
-The storyteller discusses specific examples and concepts from history and culture, such as the Loy Krothong river festival in Thailand, the Chipko movement to protect forests in India, the African roots of American folk music.
-A pre-performance study guide is available to help teachers introduce their classes to different countries and cultures, instruments and musical styles, as well as information and concepts from biology, environmental science, geography, history, and cultural studies.
-The performance is followed by an optional question-and-answer or discussion period, with possible workshop opportunities.