By Amanda Foust
Mi Escuelita Spanish Immersion Preschool is celebrating five years of serving the Carmel area during their annual spring children’s program. Mi Escuelita is the only immersion preschool in the city. The school teaches Spanish to children using play activities, music and reading.
The spring program this year is an extra special celebration compared to years past. The children will be performing several dances dressed as animals, soldiers, Hawaiian and Chinese people and more! The show will represent diversity and culture.
Maestra, Vicky Rodriguez, shared her excitement about the upcoming event and said, “This is going to be a unique experience for our little ones as they will be performing hispanic dances and songs with a real mariachi band.”
The program will be spoken and sung in Spanish to show what the students have learned this year at Mi Escuelita. During the closing of the program, the kids will be dressed in typical mariachi costumes and will have guitars and trumpets to match. They will have the opportunity to sing alongside a real mariachi band.
A mariachi band is a common musical group in Mexico. Rodriguez explained that these bands are used to serenade and demonstrate love. When a couple gets engaged, it is a tradition that the fiancé brings a mariachi band and sings under the woman’s balcony. Many festive dances use mariachi as well.
Having a real mariachi band playing at this event is something that has never been done in Carmel. The children do not know this will be happening. “We have an opportunity to show them something they will remember their whole life. They will love dancing with real mariachi,” Rodriguez said.
This celebratory, cultural event is open to the public and will be held at University High School in Andrews Hall on May 9 from 9-12. For more information, please call 317-575-9379.
