Let the Preparation Begin!

The Eco-Friendly Fashion show event will take place earlier this year in order to meet the yearbook photo deadlines. Therefore we have already begun planning for the event. This year, two weeks before winter break, we will taking intensives rather than our regular subject classes. However instead of taking an intensive, I along with the other members of tech crew, shall be teaching one... actually two. The intensives the tech crew will be teaching shall revolve around the Fashion Show event. I will help teach the dress-making intensive and the set designing intensive. The outcome of the dress-making intensive shall be for each girl, or pair of girls to design and create a dress that will be modeled during the show. To show my students (haha kinda weird referring to my peers as students) an example of a dress made out of recycled items, I decided to start working on my dresses a little earlier this year. Today I completed my first dress for this year's event.

My model really wanted a dress that had a vintage vibe and because the event is hosted by the multicultural club, we wanted to incorporate her culture into the dress as well. Therefore we gathered chinese newspapers and I stained each one with a mixture of coffee and a few drops of red food dye. I was inspired by this dress' structure and design: http://data.whicdn.com/images/37551437/417366_327286734033867_1498988909_n_large.jpg

I liked how the torso of the dress was well fitted and the ruffles decorated the skirt of the dress. 

Staining the newspapers and stapling the ruffles on the dress was tedious work, but I was quite content with the outcome. I haven't yet tried it on my model, but as soon as I do I wil be able to add the finishing touches. 

TYWLS of Astoria's Multicultural Night Dance Performances 2012

The Multicultural Night Dance Performances are one of TYWLS of Astoria's most popular events. These performances take place on Multicultural Night, a traditional event that began in 2006 when TYWLS of Astoria was first established. Our first Multicultural Night took place in a small crowded room in P.S 85 while our official school building was being renovated. Already it was easily recognized that our school of 80 students was filled with diverse cultural backgrounds. As the school began to expand, so did the Multicultural Night event. Where once a classroom was a sufficient enough space, an entire block is now dedicated to celebrate the diversity in our growing community. The Multicultural Night Dances was introduced to our school in 2009 as an extension to the Multicultural Night. Students from various grades devote their time to creatively choreograph the culture they choose to represent through dance. As a result of the dancers and MCC's (Multicultural Club) hard work, the audience experience cultural diffusion at first hand. 

This year the dance performances were amazingly successful. Nataly Sanchez, our school's designated camera operator captured the talented performances. Using Nataly's footage, I was able to create a brief video depicting the cultural dances performed. Enjoy :)