The third annual WeAreChapin Festival brought the vibrant spirit of The Chapin School community to life under one roof. At 100 East End Avenue on March 1, over 730 students, families, Professional Community (PC) members and alumnae gathered to celebrate many of the cultures and heritages that make up the School community.
As guests entered through the front doors and walked down the main hallway, they were welcomed by “WeAreChapin Stories” — a display of photographs and quotations from families sharing meaningful traditions they celebrate through food, clothing and holidays.
In the Athletic Center, more than 30 cultural exhibits transformed the space, representing countries from around the world. Hosts proudly shared the history, traditions, artwork, clothing, food and customs of their cultures to visitors. Booths represented regions around the world, some of which included India, Italy, Mali, Malaysia, China, Egypt, Dominican Republic, Pakistan, Israel, Haiti, Ghana and Taiwan.
As students entered the gym they received a “passport.” At each booth, they collected flag stickers and participated in hands-on activities. Students' quickly filled the green bags they’d been given with takeaways and fun prizes, including stickers from the Turkey table, 3D printed capybara statues from Brazil, bracelets from Greece and spices from Grenada.
In the Gordon Room, 70 traditional foods and desserts from across the globe were served, allowing guests to experience a wide range of cuisines, both familiar and new.
Meanwhile, the Reception Room was transformed into a cozy reading space, where PC read stories such as, Hot Pot Night! by Vincent Chen, Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham and The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali.
Special workshops in the Dance Studio and Choral Room added music and movement to the day's festivities. The first session was hosted by Middle School (MS) students who performed a dance celebrating the African and Caribbean Diaspora, choreographed by MS Dance Teacher Jamia Jordan. After showcasing their work, the performers invited guests to join them on the dance floor — and offered skirts to wear. After the girls taught families, PC and alumnae the choreography, they performed it together.
Down the hall, the celebration continued with a performance by the Later Gators, Chapin’s PC and alum singing group. Before a full audience in the Choral Room, they shared a joyful rendition of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen.” Afterwards they led attendees in learning “Rainbow Connection” from Disney's The Muppets, which they performed together at the end of the workshop.
Later in the day, Upper School (US) students hosted a workshop on Bharatanatyam, a 2,000-year-old South Indian classical dance form. After a powerful presentation, they taught the movements to a packed room of eager learners.
An enormous thank you goes to the Parents’ Association WeAreChapin Chairs* for leading this wonderful and successful community-wide event. The energy and warmth that filled the day were a reflection of the collective effort behind it. We also extend a heartfelt thank you to the countless volunteers — nearly 150 people — whose dedication made this cherished annual celebration a success!
*WeAreChapin Chairs
Alisha Chinai
Devika Johri
Ely Gonzalez
Euree Chun
Kiran Kardar
Liya Magdeeva
Szewah Chin
Ting-Ting Chiu
Browse more photos HERE. (Click on the brackets in the upper right corner to view the photos in full resolution.)
