Nebo Art Students Coming Together to Create Presentation with Whoop Dee Doo

Members of the Maple Mountain Ellevés Drill Team from Nebo School District worked with Whoop Dee Doo and other youth in Utah County to produce an artistically-inspired presentation.

Whoop Dee Doo is a travelling, artist-led organization with the purpose of organizing site-specific installations and performances with communities around the world. Co-directors Matt Roche and Jaimie Warren work with youth groups and local performers to create theatrical experiences using simple resources.

Jethro Gillespie, art teacher at Maple Mountain High, and Provo art educator James Rees teamed up with Whoop Dee Doo to plan and execute a series of youth-led performances. Eight students from four high schools in Utah County composed the cast, and members of the Maple Mountain Ellevés Drill team joined in as performers. Creative costumes and sets were fashioned to match the group’s chosen theme. Presented to the public six times, each production included skits, crowd contests, performances from the Ellevés, and a group dance. 

Gillespie said, “This was such an amazing experience for our students, to work directly with these professional artists in an intense, week-long workshop to make this wonderfully strange and spontaneous show. I believe engaging students with contemporary art practice is a healthy, productive and memorable educational experience.”

An exhibit of the event is being held at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art in Salt Lake City, Utah until March 2, 2019.

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