Why you should bring your kids to see live performing arts this summer
![Fana Soro - Arts Break 2024 Fana Soro plays a bara drum for a crowd gathered at Evergreen Brick Works](http://prologue.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_1124-e1721222284954.jpeg)
Last Saturday, Prologue Performing Arts hosted the first Summer Arts Break event of the year at Evergreen Brick Works and it was hugely successful!
Families gathered at Evergreen Brick Works to enjoy the farmers market, children’s garden, and other activities. To some surpise, suddenly the sounds of Fana Soro’s bara drum cascaded throughout the grounds. Young children were drawn in by the sound and soon a crowd of families formed.
Fana Soro is a musician, dancer and educator who hails from the Senoufo tribe in northern Côte d’Ivoire, and is one of Prologue’s most popular artists!
Fana began the show with a simple message; it’s a beautiful day, we have gathered as a community to enjoy some music and culture, we’re feeling good, so seize the day! You could pay hundreds of dollars to travel to Africa but instead we are here, free of charge, and we’re going to enjoy some African music in the hot sun. He thanked Prologue for introducing young people to many different cultures. His speech reminded us of the power the arts has to transport us to other places; to immerse us in stories; to broaden our views.
![Fana Soro - Arts Break 2024 Fana Soro addresses the crowd at Arts Break at Brick Works. Behind him there are various percussion instruments which he will play throughout the show](http://prologue.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_1130-e1721224296310.jpeg)
What we witnessed next was children getting their parents to go up and dance. Kids and adults participated in Fana’s call and response songs and dance. Everyone was invited to go up and play Fana’s various African drums. Everyone stopped what they were doing to gather, dance, sing, and learn about aspects of Fana’s culture from The Ivory Coast.
![Fana Soro - Arts Break 2024 Families gathered to dance around Fana Soro's performance](http://prologue.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1.png)
![Fana Soro - Arts Break 2024 Kids dancing to percussion music being played by Fana Soro](http://prologue.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2.png)
![Arts Break Photos (2) Fana shows to kids how to play drums](http://prologue.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Arts-Break-Photos-2.png)
![Arts Break Photos (1) Kids dance as their parents try playing drums along with Fana Soro](http://prologue.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Arts-Break-Photos-1.png)
Prologue presents and supports free community events, such as Summer Arts Break.
Contributions are welcome and help us to continue to offer accessible performing arts experiences for children and youth.
![Fana Soro - Arts Break 2024 Fana Soro plays the bafalon (like a xylophone) at Summer Arts Break at Brick Works](http://prologue.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_1146-e1721224809864.jpeg)
So, here are 5 reasons why should you bring your kids to see live performing arts this summer:
- You will enjoy some time together and make great memories (and you might find some good photo ops as well!)
- Free or affordable events for your family are great ways to fill the summer days when kids aren’t in camp
- Your kids will learn new things (and you probably will too!)
- The arts can play a valuable role in improving mental health
- Experiencing the performing arts is inspiring and plays a vital role in creating healthy and creating young people
And, here are 5 free or affordable events to bring your kids to this summer:
Saturday, August 10
1:00 – 5:00pm
Harbour Kids’ Tent
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Saturday, August 17th at 11:45am
DuffleBag Theatre & Prologue Performing Arts present Peter Pan.
There are lots of events to check out!
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Saturday, August 24 at 11:00am
Join Prologue for classic tales with delightful characters and surprising twists.
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