Summer Discovered at Columbia Park

Supergirl Moves

photos by Liam Breck

Parade of Hands

The dance-club quality DJ's voice booms across the small family park, bringing all the girls and boys. Our impromptu parade—around the block!—celebrates the first annual Columbia Park block party, a kickoff for the Arts in the Park series from Fletcher Maynard Community School. From high on stilts, I hand out shakers, bells, kazoos and rainbow umbrellas as we gather around festive parade cloths, a rainbow parachute and a long, shiny silver streamer. Of course, some children want to do everything at once and wobble to carry the rainbow cloth and play an instrument while holding an umbrella under their chins! The DJ turns up his groove and we're all making music together now, our sounds traveling down the street ahead of us!

Wake Up, Clown!

We keep the beat going after the parade with my drum in rounds of theatrical freeze-dancing. All the girls want to be superstars and show it in their sassy dancing and all-that poses. I love to see multiple ages of kids playing together. Then, I set the parade props into service with the smallest children, playing snooze and seek under the silver cloth. Good morning, Summer!