Students and cast members at Bowsky Elementary pose for a group shot following the "My Plate! The New Food Guide Musical" on February 15, 2017.
Two hundred fifty students in schools on St. Thomas and St. John recently danced their way to good health in the hit stage production, "My Plate! The New Food Guide Musical" that promotes healthy nutrition and exercise at schools across the country.
The spectacular showcase, which has been praised by First Lady Michelle Obama, was put on by Helen Butleroff Leahy, an ex-Rockette, and professional Broadway choreographer, dancer and registered dietician, along with Roumel Reaux, Broadway performer and choreographer. It was presented at three schools, including Julius E. Sprauve, Lockhart Elementary and Bowsky Elementary from February 13-15. Ninety students from each school participated as dancers in the Veggie Rock, YMCA and Fruit Rap Basketball segments of the show.
While this was the third year the production came to the Virgin Islands, with additional funding this year, it was introduced to students at the three schools. Students at Ulla F. Muller Elementary School had participated in the production in previous years.
The show opens with two young women, played by professional acrobats Julia Karis and Christina Durst, who fell asleep with tummy aches after eating too much junk food. As they slept, they were swept up in an epic dream with a rapping angel, dancing students, a cow, acrobats, puppetry and more encouraging them to make healthier food choices. The angel, played by Reaux, narrated the production throughout.
The dream played out information on the correct portion sizes students and adults should eat, the best type of milk to drink (1%), as well as the importance of physical exercise and other healthy habits students should adopt. In the end, Julia and Christina awoke from their dream without tummy aches and vowing to make healthier food choices in the future.
With additional funding, Ms. Butleroff Leahy plans to expand the production to other schools in the district, as well as to schools on St. Croix.
Photo highlights from Bowsky Elementary's My Plate! production:
