Bringing a vibrant, colorful sense of history and movement to life in honor of Black History Month, the acclaimed multicultural and multiracial Phyllis Rose Dance Company taught students at Deer Park’s John F. Kennedy Intermediate School about the roots of African and African-American culture through exciting music and dances.

Founder Rose, who founded the troupe in 1969, explained humanity’s origins in “Mother Africa” to the excited student audience, before presenting a variety of performances, from African drumming on the djembe and kenkeni and traditional, costumed Ethiopian and Sudanese dances, to demonstrations of the modern art of hip hop dancing.

“Having the dance troupe visit our school brought in-depth knowledge to our students that you cannot read in a book or learn from looking at pictures,” said Principal Susan Bonner. “Our students learned the history of several cultural dances, the instruments used and cultural garb worn.”