A Celebration of the Arts for Area Children

The Very Special Art Festival is a quiet but important celebration of the art -  a little extra quiet on Thursday, since the featured entertainer was mime Mark Jaster.

s  CenterStage  was packed with giggling children, from Reston-area schools and from the Fairfax County Public School’s Key Center and Kilmer Center, schools for students with intellectual disabilities and autism.

The Very Special Arts Festival, in its 29th year at the Reston Community Center brings together students in regular and special education classes to celebrate the arts.

Over two days, several hundred students will participate in movement classes, creative dance, art workshops and music therapy. They also will have their faces painted , dance to lively music by DJ Charles Underwood, visit “quick stop” project centers and eat lunch together.

“It exposes our students to different types of cultural performances and artistic experiences, plus gives them the opportunity to interact with other students from the other schools.” said Betsy Calvert, teacher at the Kilmer Center.

In addition to Mark Jaster’s  performance,  Latin American music group Cantare were on hand to entertain and introduce the children to Spanish and Portugese and the unique instruments they use, such as a donkey jaw and an armadillo shell guitar.

“The performances are always fabulous: stimulating and appropriate for all levels of students. “ said Calvert.

 Said Cheri Danaher, Reston Community Center's Arts Education Director,  “The students from the Key Center and the Kilmer Center get a chance to experience the arts and spend time with students from other area schools in an accepting, accessible way. This day is a big deal for everyone, an important field trip in many ways.”