Have you all had a chance to meet the very talented Xerron Mingo yet?
If you haven’t, consider this a strong recommendation to connect. Xerron joined our middle school arts faculty this year in the field of performing arts, and if you know anything about 11-14 year old drama kids, this in itself is an impressive feat. If he looks familiar, chances are you’ve seen him light up the theater of New Stage in a show or two. Or perhaps you had a child involved in a summer New Stage production and recall he is the education director there and can pull off some serious magic in just a matter of two weeks. But whether or not theater is your thing, we can all learn a lot from Xerron about the intersection of creativity, structure, and “letting go” in our work with youth. Read some snippets from our conversation below:
Xerron! Welcome to St. Andrew’s! Can you quickly share about your background so everyone in our community can know your awesomeness?
I’m from St. Thomas the Virgin Islands, born and raised. I moved to south Florida (Miami) and then I started my professional career around 2015 or so and I’ve been working ever since, acting, doing some performance work, choreography work, and directing and working with children. It was in doing summer camps for 10 years with kids where I have tested out all of my things! Then after being an apprentice at New Stage in 2017, I returned to Jackson to serve as the education director over the educational program. I’ve been doing that ever since.
Wow! Directing, acting, choreography . . . it seems like you do it all. Which one is your favorite?
I just enjoy creating art. Anything artistic is what I like; I enjoy all aspects in different ways.
Okay so the inspiration for this blog is (yes for folks to get to know you) but ALSO because I got a glimpse of your 5th Grade Quarter Drama Showcase! (See one sample below, and all three showcases linked here.) You only have a tiny quarter of a year with these young ones, and what you all did together was so much fun, incorporating lines and dance. Can you share about your process for this and how you arrived there?
When I first came in to teach, it was the end of Quarter 1. I tried to see what the kids were doing, and they were working on movement from different places. I was like, “if I have freedom to just introduce them to art, I’m gonna put together a showcase of different things that all involve theater so they can get a glimpse of what it takes to put on a production!” Something small with continuity to feel they are putting something together that they can be proud of. That’s where I came with the idea: find music, find scenes, and make a storyline. Whether it’s just talking, movement, a little bit of singing . . . That’s really how I came up with the idea . . .use the few weeks I have to create something solid for them, even if it’s not perfect.
Our theme for this set of blogs is “permission to let go” and I imagine in some ways (since I’ve seen your New Stage Directing) doing a performance like this also entails some “letting go” of things that you typically wouldn’t let go of. What have you had to let go of and what is the benefit of letting go?
I had to let go of the cleanliness I usually look for, the line-perfect things. The more I let them be free, I can let go of my things; I can let go of “this needs to be this way.” We can just make it fun. That’s been good to make that adjustment for them. They are just fifth graders and need to see what it’s about, just get a taste.
I mean even though I’m sure you had to let go of some things, those performances are pretty impressive. How did you get the students to that level of energy and preparation in such a short time?
When I observe the group for the first time, I get their names and I put movement on their warmups and I see “maybe this group can handle [this particular set of challenges.]” I figure out which pieces could work by looking at the group and seeing what they are capable of. This latest group I was pushing some boundaries, so I really learn them and then I build a showcase off of what they can handle. Then it takes the first few weeks just me showing them “trust me, I got you all. This is what I do.” Then when they trust me, it’s great from there. I enjoy that first two weeks.
Got it. Learn the students first; plan the curriculum second. So we’ve talked about what you’ve had to let go. What do you refuse to let go of in your drama work with youth?
My discipline structure. I refuse to let go when it comes to my sternness. We are going to have fun, but I am going to be stern and seem scary. I mean I’m not scary at all, but they have to learn we have to do what he needs to get done. I don’t let go of the discipline and structure for myself and the standards that I have for a respect level between kids and adults. But I still give them input. They come up with things too! They create! I never let go of the freedom to be creative; to have them create as well as me create. I guess what I’m saying is “I don’t let go of what I know.”
I love this. Even in the most creative fields we need boundaries, and we need to own our expertise with youth as adults in the room with knowledge and tools.
That’s it. If there’s a student I’m getting on, it’s because I just see that you’re great and you’re good. It’s because you HAVE IT; you have what is needed and I’m not going to let you waste it while you are with me for these few weeks. While you are in here, you aren’t going to stop growing that potential.