To the land of the Tea Trees from the Island of Tea: A learning experience in performing arts for children of Sri Lankan community in Melbourne.

Abstract

This paper discusses a successful performing arts workshop, conducted by traditional Sri Lankan professional artists who have migrated to Australia in the past decade. These workshops educationally influence young children from the community in many different ways. Factors which affect this process, provide links between these workshops and multicultural practices of arts teaching that are considered to 1. Improve the knowledge of the children's Sri Lankan own cultural heritage; 2. Improve their Sinhalese language knowledge; and 3. Improve music and performing skills. As this is the first research into this particular community music group, feedback and criticism received from different professionals published in various community magazines and newspapers will be used to contextualize the children's learning, particularly about the music and drama productions and the benefits offered by them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]