Danish Gymnastics Team Performs for Hibbard Elementary School
Opportunity for local students to learn about Danish culture and experience a college atmosphere
CHICAGO (October 15, 2014) — On Friday afternoon, North Park University’s gymnasium was filled with dozens of Danish gymnasts flipping and twirling through the air, as nearly 1,200 students from nearby Hibbard Elementary School watched the team from the Academy of Physical Education in Viborg, Denmark, begin their U.S. tour.
Many of the students responded with "oohs" and "ahs" as the gymnastics team presented the Danish color guard; performed choreographed, acrobatic routines; and executed stunts with trampolines. This is the third time the Danish team has performed for Hibbard Elementary at North Park, including visits in 2007 and 2010.
“A big focus for Hibbard is to celebrate our cultural diversity,” said Principal Scott Ahlman, whose school is located just a block from North Park and shares one of the most diverse zip codes in the country. “Our children had the opportunity to not only watch but, more important, interact with our Danish friends. The gymnasts took time to meet our children and take pictures, which spreads goodwill. Interacting with and befriending people from a different culture is the best way to break down cultural barriers and stereotypes.”
The event is also an opportunity for students from the school to gain exposure to a University atmosphere. The students walked from Hibbard to the University, catching a glimpse of the environment on a college campus. After the performance, they wrote thank you notes with pictures to the gymnasts, many of them describing their new dreams of becoming future gymnasts and North Park students.
“We’ve kind of adopted Hibbard as our school over the years, with Danish opera performances, the YOURS youth orchestra program, volunteer reading programs with our faculty and staff, and the gymnastics performances,” said Dr. Charles Peterson, dean of the college. “Studies have shown that elementary-aged students, especially from lower-education backgrounds, sometimes lack a vision of going off to college and struggle in their transition to high school. We want these kids to have experiences of different kinds from an early age so they gain visions of what they can be when they grow up and why they need to work hard while they are in school.”
The Danish gymnasts will continue their month-long U.S. tour, which includes stops in Iowa and Kentucky. The purpose of this tour is to promote a lifestyle of physical fitness, which the team says is fundamental to the culture of their country.
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