Anthea McGibbon, Gleaner Writer

Gleaner Arts Writer, Anthea McGibbon, gets a warm embrace from Cookie Monster while he was visiting on vacation at Beaches Resorts, Negril.

FOR THOSE of you who cannot get to Sesame Street soon, the characters are on vacation on the north coas school's almost back in full session. What's more is that they are catering mainly to the educational needs of children at Beaches Resorts.

Although activities are strictly for the children, everyone gets pampered as the "celebrities" use various forms of creative ways to teach their lessons. The first lesson we grasp of course, is on the impact of art on human senses.

There isn't much Operations Manager David Ellis was allowed to tell us about the actual beings behind the fluff, but we do know the entire animation team, both male and female are all Jamaicans trained by the experts at Sesame headquarters.

whose initiative

In 1968, the non-profit Sesame Workshop was founded as the Children's Television Workshop - arising from combined efforts of visionary educators, researchers, psychologists, child development experts, artists, writers and musicians. The collaboration later resulted in Sesame Street - one of the greatest educators of children especially the disadvantaged youngsters.

In 2003, initiated by chairman of Sandals Resorts International, Gordon 'Butch' Stewart partnered with world famous Sesame Street to bring the product to the Beaches family brand. Entertainment managers at the Beaches properties were trained at the Sesame Place theme park in USA to better understand Sesame Street and its impact.

To kids at the resort, the characters are definitely real-to-life movie stars from the Sesame Street as we know it right from our television screens. Above all, the characters have learnt by immersion and in turn educate youngsters worldwide about Jamaica, a favoured

hideaway. After a year-long vacation at the Beaches properties in Jamaica, and Turks and Caicos Islands, there is now a special show designed with island themes where the Sesame characters do limbo and island folk songs.

Six original characters are forever hiding away when they are not hanging on Sesame Street. They are Elmo, Zoe, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Grover. Recently, they were joined by Abby Caddaby, a furry, cuddly fairy in-training.

A typical day with the bifocal characters includes Crayola Kids art activities, a collaborative effort with Crayola International, for 0-5 year-olds. There is also Camp Sesame for 2-5 year-olds, where the "Letter of the Day" focus from the television programme is mirrored, and "Pirates Island" for 6-12 year-olds. Visual cards including creative flashcards make learning all the more fun on the designed fantasy island.

Creative activities lead by certified-kids camp counsellors include picture bingo, sketches, pictionary, beadmaking necklace, painting shells, and puppet-making. There is also an active Beaches folk art programme, with actual craft persons present to teach adults and children alike about straw-hat making and tye-dyeing.

The counsellors are one-on-one caregivers, and are accompanied by facilitators in the sessions which last for half an hour. Each character, usually accompanied by an handler, has a separate signature role and signature activity.

Elmo, we all know loves to read and proudly markets Sesame Street products, along with reading stories on Jamaican folklore.

Dancing is for Zoe, who since visiting Jamaica has mastered the "butterfly, thunder-clap, calypso, and other popular island reggae moves. The diva, however, is too young to attend dancehall sessions so her repertoire does not reflect any of that. Bert and Ernie are the cool and jovial kind who keeps the children laughing with their version of Jamaica's island rhythms.

Cookie Monster is the obvious choice to teach on the culinary arts. He busies himself teaching on his all time favourite among Jamaican cookies coconut while exploring Jamaican dishes. Grover takes the children exploring and of course along with the others, hosts special Sesame birthday parties.

Oscar well ... he sticks to his garbage can where visitors of all ages love to pause for a photo moment. Even adults borrow his garbage can for a snap or two.

Observing the connection of humans with these sewn creatures, put to life by animators, convinces one of a shared appreciation of art forms as it seems these adults and children alike have fallen for aliens from another planet.

To be an animator, you need to be at least a high school graduate who is performance oriented with reasonable dance ability, good physical flexibility and a fun personality, says Ellis. According to animation coordinator, Henroy, being a character "takes a lot of training like any other job" adding that "You have a lot of research to do, and a lot of practice." The challenge is the character switch. Out of character, animators, still assume the characters at times when they are not focused says Henroy.

Still the local animators have gained much from the experience. For some, their knowledge of Jamaica has improved, while others are enjoying the thrill of being "television" real-to-life celebrities.

It's any body's wonder if local puppets will be created, but for now, while the Sesame Street characters enjoy our Beaches, the local art industry with its full spectrum from creative writers, visual artists to performing artists, could be better utilised.

For one, more than Anancy stories could be written and taught to the characters who have made it their business to learn our culture to teach it again. More shows could be developed utilizing patois expressions and drawing upon aspects of our rich traditional culture.

Learning about our wildlife and crops such as yam and banana is a good start however.

While replicas of these furry friends are sold to support the cause of Sesame Street, the Beaches gift bag given to children holds miniature puppets, straw whistles and crayola crayons - a welcome introduction to a career in art for the young visitors. Products sold include miniature puppets, tee-shirts and clips.

Sesame Street character, Zoe, observes as Zachary enjoys his bag of goodies at the Birthday Party held at Beaches Negril, recently.- Contributed photos

ENDER: Anthea McGibbon, a graduate of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, has over 10 years experience in the fields of journalism and the arts. Contact her at islandartattack@yahoo.co.uk, or anthea.mcgibbon@gleanerjm.com