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I, Juan de Pareja
Las_Meninas by Diego Velázquez

Diego Velázquez, Las Meninas (1656)

Time travel to 17th century spain

The performing arts and English Language Arts curriculum I, Juan de Pareja offers a new and exciting opportunity for students in middle school and high school, to experience time travel to 17th-century Spain through the eyes of Juan de Pareja. Pareja was a historical African Spanish slave, the trusted companion and apprentice to Spanish painter, Diego Velázquez.


Using multi-modal activities such as reading excerpts of a novel about Pareja’s life and examining paintings by Velázquez, teaching artists will lead students in a performing arts curriculum of 17th-century music and dance, character analysis and script writing activities. This combination of English Language Arts, music and dance performance instruction culminates in a showcase of scenes that will be chosen from the Newberry award winning book I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Treviño.

Learn more about Juan de Pareja


The artistic residency highlights the life of the Afro Hispanic painter Juan de Pareja. He was the slave and apprentice of Spanish painter Diego Velázquez, considered one of the greatest painters of all time. The residency references the novel I, Juan de Pareja, published in 1966 and awarded a Newberry Medal for distinguished contribution to literature for children. Written in first person, it describes life in 17th-century Spain during which Juan encounters characters from all walks of society, from the streets of Seville to the halls of power of Spain’s royal court

Book cover of I,Juan_de_Pareja

Cover of I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Treviño (1966)

Grade Level: 

Middle school, High school

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Curriculum Goals:

This residency entails close collaboration with teachers and paraprofessionals in cross-curricular activities. Students have access to the novel and performing arts instruction takes place concurrently with their reading, reinforcing their engagement with the text. Activities include discussion groups, learning to dance and sing the Folia, Sevillanas, Canarios and the Fandango, and group discussion about fashion as well as other sensory details described in the novel of 17th century life in Spain.

The program culminates in an internal showcase at the end of the residency, organized with Hispanic Culture Arts in close collaboration with school administration and school art specialists.

 

Students will be able to:

  • Work effectively in teams via a project based curriculum

  • Learn proper dance technique and perform historical dance

  • Learn proper singing vocal technique and perform songs in Spanish

  • Work collectively towards script writing activities

  • Understand the basics of storytelling techniques found in music, dance and painting

  • Understand the world of 17th century Spain via inquiry based activities, group discussions and Q/A sessions
     

Part of our Museum Education Series

Photo Gallery

Use the red arrow to scroll to the right and view more photos.

Header image: Retrato de Juan de Pareja by Diego Velázquez (1650)

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