Italy

Istituto di Istruzione Superiore Enrico Mattei

ISISS Enrico Mattei is a vocational high school enrolling around 1000 students of whom 31 with special needs. The school has been serving students coming from Aversa and its surroundings since 2011. It is a relatively young school, placed in a difficult social context because of high unemployment and crime rates with a high risk of drop-out. But thanks to the flexible and engaging educational program based on four departments - graphics, tourism, commerce and social-health care services – and also on a meaningful curriculum the institute attracts many young people. A new address has been recently added: Administration, Marketing and Financing. Every year a group of teachers create activities based on dance, songs and theatre in order to involve dropping out students and students with special needs in the school community to reach successful goals.

The school took part in- PON projects (Nationally programs financially supported by the UE) in 2010 aimed at improving communication in foreign languages; cultural exchange program with the association “intercultura” (AFS) in 2010-2011 focused on class exchange activities; an Erasmus+ project "Same but Different" and an eTwinning project of exchange with Spain.

"Heritage on Stage" might well represent an opportunity to compare and find common roots and to learn from our different traditions, which could lead the participants to a better understanding, not only, of their differences, but also, of the variety of possibilities in a European context. Folk songs tell stories and give us a snapshot of life forgotten or on the verge of disappearing. Music, songs and dance have a highly educational value, because they build links between memory, thought and knowledge. Students taking part in musical activities have a chance to become creators and producers of culture, to be aware of their emotions, of their creative abilities. Songs and dances have a magic power, too. They are a safe shelter against the dangers of mass media.

Key people will be: English and special education teachers to take care of the inclusion of everybody in all the Erasmus activities, Economics and Geography teachers to help students find traditional songs and folk music of our tradition; some teachers to help students compose musical arrangements to sing the songs; graphic design teachers to create videos. İf one of them leaves, there are many others belonging to the same group ready to support the project. Neapolitan songs and dances are such an important symbol of the Italian culture that they have become famous all around the world. The contribution our school and staff can give is improving knowledge of Neapolitan songs and dances. Traditional Neapolitan songs and dances have never lost their link with Naples and Italy. On the contrary, this link has grown through emigration and the sympathy of our folk. They are the only ones that have marked any historical period and have mixed habits, attitudes, colours and landscapes.