DATE: Tuesday, February 25, 1997            TAG: 9702250393

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY PHILLIP PURYEAR, CORRESPONDENT 

DATELINE: HERTFORD                          LENGTH:   62 lines

CULTURAL LESSONS DANCE INTO PERQUIMANS SCHOOL ARTIST OPENS DOORS TO WIDE WORLD OF DIVERSITY FOR SEVENTH-GRADERS.

Save for a primer on multiculturalism, Glynis Jordan's class didn't know really what to expect that first day with Sylvia Rex, an artist-in-residence at Perquimans County Middle School.

Without a word, Rex waved the students into the auditorium and had them sit on the floor.

Whatever Rex had in store for the excited seventh-graders, a class in culture had to be a welcome break from subjects such as geography, social studies and science.

But to Rex, it is all related.

``Culture is related to everything. This is the beginning of everything - art, music, history, thinking, using intelligence,'' said Rex, who still has her Hungarian accent after 30 years away from her homeland.

Serving as an artist in education for 10 years, Rex brings with her extensive experience as both a folk dancer and the coach of a high school folk dance group in her native Budapest.

Before planting roots in Spartanburg, S.C., Rex studied folklore and folk dance throughout the world, including Europe, Jamaica, Haiti and Mexico.

However, more important to the students than what she had to say about her studies and experiences was what Rex has to show for them. On their first day, Rex displayed her collection of bamboo flutes.

``Play that one!'' said one student, paying no mind that their time with Rex was cutting into their lunchtime.

``I will play, if you add one word,'' said Rex, prompting the student to say ``please.''

In addition to teaching cultural awareness, Rex feels that through folk dance she can also teach the students respect and discipline that she feels have disappeared from American classrooms.

``In folk dance, we work together and we are all equal,'' she said. ``Folk dance is discipline, morality and so strict. We need that.''

Rex also hopes that her time with the students will compel them to seek knowledge outside of the classroom.

``As we're progressing, we're forgetting about our history. When I'm gone, I hope these children go to their grandmother and look back at their own heritage.''

Rex said that once students understand the past, they will better realize that they aren't as separated from the rest of the world as they may think.

``There's a big satisfaction in bringing them closer to a global village and showing them that the world is bigger than this community. Once they make that connection, they're connected to the whole world,'' Rex said.

Rex will be with Perquimans County Middle School through March 7 and is part of the school's goal to further develop the interdisciplinary curriculum.

``The faculty is very pleased with the addition of Sylvia Rex and have been very cooperative,'' said Karen Luszcz, assistant principal of PCMS. ``We're very excited about this new endeavor.'' ILLUSTRATION: FOLKLORE ARTIST

Serving as an artist in education for 10 years, Sylvia Rex brings

with her extensive experience as both a folk dancer and the coach of

a high school folk dance group in her native Budapest.

Before planting roots in Spartanburg, S.C., Rex studied folklore and

folk dance throughout the world, including Europe, Jamaica, Haiti

and Mexico.

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