“Harlem Shake” puppet video filmed in Pakenham

by Nicole Guthrie

It’s more than just the Harlem Shake – it’s the Puppet Shake! “Harlem Shake – Pakenham Puppets Edition” is unique and puppet filled take on the craze. The video, produced by House Edge Media Co., was created this past Friday, and features performances by the students of Pakenham Public School with puppets they created. After receiving funding from the Young Awards, a project which fosters extra-curricular arts initiatives (http://youngawards.ca),the school put together a puppet project. Jeff Banks of JB Arts and Noreen Young came in to work with all the grades, and all students were able to create a puppet.

To celebrate the creation of their puppets, the students created a Harlem Shake video to help promote this year’s Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival. Principal Paul LeRoy was excited to engage his students in both the puppet project and the Harlem Shake, and, as you can plainly see from all the smiling faces in the video, the students themselves were thrilled!

In addition to these talented student performers, Liam the Celtfest  mascot, Gloria Gopher and Jacob Bluejay from Under The Umbrella Tree, and, of course, Puppets Up!’s own mascot Nick, can all be seen doing the Harlem Shake at http://youtu.be/UYKaeuzuuNE.