Session 1, Week 4

What is Lip Dub? You may have heard about it. The Lip Dub is an annual worldwide Acton tradition. Heroes spend time choosing a song, choreographing a dance, learning the lyrics to lip sync, filming the production and if you are in the Middle School, editing the product. There are specific rules and regulations for each studio. It takes a lot of time, energy, and coordination. Heroes spend many hours working on this project.  So, the question begs to be asked, why does CHOICE participate in the Lip Dub contest? The first year, we didn’t want to. We didn’t think the challenge warranted the hours it would take. Two weeks into session 1, we realized we needed something. Something that would unite the heroes. Something that would provide the opportunity to work hard together, for leaders to arise and for heroes to begin taking ownership of their studio. Something where they could practice failing and trying again, over and over again. Something where we could begin to experience that it’s fun to do hard things. We realized we needed the lip dub!

In the Spark Studio this week we introduced the idea of a basic hero’s journey: call to adventure, meeting with helpers, road of trials, and return home having changed.

We identified the different aspects of the hero’s journey in stories we already knew. 

We used the hero’s journey pattern to create new stories.

And we continued on our own hero’s journey. One call to adventure came when the Sparks decided, for the first time at CHOICE, to do their own lip dub.

The heroes discussed ideas and voted on the ideas. They determined which idea had the most votes. They choreographed. They supported one another and worked together as a tribe.

In the Fire Studio the beginning of the lip dub was met with mixed emotions. Some heroes love this tradition and others started out with a little hesitation. However, by the time the Fire Studio wrapped up the Lip Dub challenge this week, all heroes belonged to a stronger, more cooperative tribe. Guides are not allowed to be involved in the process. From choosing the song and memorizing the lyrics, to choreographing the moves and shooting the film, the Lip Dub provided countless opportunities for heroes to brainstorm together, stick to schedules, work through disagreements, rebound from failures, and receive feedback (both cool and warm) from other heroes. They often caught each other humming the Lip Dub song throughout the day (this year it’s Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger) and then usually joined right in. The Elementary Studios are not allowed to edit their videos. That means there are a LOT of “re-dos.” After finishing all the choreographing, we estimate the Fire Studio did at least 20 takes of their final product. They would film once or twice, gather around the rug to watch their videos, give each other lots of feedback and then try again. What an amazing opportunity to fail and try again and again and again! 

On Thursday afternoon, the final vote was called for which recording they would send into the film festival. As the Fire Studio came together for their end of the day cheer, the positive energy was possibly the highest of the year. No matter the outcome of the festival, the heroes have created something they are proud of, and they did it together. 

In the Middle School heroes enjoyed the new opportunity of being able to edit their Lip Dub this year. This allowed for multiple songs, filming in different locations, wearing different costumes and then learning how to edit videos. Any time I got nervous about how much time the lip dub was taking, I simply had to observe the executive functioning skills that were being developed, the unifying laughter, and the getting out of comfort zones, and I was instantly grateful for this beautiful use of time. Heroes worked during school, during lunch, after school and during weekends. They were truly invested in this challenge. I won’t post any pictures here; I don’t want to ruin the surprise of their final product!

Once the filming was completed, the heroes chose to meet at school on a Friday to learn from mentors. Three professionals from Vidarmy graciously donated their time to help our heroes begin developing the art of video editing. Thank you Vidarmy! Talk about developing 21st century skills!

The heroes have also had the chance to collaborate during quest time as they were divided into teams for a friendly but competitive BioBlitz this week and next. They’ve competed in biology and math games, done challenges involving little creatures, and continued on their individual journeys of delving into science topics and activities that interest them. It is so wonderful to observe Middle School aged young people so invested and involved in their learning. Overheard this week during a “design-an-experiment-involving-live-invertebrate-animals” challenge: “I am SO good at finding larvae!” Speaking about a millipede, “This is my best bestie!” “I made James a little boat!” (James is a different millipede than the “best bestie”). “I’ve never loved bugs this much!” Heroes came in the next morning and continue their “experiments” with millipedes. I’ve never loved Middle Schoolers with bugs so much!

Although we were reluctant to engage in the Lip Dub our first year, we have come to recognize, appreciate and thoroughly enjoy all that the Lip Dub provides for our heroes. As we watch their videos, we enjoy not only the final product, but the process that got them there. As ever, we relish the journey even more than the end result! Yes, there are many life lessons to be learned from a lip dub. Anyone in for a parents’ lip dub next year…???