This spring, Kid’s Play New Orleans (Kid’s Play NOLA) is teaming up with the Ashe Cultural Arts Center to offer a FREE afterschool program for New Orleans youth, ages 6-17, January 17-May 17, 2012.
This past summer, the Ashe Cultural Arts Center and Kid’s Play NOLA teamed up during the Maafa Celebration to raise community awareness of New Orleans dance and music heritage. The Kid’s Play NOLA summer camp presented a unique performance to the New Orleans community. Due to the success of this partnership that brought out over 300 community members, both organizations will join together again for this afterschool program.
Classes will be led by master instructors Dana Reed and Luther Gray, with Reed teaching dance technique and creative movement and Gray offering music instruction. The classes will introduce students to different movement styles such as ballet, hip-hop and modern dance techniques where they will explore their own creativity and imagination through movement exercises and create their own movement pieces. The classes will strengthen each student in coordination, strength and musicality.
The music class will use Djembe and Dun-Dun hand techniques and explore African, Caribbean and New Orleans rhythms such as Funga, Rumba and Second-line. The students will connect the link of the three origins, comparing and contrasting each.
In addition to the music and dance lessons, students will also receive master workshops such as visual arts, second-line dancing and spoken word with local professional artists.
The Kid’s Play NOLA afterschool arts program will culminate on May 19 with a performance at the Ashe Cultural Arts Center, with students exploring their link with one another, their community, social networking and the larger world in a performance entitled “Connect the Dots.”
Applications for the free, full scholarship program are now being accepted. Students will be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis and all economic levels are encouraged to apply. To request an application, please send an email of inquiry to Kidsplaynola@gmail.com and indicate “Application” in the subject line or apply online at www.kidsplayinfo.org.
DETAILS:
Kid’s Play NOLA – FREE Afterschool Arts Program
January 17 – May 17, 2012 @ 4 – 5:45 pm
Tuesdays: ages 13-17
Thursdays: ages 6-12
Ashe Cultural Arts Center
1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.
Transportation must be provided by guardian
Visit www.kidsplayinfo.org for more information about participation in this new program.
This program was made possible by the Jerome S. & Grace H. Murray Foundation.