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Rhythm: The Lost Language

Students will learn the language of rhythm from acclaimed tap dancer and choreographer Maurice Chestnut. Each session begins with a rhythm stretch and a percussive call and response warm-up. Learners will begin their journey in Africa with djembe rhythms, then move through New Orleans and New York where Africans and Irish step dancers created the […]

The Magic of Storytelling

  Tchin is a nationally-known Indigenous artist and educator of arts and culture. Through the art of oral tradition, he tells stories portraying the creation of the world and how things came to be, addressing topics including cultural diversity, music appreciation, and environmental consciousness. As part of this program, Tchin will perform and explain the […]

And Now I See: Race, Racism & American Music

Ball in the House’s brand-new show explores African American music, from Spirituals, Gospel, and Jazz to Soul, Hip-Hop, and R&B.  Students will build awareness of where each style came from and why, as well as the cultural/social evolution of these styles and their influences and connect them to the contemporary styles of today. This is done […]

Tell Your Story!

“Tell Your Story!” is a 1-2 day creative drama residency where students collaborate to create a short theatrical performance based on a topic they’re passionate about. They will experiment with voice, body, staging, and performance to develop communication, teamwork, decision-making, problem-solving, and creativity. This residency offers a supportive and fun environment for students to express […]

Cajón (box drum): Heartbeat of Africa in Peru & The Americas

This program is designed to introduce educators to the history, culture, craftmanship, and rhythmical magic of the cajón (box drum). The cajón is an instrument that originated from the Afro-Peruvian community and is deeply rooted in the African Diaspora in Perú. Although it is at the heart of Afro-Peruvian and Criollo music, it also became […]

Speak Up Residency

This residency uses percussive dance to explore the significant contributions of John Lewis. Through this residency, participants dive into themes of justice and civil rights while embodying collaboration, teamwork and learning the importance of Lewis’ “Good Trouble.” Each session expands on the previous day with participants learning to embody the essence of John Lewis using […]

Outside ROCK!

Jump, clap, play air guitar and sing along to super fun songs from Baby Shark to The Jackson 5 to Happy by Pharrell. Students will be treated to drums, bass, acoustic guitar, ukulele and a big double bass performed by Award winning singer songwriter Alice Leon and music educator and Broadway musician Al Greene. They […]