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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 […]

Modular Origami Suncatchers

This STEAM focused workshop gives students hands-on experience with modular Origami, by having them fold multiple simple Origami pieces, that when assembled form a beautiful 8 or 10 point star. The special paper used in the program is translucent, and when hung in a sunny window will reveal more complex geometric shapes and designs within […]

Sound Stories

This professional learning session provides a dynamic exploration of the sonic spaces and rhythmic worlds in which we inhabit through deep listening, sensory play, and hands-on collaborative learning. Educators will experience guided deep listening exercises and be invited to consider the many ways we make meaning of the sounds around us. Personal experiences will be […]

Creating a Multicultural Arts-Rich Classroom

In this workshop the art forms of storytelling, dance, poetry, and music will help educators to bring the culture and language of students into the curriculum. By altering classroom artifacts, daily rituals, and frequently used stories to reflect the first language(s) and culture(s) of students, educators design classroom environments that more intentionally reflect and affirm […]

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! Assembly

Speak Up! uses the percussive dance styles of tap dance, stepping, and body percussion to narrate iconic moments of John Lewis’ legacy. The program highlights the life of John Lewis, the 1960 Lunch Counter Sit-ins, the 1961 Freedom Riders, and the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March. This educational performance assists in preserving Black History and Art […]

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 […]

American Dance: From Africa to Broadway

Two versatile dancers the OKRA Dance Company take you on a cultural tour through three centuries of American history to explore how the combination of migration, culture and communication created the popular American theater and stage dances we know today. From European classical court and folk dances and African plantation narratives, to vaudeville, tap, the […]

Afro-Puerto Rican Folkloric Music: la Bomba y la Plena

Segunda Quimbamba is a cultural gem based in Jersey City. Led by Master Drummer Juan Cartagena and Master Dancer Nanette Hernández, the band performs and teaches Afro-Puerto Rican folkloric music La Bomba and La Plena, honoring their ancestors and heritage through practicing this preservation. The call-and-response music creates a collaborative artistic space in Bomba for […]