This engaging and accessible presentation utilizes the model of the family to help students understand how a string quartet functions and thrives. Turtle Island draws comparisons between the interactions of the quartet and the audience’s families, giving children a personal reference point that greatly helps them to gain a simple, but profound understanding of the complete dynamics that drive musical groups. The children also learn to discern the many different styles the quartet presents, and young instrumentalists are presented with a new model of what is possible to achieve on string instruments. Members of the audience are invited to participate throughout the presentation, joining in rhythmic clap-alongs, dialogue with quartet members and a question and answer period following a rousing rock and roll finish.
Renowned for their powerful stage presence, Philadelphia’s Koresh Dance Company has been hailed as a vital force to both national and international stages. A prolific touring company for over 20 years, Koresh brings passion and precision to every performance. This interactive assembly program focuses on the many styles of dance, including ballet, tap, jazz, modern and hip hop, covers the differences and similarities between forms and how each is infused into the Koresh Style of contemporary dance.
In this participatory show, Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem play from their award-winning family CD, Ranky Tanky! The Boston Herald hails them as "One of America's most inventive string bands," and they deliver with a rollicking ride through American musical history, from 200-year-old Georgia Sea Island tunes to Texas swing, Nat King Cole, Louis Jordan, the Funky Meters, Cat Stevens and more. With bass, fiddle, guitar, ukulele, banjo and the 100% recycled "Drumship Enterprise," this fun-loving band gets teachers and kids dancing the Wig Walk (and more), making up lyrics, shouting out responses, clapping along, and discovering just how much music they have in their bones.
Combining elements of their story ballet: A Light in the Dark: The Story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, which depicts the story of Helen Keller from age 7, before she met her teacher; through the discovery of the world and the naming of objects, Thodos Dance Chicago will bring awareness to disability and offer a better understanding of the differences and connections that result amongst all of us.
San Jose Taiko (SJT) has been mesmerizing audiences since 1973 with the powerful, spellbinding, and propulsive sounds of the taiko. Inspired by traditional Japanese drumming, SJT performers express the beauty and harmony of the human spirit through the voice of the taiko as they create new dimensions in Asian American movement and music. San Jose Taiko educates children and teachers about the history of taiko and its links to Japan and to the local Japanese American communities. The school program presents SJT's basic philosophical principles and engages the students to actively participate in its high-action demonstration.
To most people, jazz, hip-hop, funk, and classical are musical genres. But to revolutionary music group Black Violin, they’re nothing but ingredients Kev Marcus and Wil-B are the classically trained, three-time Apollo-winning duo Black Violin. They make creative connections between classical and hip-hop music. With influences ranging from Shostakovich and Bach to Nas and Jay-Z, Black Violin breaks musical rules, blending the classical with the modern to create a one-of-a-kind concert experience. Both college graduates (thanks to full music scholarships), Black Violin wants to make sure that North America’s young people get the same exposure to the arts that they did and teach children that classical music is cool!
The students in Room 207 were the worst-behaved class in the whole school: spitballs stuck to the ceiling; paper airplanes whizzing through the air – even though they had the sweetest teacher of all, Miss Nelson. But when Miss Nelson unexpectedly does not come to school one day, the class gets the strictest substitute they have ever met: Miss Viola Swamp! The search is on for Miss Nelson, who seems to have vanished. Hopefully the students of Room 207 will find her before it's too late – for them! A lighthearted musical production of Harry G. Allard’s classic tale, performed by Theatreworks USA, reminds us all to show appreciation to those that we value!
Join the ever inquisitive, lovable little monkey Curious George, star of books, movies and the award winning PBS television show in this delightful new musical, performed by Theatreworks USA. All–You-Can-Eat Meatball Day came just once a year. George had been waiting all month for that day, a day almost bigger than his birthday! On Meatball Day, George helped his friend Chef Pisghetti cook some delicious meatballs, and serve them to the hungry crowd. But this year, the crowd had vanished! Something was keeping people away. Something pretty big. And that “something” was Phinneas T. Lightspeed and his speedy Meatballs O’Matic machine. In despair, Chef Pisghetti vows to cook no more. Determined to help his friend, George goes on a mission to enter the Chef’s meatballs in the world-famous Golden Meatball Contest…in Rome. With every swing and flip, George takes the audience through a fun-filled adventure in which he learns more about Rome...and meatballs...and the “secret ingredient” to cooking!