Young People's Program - 2008

A multi-arts program, for young people ages 5-14, that offers students an opportunity to work with highly experienced staff in a low key nurturing environment.

A * indicates a series of workshops

All Programs will take place at the Becket Arts Center unless otherwise stated.


Scholarships

Scholarships are primarily for full-time Hilltown residents. Scholarships for the Circus Camp, Puppetry, Dance Together at the Pillow and Improv Theatre workshops, use Scholarship Application and mail as early as possible to BAC, PO Box 286, Becket, MA 01223

Sixth Annual Young People's Arts Festival
Tuesday, August 12^th • 5 - 6:30pm at the Becket Arts Center

Enjoy art work created in the Young People's workshops: Creating with Images & Playing with Visual Images and work created by students in the Improv Theatre workshops.

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Circus Camp
Monday-Friday, July 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 • 9:30am - 12:30pm

Ages 7 -14
Registration Fee: $60 members; $70 non-members
Enrollment: Maximum 24. 12:1 student to teacher ratio
Scholarships available primarily for Hilltown residents.

No material cost though there will be an opportunity to purchase your own circus tools.

Circus Camp is a fun, safe and challenging environment where students learn acrobatics, juggling, stilt walking, poi, and hoop tricks. Students will perform their spectacle skills on completion of the Camp. Team building games and shared challenges will shape these students into a circus team with opportunities to meet and perform in the community throughout the year.

Leona Marchand, circus performer for the past 8 years, has studied at the San Francisco School of Circus Arts. Leona is driven by community, creativity, celebration and change.

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*Dance Together at the Pillow
Thursdays, July 10, 17, 24, 31 and August 7, 14, 21 • 5pm - 6pm
followed by INSIDE /OUT performance 6:30pm - 7:20pm

Ages: 5-12 accompanied by an adult.

Site: Meet at Jacob's Pillow on the porch of Avnet House, across from the Tea Garden. Wear loose clothing and bring a snack.

Family* per class: $10; Non-members $15
Family* Series of 7: $56; Non-members $84
*Family = one household

Scholarships available primarily for year-round Hilltown residents

Come discover how simple movements can create an exciting dance. Following class, hear a brief talk about the Inside/Out artists and then attend the free Inside/Out Performance from 6:30-7:20pm.

Jeff Bliss is a former member of the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange and was a faculty member of Lincoln Center Institute's program in the schools. He is a founding artist with the Wolftrap Institute for Early Learning through the Arts and continues to teach and perform Contact improvisation throughout the US.

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*Creating with Images
Tuesdays: July 15, 22, 29 • 9:30am - 12:30pm

Ages 5 - 8 parents welcome
Free Registration
Enrollment Limit: 15
Site: Becket Federated Church Community Room

Students will learn art history through looking at and discussing the work of famous artists. Students will study Matisse's collages in order to apply his ideas to their own painted paper artworks. They will also be shown examples of Native American and/ or African masks to be inspired to create their own work. A variety of painting, drawing, collaging, and sculpture techniques will be introduced in this class. All artwork will be exhibited at our Student's Art Festival.  

Abby DuBow is a practicing artist and long time art educator. She received her B.A. from Bennington College and her M.A. from Bank Street School of Education. She has been an art teacher for over 30 years and is currently teaching at the Upper and Lower Brooklyn Friends School.

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*Playing with Visual Images
Tuesdays: July 15, 22, 29 • 9:30am - 12:30pm

Ages 9 - 14
Free Registration
Enrollment Limit: 15


Students will be encouraged to expand their personal images as they work individually and/or in groups from imagination, observation and memory. They will create drawings, paintings & three-dimensional forms using a variety of media. Ideas will be generated from Art work in the BAC Galleries, art reproductions, student writing about their work and class discussions. Work will be done outside, weather permitting. Presentation by each student at the end of each session about their working process and/or product will reinforce what has been accomplished. Student art work and accompanying writing will be exhibited at our Student Arts Festival.

Joan L. Davidson , artist and art educator (K-College) for over 30 years has taught Art in New York City Public Schools, and at New York University. Joan is President of the Becket Arts Center.

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*Improv Theatre
Thursdays: July 31, August 7 and
Tuesdays: July 29, August 5, 12 • 4pm - 6pm

Ages 8 - 14
Fee per class: $10 non-members: $12
Series: $40; Non-members: $48
Upstairs Gallery

Young People ages 8-14 will experience the fun of creating stories through theatre improv techniques such as warming up each session by shedding concepts of right or wrong. Exercises will be given that encourage spontaneity. On the spot Improvisation that requires flexibility, trust, and ingenuity will be the primary content of the workshop. Not knowing what will happen next and learning to jump in, physically and verbally with your ideas , builds confidence in ones self. A performance held during our Student Arts Festival, August 12th will culminate this five workshop series.

Scholarships available primarily for year-round Hilltown residents

Meredyth Babcock in 2000 received grants from Berkshire Grown and Massachusetts Agricultural in the Classroom to write, build and tour, Maggie's Garden, to elementary schools in Berkshire county. She has toured with Axis Theater and Cirque Poule. She has taught the Puppet Day workshop at the BAC for the last 5 years.

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Marmalade Production's Big Puppet Day
Wednesday, August 13 • 9:30am - noon and 1-4pm

Ages 7 and up;
Fee for the whole day!!!! Family $15; non-members: $20.
Adult $10; non-members $15
Children 8 and above $10; Non-member $12

Bring snacks and lunch.

Scholarships available primarily for Hilltown residents.

An opportunity in two parts to be held at the Becket Arts Center . In the morning students will construct shadow puppets and create scenery and props to develop a short vignettes based on The Little Swineherd and other Tales by Paula Fox. The vignettes will be explored and rehearsed in the afternoon. Parents are invited to participate. The puppets will come alive in the afternoon by young puppeteers working along with a professional puppeteer, to present a free performance/sharing for community members. Meredyth Babcock will share some of her favorite puppet friends and discuss some important elements in bringing puppets to life.

Meredyth Babcock is the Artistic Director of Marmalade Productions in Becket. She has been making and performing with puppets for the last 17 years. She performs her one woman show Dr. Marmalade for libraries and schools throughout New England . Her touring shows include MAG GIE"S GARDEN and THE WATERSHED WALTZ. Both are full of music, masks, puppets, bits of wisdom and information teaching children about their fragile and marvelous environment.

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