Specialized Programs (9-12)

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Dance Xplosion!

Piano Workshop

Open to children ages 9–12

July 8–21 

Course # CCPW Ø1-Ø2

Two-week session

Student Performance - Saturday, July 21, 10 a.m.This workshop is ideal for the late beginner through advanced piano student, and is open without audition to any child who has completed three years of piano study. Daily group activities include improvisation, theory and rhythm games, playing eight-hand music, discussing technique and interpretation, learning new practice skills, and listening to great recordings. Students practice two to three hours each day, during which they receive at least a half hour of individual attention, in the form of practice supervision and lessons. This intensified learning environment accelerates the students’ progress and helps them to focus for longer periods of time. Students are challenged to do their finest work in a relaxed, loving, and non-threatening atmosphere. Specific goals are to polish one learned piece, finish a work in progress, and prepare a new piece for performance in concert. The co-directors are Paul Nickels, who has taught Suzuki piano for 25 years, and Dr. Laura Spitzer, who is a concert pianist and Associate Professor at New Mexico State University. They are assisted by Janisa Tharp, a private teacher in Colorado.
Enrollment limited to 14 students.

Day Students
Two-Week Tuition: $2150
Lab fee: $40
One-Week Tuition: $1075
Lab fee: $20

Residential Students (ages 9–12 only)
Two-Week Tuition, room & board: $2550
Lab fee: $40
One-Week Tuition, room & board: $1275

Lab fee: $20

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Beyond the Mask

Open to children ages 9–12
July 22–August 4 
Course # CCTH Ø3-Ø4
Two-week session

Student Performance - Saturday, August 4, 10:45 a.m.

This is an exciting and fun-filled class for beginning actors hoping to deepen their understanding of theatre by learning to express themselves physically. The class will focus on the movement and physical aspects of character creation, improvisation techniques, and the use of masks as an expressive and powerful tool of storytelling. Students will begin the process by first learning to observe and capture what they feel and see in their “character journals”. With awareness and observation as a foundation for the characters, we move into movement and improvisational exercises as well as emotional exploration as the students bring their character to life! We will then artistically create masks for each character and begin the exhilarating process of putting our show together. The show will be created by the students with instructor encouragement to work naturally and instinctually.

The class will encourage young artists to explore their own capabilities with an emphasis on imagination and thinking outside of the box all the while learning stage-craft, the basics and techniques of improv, listening, ensemble work and trusting yourself and others on stage.

Please bring clothes to move in and a black shirt, black pants and black shoes for performance day
Enrollment limited to 14 students.

Mini Musical Theatre

Open to children ages 9–12
July 8–21
Course # CCMM Ø1-Ø2
Two-week session

Student Performance - Saturday, July 21, 9:30 a.m.

This fun, two-week course will incorporate singing, acting and movement in a musical theatre piece complete with live accompaniment. Auditions will be held for parts although the show is designed for group singing and performance. Students will learn acting techniques through fun theater exercises and improvisational games. 
Enrollment limited to 20 students.
Johanna McKay
Tim Labor

Puppet Anarchy

Open to children ages 9–12
July 8–21
Course # CCTH Ø1-Ø2

Two-week session

Student Performance - Saturday, July 21, 11 a.m.

Puppet Anarchy is a hands on theater experience that is designed for students to learn the art and wonder of puppets. Students will learn the basics of puppetry manipulation, design and build their own puppet creations and write an original work and perform it in front of an audience. With the help of the instructor the sky is the limit during the entire process.

Please note:  Puppets shown are custom made and used by Shaun in his professional performances. Students will create puppets appropriate to their age and abilities.

Theatre of Myth and Folklore
Open to children ages 9–12
August 5-18
Course # CCTH Ø5-Ø6
Two-week session

Student Performance - Saturday, August 18, 11:30 a.m.

A fun theater experience designed for students who love to explore the world of imagination. Through the processes of brainstorming, improvisation, and rehearsals, students, in collaboration with the instructors, will create and perform an original play based on themes in Mythology and World Folklore, like lasts summers Greeks versus Gleeks. Within the fun of theater games and improvisation, students will learn acting techniques, vocal production, movement for the stage, as well as confidence and the art of collaboration. Additional rehearsals may be scheduled on the weekend and in the evenings.
Enrollment limited to 20 students.

Art From Many Cultures

Culmination: Student Art Exhibit - Saturday, August 18, 9:30 a.m.

Students will explore the ideas, techniques, and materials created and utilized by art from other cultures and will observe the works of various artists, including Simon Rodia and his Watts Towers. The students will see films of his work, learn about his life and work. The children will create a large papier-maché animal of their choice and will incorporate papier-maché, plaster, paper, wire, and clay to create masks from many cultures, including, but not limited to, Native American, Japanese, African, and Egyptian. Some masks will be life-size. We will learn how to do Japanese brush paintings. We will also draw and paint, using mixed media. Collages will also be created.  We will dye our own paper, and incorporate beads, jewelry, buttons, and found objects. Clay tiles and other clay pieces will be glazed and fired in our kiln.  Students will produce sand paintings, using both colored sand and rocks.  The children will experience Amate Indian tree bark painting.  We will make totem poles from wood and this year make a large one that will remain on the Children’s Center grounds. In addition, this year we will be making Kachina dolls. Students will make yarn molas from Mexico, and batik with wax and natural dyes. We will make 3-D paper sculptures and sculptures from bendable aluminum and thick wire. Throughout the session, students will work together to create large and colorful murals. In addition, the students will make a collaborative mural based on the works of Faith Ringgold, Picasso, and other artists from various cultures. Other projects utilizing additional materials as well as exploration of other cultures will be incorporated into the two-week session. Due to the nature of the work, students should bring an old shirt to class.
Enrollment limited to 20 students.

Linda Fuller

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Drawing and Sculpture

Open to children ages 9–12
July 22–28 
Course #CCDS Ø3
One-week session

Culmination: Student Art Exhibit - Saturday, July 28, 9:30 a.m.

Drawing
Learn a whole new way to see the world through drawing! We will closely observe things around us, by drawing in class, taking walks in the woods, sketching other students around campus, and looking at great Master Drawings. Students will learn how to express movement, volume, and depth. They will learn the expressive powers of drawing through line, shading, and even scribbling! Through a series of exercises and activities students will be guided to find their artistic and creative selves. As we learn to be better observers we discover new and unexpected connections between ourselves and the world.

Sculpture

Expand your understanding of three-dimensional design while creating a variety of unusual and imaginative sculptures and structures. In this class we will develop art works in three dimensions after making concept drawings that describe the main idea of the sculpture. Relationships, size, texture, and positive, and negative space will be emphasized while incorporating a wide assortment of materials. We will explore and build with, wax, clay, plaster, wire, wood, and paper mache. Inspiration for our unique structures will be inspired by a variety objects and artists including, Dale Chuilly, organic forms, and natural materials from the woods around us. Be prepared for fun in the third dimension.
Enrollment limited to 10 students.

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Modern Art, Clay & Sculpture

Open to children ages 9–12
July 29 –August 4 
Course# CCFA Ø4
One-week session

Modern Art

Take a journey into the magical world of 20th Century painting and sculpture!  In this class we will look at the radical and experimental work
of five Modern Masters, including Picasso, Matisse, Pollack, Nevelson and more. We will then make our own versions of each artist’s work!  We will make shadow boxes, go wild with paint, make collages. Students will have fun with materials while getting a glimpse into the imaginations of some of the greatest artists of our last century.

Clay & Sculpture

We will explore a variety of hand-building techniques used in ceramic and plasterwork. Both experimental and traditional processes will be taught. Pinching, coiling, slab work, and carving, will be explored as we create sculptural forms inspired by a variety of modern artists. Artists and architects such as, Gaudi, Claus Oldenburg, Georgia O’Keeffe, Henry Moore, and Picasso will serve as both creative springboards and inspiration for our one of a kind works of art.

Enrollment limited to 10 students.

Stanley Goldstein
Valerie Gordon
Ray Ben Moszkowicz

From Page to the Stage

Open to children ages 9–12
July 22 - August 4
Course #CCWR Ø3-Ø4 
Two-week session

Student Performance - Saturday, August 4, 10 a.m.

This fun-filled program combines writing with acting in an exciting and creative workshop that culminates in a performance of an original work performed by the very students who wrote the words!

Starting with characters created by the group, student actors and writers explore scenes and monologues using improvisation, acting games, storytelling, and group brainstorming. Actors can write to their own strengths-if you can play an instrument or sing or dance-use it! Express yourself-with your self. The pieces may take many forms-poems, scenes, monologues-even songs. Then we will refine and rewrite-direct and combine-until finally these pieces will take the shape of our show. Fun will be had by all!

Enrollment limited to 12 students.

Johanna McKay
Laurel Ollstein


Day Students
Two-Week Tuition: $2150
Lab fee: $40
One-Week Tuition: $1075
Lab fee: $20