LIVING ARTS BLOG
Here's How We're Responding to COVID-19
Hi Living Arts supporters -
In the last few days, so many of you have reached out to me and Living Arts' staff and board members with your concern and well wishes. Your messages and conversations have been a great source of encouragement as we navigate new challenges together.
Our response to the COVID-19 crisis has been moving quickly and I want to update you on some of the ways we are responding to the needs of our youth, Teaching Artists, and staff.
Hi Living Arts supporters -
In the last few days, so many of you have reached out to me and Living Arts' staff and board members with your concern and well wishes. Your messages and conversations have been a great source of encouragement as we navigate new challenges together.
Our response to the COVID-19 crisis has been moving quickly and I want to update you on some of the ways we are responding to the needs of our youth, Teaching Artists, and staff. As always, we are directing all of our energy, creativity, and resources to best support our community's children and families.
As you know, we have canceled all programming through April 5th in compliance with Governor Whitmer's school closure mandate—which means that our Teaching Artists will not be working in the coming three weeks and our students will not be getting necessary educational supports. We remain committed to doing everything we can at this time to mitigate these losses.
To that end, I am glad to share that:
We are committed to supporting our Teaching Artists financially during this time. Our goal is to provide compensation through April 5th, based on the hours of service each artist would have provided through that date if these extraordinary events had not occurred;
Staff will be actively connecting our young people and their families to resources for food, academic, and social support throughout Metro Detroit and Teaching Artists will be checking in on their students;
We are working on new, creative ways to engage students in programming remotely;
Staff members will continue to work remotely in order to practice social distancing; and
We remain in conversation with the larger arts community and funders to explore how we can participate in efforts to support individual artists in our region.
Thank you for making all this possible with your support and partnership.
I hope you will continue to reach out to me with your questions, concerns, or ideas as we continue doing the work we love!
Wishing you and your loved ones good health,
Alissa Novoselick
Executive Director
Program Closure through April 5
In light of Govornor Gretchen Whitmer's announcement to close all K-12 schools, all Living Arts programs will be closed through April 5th in order to contribute to keeping our communities well.
We are monitoring the COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation via local, national, and international public health authorities and will send updates regarding our programs as the situation changes.
In light of Govornor Gretchen Whitmer's announcement to close all K-12 schools, all Living Arts programs will be closed through April 5th in order to contribute to keeping our communities well.
We are monitoring the COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation via local, national, and international public health authorities and will send updates regarding our programs as the situation changes.
Living Arts remains proudly committed to the health and well-being of our students, staff, Teaching Artists, and the larger Detroit-area community at this time.
We thank you for your understanding and wish you all good health.
Alissa Novoselick
Executive Director
Artists Strengthen and Heal Money Relationships
Work of Art is an annual event that addresses the real labor of working as an artist or creative in today's world. Living Arts invited Detroit-area teaching artists and 1099 contractors to attend the event.
Mary Jane of Cash Flow Tax and Administrative Services discussing resources for small business owners and contractors. All photos: Julie Howells for J. Lindsey Photos
Work of Art is an annual event that addresses the real labor of working as an artist or creative in today's world. Living Arts invited Detroit-area teaching artists and contractors to attend the event. Held on Friday, February 21 at the FREC, this workshop on financial literacy really got at the heart of what so many of us working multiple part-time jobs and contract gigs go through: organizing and managing finances can become a larger and more complicated process then our education may have prepared us for.
Rhiannon Chester-Bey (Undercurrent Healing Arts) kicked off the presentations by speaking to the deep healing we all deserve when it comes to our relationship to money. “You don’t need to be fixed; it’s not you that’s broken it’s systems that don’t work,” stated Chester-Bey. The next speaker, Mary Jane (Cash Flow Tax and Administrative Services) offered up great resources for contract employees and small business owners. Our final speaker, Gabriel Sloblosky (GreenPath Financial Wellness), provided budgeting and accountability tips. Each speaker led from the perspective of their own entrepreneurship and professional life.
The Living Arts programs team welcomed feedback from participants at the end of the event. This feedback will help Programming Team with selecting a theme for next year's Work Of Art Training.
An Arts Retreat for Early Learning Professionals
On Saturday, February 22, Artists Kimberli Boyd and Alesha Brown designed and facilitated a relaxing staff retreat for early learning professionals working in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit.
On Saturday, February 22, Artists Kimberli Boyd and Alesha Brown designed and facilitated a relaxing staff retreat for early learning professionals working in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit. The retreat was hosted at the Detroit Artist Village studio space. Participants were invited to engage in mindful artistic practices that encouraged everyday rejuvenation and peace of mind.
During the retreat, local chef of Faniz, LLC, Jefani M. Edison presented on how great food can support the body and mind and. Edison provided an amazing home-cooked meal as well. Participants walked away sharing that they had an enjoyable experience and will use what they learned in there learning centers.
Living Arts Joins the Detroit School of Arts Pathways Initiative
Living Arts is proud to be an arts partner with the DPSCD Detroit School of Arts (DSA) Pathways Initiative! “DSA Pathways is what collaboration in the arts can and should be…”
Executive Director, Alissa Novoselick with ISA Program Manager, Brent Smith and Program Director, Erika Villarreal Bunce along with fellow DSA Pathways Partners InsideOut Literary Arts attended this morning’s initiative launch.
Living Arts is proud to be an arts partner with the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) Detroit School of Arts (DSA) Pathways Initiative! “DSA Pathways is what collaboration in the arts can and should be. We are so excited to work with our peers—and with a partner like DPSCD—to ensure that students are the beneficiaries of our arts-rich city. Utilizing organizational strengths we are able to come together for something that is larger and more intentional than any one of us could achieve alone,” stated Living Arts’ Executive Director, Alissa Novoselick. See the press release below for details on the exciting initiative that launched this morning! For more information on the DSA Pathways Initiative, visit DSA Pathways.
Adapting to New Curriculum: Expeditionary Learning in the Artist Residency
Living Arts has been working hard to train our teaching artist team in the suite of new curriculum offerings at Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD).
4th grade students at Schulze Academy use theater and writing to learn animal defense mechanisms in a residency led by Teaching Artists Karilú Forshee and Aja Dier. All photos by Karilú Forshee.
Living Arts has been working hard to train our teaching artist team in the suite of new curriculum offerings at Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD). This past summer in particular, our K-8 team went through training with an Expeditionary Learning Specialist, building on their long-term knowledge about arts integration and honing into the specific areas in the curriculum our work fits. In addition, our administrative team was trained by EL administrative staff. Lots of great conversation and learning happened!
Teaching Artists Karilú Forshee and Aja Dier led a residency in Ms. Swaby and Mrs. McGhee's 4th grade classrooms at Shulze Academy. The Module the teaching artists and teachers will be focusing on is ELA G4:M2, Units 1-3, Researching to Build Knowledge and Teach Others: Animal Defense Mechanisms, with the guiding questions being: 1. How do animals' bodies and behaviors help them survive? 2. How can writers use knowledge from their research to inform and entertain? The students task is a choose-your-own adventure animal defense mechanism narrative.
A reflection from Teaching Artist Aja Dier:
Karilú and I have worked together onstage and it was so exciting to team up with her in the classroom to facilitate a five week ELA/Drama Arts Integration residency at Schulze Elementary. This five week residency began with a poetry workshop to wrap up the 4th grade poetry unit in Ms. Swaby’s class. I performed some of my original poetry as well as “My Garden” by Thomas Edward Brown, where we discussed examples of metaphor and “Alphabet City” from the play Slanguage by Universes where the students learned about alliteration.
We were excited to dive into the next module: Animal Defense Mechanisms. We worked with animals discussed in the text. Before we got to the material, each class began with the “Hello Song” led by Karilú and a I would lead a physical and vocal warm-up. The students embodied the movements and sounds of monarch butterflies, springboks, ostriches, armadillos, red robins, chickadees and Florida scrub jays. We then discussed their natural predators such as rodents, cheetahs, hawks, bobcats and mice.
Karilú and I wanted the students to have a hand in creating their own theater piece. The 4th graders worked together in groups to write a first person narrative about the animals and their predators. Karilú and I then took their writings and turned them into scripts where some students were predators and some students were prey. We rehearsed each scene, and made revisions to the script. On the last week of the residency, we brought in costumes for the final performance. The students not only had a strong grasp of the material, but they fully embodied these animals. We were blown away by their commitment and excited to see that they were having so much fun!
Master Class with American Ballet Theatre
On Tuesday, January 14, dancers from the YDE and Ballet 3 classes were invited to attend a master class with members of American Ballet Theatre, one of the top ballet companies in the world! The mixed-level hour and a half class was a rare and exciting opportunity for Living Arts’ dancers to experience.
On Tuesday, January 14, dancers from the YDE and Ballet 3 classes were invited to attend a master class with members of American Ballet Theatre, one of the top ballet companies in the world! The mixed-level hour and a half class was a rare and exciting opportunity for Living Arts’ dancers to experience.
Held at the FREC, the master class was led by dancers Lauren Bonfiglio and Melvin Lawovi. “Seeing them and how they grew up has shown me that if I really work hard, I can get to where they are at their point in their lives,” said student Samantha Augilar. Ingrid Hernandez added, “My favorite part was when we got to do exercises because I saw what I wanted to be. I saw a role model, a reflection of what I could be, and ways to better myself.” Nina Contreras added, “I liked seeing a guy, because here in Detroit you hardly ever see that” referring to Lawovi.
Bonfiglio has been with ABT since 2013 and started her career with the company in a summer Young Dancer Workshop in 2007. In 2013 she became a member of the ABT Studio Company. Lawovi, a native of Toulouse, France, has been dancing since age 10 and competed in many international competitions before joining the ABT Studio Company in 2018 and apprenticing with the main Company in 2019.
Many thanks to these talented instructors, the American Ballet Theatre, and the Michigan Opera Theater for making this opportunity possible for our students.
Southwest Holiday Fest Returns
The 7th Annual Southwest Holiday Fest was held on December 14. Living Arts is proud to once again participate in the event.
Our Youth Dance Ensemble 2 (YDE2, the junior dance company) had their second performance as a group this year at Southwest Holiday Fest and did a great job!
YDE2 performs at SW Holiday Fest
The 7th Annual Southwest Holiday Fest was held on December 14. Living Arts is proud to once again participate in the event.
Our Youth Dance Ensemble 2 (YDE2, the junior dance company) had their second performance as a group this year at Southwest Holiday Fest and did a great job!
The senior YDE created a structured improvisational dance collaboratively. Youth mentor Diamond Davis hosted a two-hour ornament decorating workshop (her first public workshop), and did a great job coordinating the ordering of supplies, setup and cleanup, and facilitation.
SW Holiday Fest is planned annually by a coalition of organizations and businesses in the area including Matrix Theatre, Plaza del Sol, Mexicantown Community Development Coalition, Repair the World, Xochi's Gift Shop, SER Metro, All Saints Literacy Center, Dantos Furniture, The FREC, Living Arts, and more.
Celebrating Early Childhood Initiatives with Hope Starts Here
On November 22, 2019, Living Arts' artists and staff joined hundreds of educators, parents, funders, and other change-makers for the 3rd Annual Hope Starts Here Celebration. Hope Starts Here is a movement initiated in 2016 stewarded by the W.K.Kellogg Foundation and the Kresge Foundation to:
create a vision for what early childhood can look like in Detroit
develop a framework for that vision and
inspire folks from all over the city to get involved and help bring that vision to life.
On November 22, 2019, Living Arts' artists and staff joined hundreds of educators, parents, funders, and other change-makers for the 3rd Annual Hope Starts Here Celebration. Hope Starts Here is a movement initiated in 2016 stewarded by the W.K.Kellogg Foundation and the Kresge Foundation to:
create a vision for what early childhood can look like in Detroit
develop a framework for that vision and
inspire folks from all over the city to get involved and help bring that vision to life.
Teaching Artist Alesha Brown led an invocation “Free to Be Me” at the Hope Starts Here celebration.
Grounded in the belief that every child has the right to access high quality early childhood education from birth, our city got to work! Since then, Living Arts and many other groups, have come together to have futuristically-minded and frank conversation around the quality of early childhood education. It truly is awe-inspiring to share this space with incredible parents, teachers, early childhood directors, funders and so many others. We are proud and humbled to be an arts partner to this movement! Together with our incredible team of artists, parents, and staff, we've been able to bring focus and intention around quality in Head Start/Early Head Start classrooms, informal caregiving settings, independently owned provider settings, and community-based settings that serve families.
Master Teaching Artist Kimberli Boyd led a movement-based invocation at the Hope Starts Here celebration.
We were honored to be invited to present the invocations for this event. Our amazing artists, Alesha Brown and Kimberli Boyd, of Living Arts' Detroit Wolf Trap program can typically be found day-in, day-out, working with early childhood teachers and their children to make learning come to life through music and movement. But on this day of celebration, Alesha and Kimberli were able to share a special part of themselves, as Detroiters and masters of music and movement, in a call to action. Alesha's "Free to be me" morning invocation brought life to the meaning of "Hope Starts with Me." Kim's movement-based afternoon invocation brought the entire room of stakeholders together in a call to action, powering our collective commitment to ensuring that every child and family can access early childhood in Detroit.
We are thrilled to partake in this movement that respects children and their families and we look forward to building more into the future together.
Harnessing Personal Power through Dance
On Saturday November 16, seven of the nine Youth Dance Ensemble dancers joined their mentor/instructors Miryam Johnson and Penny Godboldo, along with Living Arts’ Director of Programs, Erika Villarreal Bunce and Dance Program Director, Marianne Cox over Lebanese food and conversation.
Living Arts’ dancers and instructors met to discuss and reflect on their Sofrito of Cultures summer intensive.
On Saturday November 16, seven of the nine Youth Dance Ensemble dancers joined their mentor/instructors Miryam Johnson and Penny Godboldo, along with Living Arts’ Director of Programs, Erika Villarreal Bunce and Dance Program Director, Marianne Cox over Lebanese food and conversation. Also in attendance was Jennifer Collins the mother of Bailee Williams, one of the dancers. The gathering was the first time the group had met since their August 8th performance at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
The inter-generational conversation, led by Villarreal Bunce, was an opportunity for the young women to really debrief and dig into what they learned and how they felt during the intensive.
On learning Dunham technique alongside her own students, Miryam Johnson said she was “…in the moment, in the music, in my body connected to the people around me” as opposed to being in her head, focusing on self-criticism. She added, “It was important for me to be a student next to you; for you to see me not getting it also.” Master choreographer and intensive lead, Penny Godboldo said “Dance is a language...it’s called a company because it’s community working together.”
Over the course of the three weeks, the dancers, instructors, and drummers met for five hours a day, five days a week. Initially desiring a 10-week session, Godboldo had to readjust expectations from her students. “I knew what young people in this community were capable of, but I wasn’t sure if [you] were up for it. I was so pleased with the way [you] young women stepped up and did the work!”
Reflecting on the journal entries they wrote during the intensive, the young dancers recalled the feelings brought on by dancing. Learning the history and cultural relevance of the drum and movement in Afro-Latin dance was critical to understanding their own role in the dance. “I felt that the intensive really made me feel like a leader. It really tested my boundaries,” shared Bailee Williams, 13. Many of the dancers agreed that their boundaries, both physical and mental, were tested during their training. Learning how to breathe proved to be one of the most valuable tools, centering themselves before rehearsals began and carrying them throughout the hours of movement. “Wwhen I came here to dance I was happy and more confident.” Brianna Hernandez, 12. Mariajose Galarza, 13 added, “After the intensive I really felt like I could do anything! It was really long and hard but really good.”
Though still a while off from their careers, many of the dancers are considering entering into professional dance. A chance to represent both Detroit and the Southwest community where they live, the dancers want to show the world that Detroit is still in the game. “No one expects big dancers to come out of Detroit because it’s just a small city. No one expects someone like Miss Penny or Dunham to come out of Detroit. Everybody just thinks that it was famous during the Motor City era and has been left behind like it was nothing. But there really is something special in this community...dance just connects us,” said 14-year-old Nina Contreras.
Ms. Collins exclaimed, “You all are powerful! Knowing what you all accomplished this summer you all can do anything!” A sentiment echoed by all the mentors in the room.
5 Minute Mindfulness - Reflection
As a Teaching Artist in multiple programs within Living Arts, I never know which adventure I’ll be faced with next. It’s exhilarating! Who will be sitting in front of me for today’s class? What tricks will I pull out of my sleeve in the heat of the moment? What objective will organically present itself as an intruder to my lesson plan? And what unexpected inexplicable joy will be evoked by the authentic experience of showing up as my true self to a room full of strangers that I get to serve through my gift?
Photo by: Alesha Nicole
As a Teaching Artist in multiple programs within Living Arts, I never know which adventure I’ll be faced with next. It’s exhilarating! Who will be sitting in front of me for today’s class? What tricks will I pull out of my sleeve in the heat of the moment? What objective will organically present itself as an intruder to my lesson plan? And what unexpected inexplicable joy will be evoked by the authentic experience of showing up as my true self to a room full of strangers that I get to serve through my gift?
On Saturday, November 16, 2019 my office for the day was a meditation room full of women who care for children. It was a self-care retreat, in which I taught a workshop of mindfulness. As caregivers of young learners, we tend to neglect our self-care, forgetting to take time to check-in with ourselves emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. We can accidentally pour from an empty cup and end up with inner battles of resentment, frustration, or overexertion. The guided meditation I led was a bit different than what you would experience in a typical meditation room. It took into consideration the environment in which these caregivers regularly would be using these techniques. It is usually in a home, surrounded by children playing, singing, yelling, exploring, or giggling around them, giving them very little time to truly turn inwards and not exactly having the ideal atmosphere for peace and quiet.
So, I taught some “5 Minute Mindfulness” exercises that would give them opportunities to check-in during moments of upheaval or burnout. The exercises included techniques that uplift the spirit, redirect the mind, hold space for the heart, and tune in to the body. As we went through each activity, we shared commentary on what types of stressful situations may call for the exercise and why they are useful in that situation. While they went through these neat ways of calling their attention to mindfulness and self-awareness, they may or may not have realized that the workshop as a whole was an example of mindfulness in itself. These wonderful women were able to connect on a deeper level about the work that they do and feel recognized, cared for, valued, and considered in the development of a workshop built just for them. It was a treat, we shared from our hearts, and left with tools to use at a moment’s notice. A special gift was given with sentimental value we intentionally placed on it together, so that they may be reminded of self-care anytime they look into their purse and see it. All we need is five minutes of mindfulness to bring us back to self.
We've hired a New In-School Arts Program Manager!
Brent is an educator, recording artist, and event producer. Deeply rooted in community building, Brent makes connections between artists, schools, foundations, and businesses.
Meet Brent Smith!
Photo credit: Chauncia VanLowe
Brent is an educator, recording artist, and event producer. Deeply rooted in community building, Brent makes connections between artists, schools, foundations, and businesses. For the past six years, Brent has facilitated youth engagement: teaching media arts, youth entrepreneurship, and critical social thinking in K-12 schools across Detroit and Wayne County.
He loves designing musical experiences with audiences large and small, and believes that art and music are essential to student development.
Brent is excited to work and build with the Living Arts Detroit team!
We’re very excited to welcome Brent with all his Detroit K-12 experience and artistry to our team! Please join us in welcoming Brent Smith to the Living Arts family.
Animation and Emotional Storytelling
Thirty years ago, I created my first video with my family’s VHS tape recorder. I dressed my friends in costumes and set up my Barbies. I was using animation techniques without even knowing what stop-motion was – I honestly thought I invented the technique!
Thirty years ago, I created my first video with my family’s VHS tape recorder. I dressed my friends in costumes and set up my Barbies. I was using animation techniques without even knowing what stop-motion was – I honestly thought I invented the technique! This passion continued through high school and college and it lead me to co-owning a video production company and to developing my own art practice. Now, I produce, direct, and edit music videos and documentaries, while also creating sculpture-based video art installations that incorporate hand-drawn animated elements. Utilizing time-based media as a story-teller is so powerful and magical to me, so when I started teaching thirteen years ago, it was truly a natural fit.
While teaching animation techniques, I take inspiration from two other Detroit artists: filmmaker and painter Nicole Macdonald and animator Gary Schwartz. Nicole is a good friend and was my first and only animation instructor! I took one class with her at the Detroit Film Center in the early 2000’s and then immediately incorporated it into my practice. Gary was a great mentor and gave me some valuable advice early on that really transformed my life as a teacher. He told me to focus on teaching how I create, myself. This is such simple advice but as a working artist balancing creating and teaching, it has allowed me to stay energized and engaged in the work that my own students create.
The heart and driving force of my work and the work I inspire my students to create is emotion and story-based. Utilizing animation as a tool to tell a story is really amazing because a viewer already understands and accepts the possibility of surreal elements or exaggeration. With animation, you have the freedom to use images as metaphor without distracting your audience so it’s a tool that is helpful for not only the artist but also the viewer!
I also help motivate students to feel more comfortable trusting their own creative instincts and to get out of the perfectionist loop were you get hung up on details and lose focus on the greater whole. In my classroom, we never use pencils because this encourages the erase and redraw cycle which often never ends because we’re stuck on thinking ‘this isn’t good enough,’ instead of accepting and moving on to completion. Looking back on a finished piece and realizing what could be done differently next time is always more helpful and satisfying than being stuck on one detail and never finishing. A goal for myself and for them is to share and to continue to share – we can’t do that if we don’t finish the project.
Video Animation - Iris Jimenez
Hi my name is Iris Jimenez, I’m 13 years old, and I go to Living Arts. I've always been really passionate about art and animation and Living Arts is the place that has brought out the best in me. I take 2 classes in Living Arts: Video Animation and The SPOT. These two classes have made me feel more passionate to do what I love and the teachers are the best people to get along with.
The first time I came to the animation class was during the summer of 2018. The animation class is a place where I can be myself and do what I love. The class is so much fun and I learned so much about animation. I even got to make new friends there. Ms. Natasha has helped me so much with animation. She teaches us different types of techniques and honestly I just think she's the best. She is very caring and super easy to talk to. But most of all I love working and being with the people in this class. We all share such similar interests and are passionate about what we love to do.
Video Animation - Elise Moore
My name is Elise Moore, and I’m 16 years old. I go to Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy, and I am a junior. I have participated in Living Arts’ Video Animation class since Summer 2013. In my free time, I like to write and play music, create different types of visual art (like drawing and animating), and read.
Throughout my time in Video Animation, my favorite part has been working with the teacher, Ms. Natasha Beste. Ms. Natasha runs the class very smoothly and keeps all of us students on the right track. She introduces each project with such enthusiasm that it is contagious. When I first started this workshop, I was very shy and rarely spoke about my ideas. Ms. Natasha really helped me come out of my shell and to this day allows me to express who I truly am.
In the near future, I want to continue in the Video Animation class, and to create more short films there and in my free time. Later on, I plan to attend college to learn more about animation and character design. I hope to work at an animation studio as either a storyboard artist, animator, or concept artist.
Detroit Wolf Trap Fall Meet Up
On Wednesday, October 16, the Detroit Wolf Trap team (including teaching artists and staff) met for their fall meet up. Sharing coffee and a hot breakfast on a chilly morning, the team caught up and opened their day with a discussion on their best practices for self-care while they care for others.
On Wednesday, October 16, the Detroit Wolf Trap team (including teaching artists and staff) met for their fall meet up. Sharing coffee and a hot breakfast on a chilly morning, the team caught up and opened their day with a discussion on their best practices for self-care while they care for others.
Director of Programs Erika Villarreal Bunce gave a program update about the work we are doing with Informal Caregiver (ICG) Workshops and the Brightmoor Quality Initiative (BQI).
The goal of the work is to conduct outreach to caregivers in informal home settings, bring early learning and arts workshops to them to implement into their own work, and ultimately facilitate legitimacy for the work they do and create momentum toward licensure and state/federal funding for services. These workshops are being led by Karilu Alarcon Forshee and Alesha Brown, two of Living Arts long-standing Teaching Artists.
Some highlights:
Living Arts is working with 125 ICGs throughout Southwest Detroit in partnership with three organizations: Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, Congress of Communities, and Mathematica Policy Research.
50% of the caregivers have sustained throughout the series
Parent-child workshop model allows caregivers to learn skills with their children, and childcare is provided to give them some time to learn separately
Through funding from the Fisher Foundation, Living Arts Teaching Artists Kimberli Boyd, Alesha Brown, and Shirel Hernandez have been working in Brightmoor with private child care facilities through the Brightmoor Quality Initiative. Bringing the Wolf Trap model to these spaces requires flexibility, adaptation, and resilience. With music, movement, and drama skills our teaching artists are able to impart literacy and social-emotional learning, as well as kinesthetic learning in these early childhood spaces.
An interactive session was led by DWT Specialist Roberta Lucas on modeling for co-leading. Using props, fabric, and animal movements, the Teaching Artists created metaphors for how they see their roles as co-leadership in the classroom. Animal representatives like the chameleon who’s adaptable and can give and take from others; cone of communication that receives and transmits; embracing cape that holds in and supports; elephant that holds up, and more were represented.
The day closed out with a deep discussion on relationships and a sharing of major takeaways from partner-teachers. These included honoring the space—but still being yourself, modeling resilience among resistance from teachers, carving your path while managing expectations, and allowing yourself to be vulnerable when your partner teacher opens up. This discussion focused on finding ways to thread through but also meeting teachers where they’re at.
Youth Dance Ensemble Dance Intensive
In preparation for the new season, Living Arts Youth Dance Ensemble (YDE) hosts an annual dance intensive and company auditions. For one week, dancers attend daily classes with Out-of-School Arts Teaching Artists and special guests where they focus on learning new dance techniques and choreography. Following the completion of all classes, dancers are invited to audition for a spot in the Youth Dance Ensemble.
Street dance intensive led by Teaching Artist Daijiro Tsushima.
In preparation for the new season, Living Arts Youth Dance Ensemble (YDE) hosts an annual dance intensive and company auditions. For one week, dancers attend daily classes with Out-of-School Arts Teaching Artists and special guests where they focus on learning new dance techniques and choreography. Following the completion of all classes, dancers are invited to audition for a spot in the Youth Dance Ensemble. This year, we are introducing Youth Dance Ensemble 2 as a sister company to YDE. YDE2 is intended to provide a platform for younger students who are interested in deepening their training as a dancer and artist.
The goal of these companies is to give space and energy to seriously invested students who may want to pursue a career in dance after high school. Along with building a solid foundation through weekly technique classes, company members engage and explore concepts normally introduced in post-secondary dance education. At the intensive, dancers are encouraged to investigate personal experiences and ideas through improvisation, choreography and performance. Additionally they formed relationships with one another through a shared experience.
Street jazz intensive with guest Teaching Artist Justin Alesna
Each year the intensive provides a well-rounded program that encompasses a variety of dance styles including ballet, hip hop, modern, jazz and improvisation. In class, students gained insight into the history and background of the specific form in order to deepen their understanding and appreciation for dance. They built confidence by accepting new challenges and taking risks in a nurturing and fun environment. Ultimately, this intensive provides a pathway for invested students to audition to become a member of the dance ensembles.
Committed dancers from the OSA program are encouraged and invited to attend this annual dance intensive along with previous company members. We are looking forward to a new year filled with performances, community events, workshops and other activities that will highlight the talents of our young artists. Classes begin the first week in October and we’re excited to start the season with new and familiar faces!
Updates from In-School Arts Residencies
It’s been a busy summer and start of the school year for our In-School Arts team. Here are just some of the amazing highlights!
It’s been a busy summer and start of the school year for our In-School Arts team. Here are just some of the amazing highlights!
Teaching Artist Randy Fisher leads students in a latin dance lesson.
July
We began a new partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan. Providing step, latin dance, and jit at the Richard & Patricia Donahey Club in Belleville and the Fauver-Martin Club Highland Park. During the school year, we will be partnering with the Dick & Sandy Dauch Campus NFL/YET in Cody-Rouge this school year. Teaching Artists Miryam Johnson and Randy Fisher will teach step and latin dance respectively.
Speaking of jit, we also began a new partnership with House of Jit, a dance ensemble led-by dancer and Teaching Artist Mike Manson. Check out this awesome video of Mike in action:
August
We hosted a training for our drama-based teaching artists on the Expeditionary Learning curriculum, the first step in establishing a program track to serve K-8 students in DPSCD through Drama-ELA arts integration. Thanks to Powerhouse Productions for hosting us!
September
We have a new partnership with GOAL Line—Get On And Learn— a bus line linking public and charter schools in Northwest Detroit with this after-school programming. This is a new and unique partnership between the City of Detroit, the Community Education Commission, DPSCD and charters, the YMCA and the Northwest Activities Center. We are one of just a handful of arts partners who will be bringing after school arts to over 300 students.
We are excited to launch this new year with the GOAL Line and so is Mayor Mike Duggan. At Friday’s GOAL Line Orientation, the Mayor stated “We have to have a space, a program [in the city of Detroit] as good as in any suburb.” He went on to say “We have to have first class providers for our kids. This is a really special initiative for me—I’m just so excited!”
Teaching Artists Maddy Rager and Morgan Hutson will lead creative movement and drama classes after school four days a week at the Northwest Activities Center.
Mayor Mike Duggan speaking at the GOAL Line orientation on Friday, September 20.
Music, Play and Storytelling for Caregivers
On August 31, Living Arts hosted our second workshop for Southwest caregivers! Led by professional recording artist, musician, and Teaching Artist Alesha Brown, those who are involved in the very important work of taking care of our children were invited to learn storytelling through music. Participants were given a guitar to use during the workshop and learned how to match chords and notes with images to engage youth in a storytelling dance.
On August 31, Living Arts hosted our second workshop for Southwest caregivers! Led by professional recording artist, musician, and Teaching Artist Alesha Brown, those who are involved in the very important work of taking care of our children were invited to learn storytelling through music. Participants were given a guitar to use during the workshop and learned how to match chords and notes with images to engage youth in a storytelling dance.
Teaching Artist Karilu Alarcon Forshee with participants in puppet workshop at Congress of Communities.
Over the past few months we’ve partnered with Congress of Communities, Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation and Mathematic Policy Group to present these free workshops to caregivers. These activity sessions promote bonding, social-emotional learning, literacy, and communication skills through visual art, drama, music, and storytelling. Congress of Communities recently hosted a puppet-making workshop that used drama and the crux for storytelling.
Our next workshop is Saturday, September 28 from 2-4pm at the Ford Resource and Engagement Center (2826 Bagley St). Childcare and food are provided and all caregivers of children 0-6 are invited.
Looking Back: Open Arts Fest
Hi my name is Johnathan Williams, I am a visual artist, beatmaker, DJ, and I was on the Open Arts Fest planning team this year. I had a lot of fun this summer planning Open Arts Fest, and I also learned a lot and gained more experience for a career.
Hi my name is Johnathan Williams, I am a visual artist, beatmaker, DJ, and I was on the Open Arts Fest planning team this year. I had a lot of fun this summer planning Open Arts Fest, and I also learned a lot and gained more experience for a career.
Open Arts Fest is important to me because it gives me and others a place to see performances and take part in fun art activities in the community. I think that an event like this is important to have because it exposes people to different forms of art and fun activities, but it is also a great way for me to connect with other teens around our creativity and expressing ourselves. Also, the event is based on our open studio model, so people can go at their own pace with the activities and performances that are happening.
The planning team for Open Arts Fest met three times a week to plan and make decisions around different parts of the event, such as the schedule, activities, decorations, community partners, evaluation, and marketing plan. One of the three weekly meetings was a training for Grow Detroit’s Young Talent. In these trainings we talked about things such as banking, how non-profit work, communication and professionalism, job searching and resumes, and self-awareness and personal growth.
Open Arts Fest 2019 this year was really fun, and there was a lot to do! I wish the event had been a little longer so we could have had time to have more fun getting into the arts activities after the performances, but I still had a great time.The performances by Mosaic, Living Arts dancers, and really all of them were great. I could see everyone was enjoying the event.
For next year, I hope that we can invite more people, and have more activities and performances during the event. We are also already working on bringing in some live art and more activities for outside. Lastly, I would like the event to be later in the evening so that we can have more teens there and so it will be less hot outside for the activities and performances. Overall I think that the Open Arts Fest was fun and important for the community and we hope to get a wider audience of teens next year.
Living Arts Dancers to Perform Sofrito of Cultures with Penny Godboldo at the Wright Museum
Living Arts’ Youth Dance Ensemble, under the direction of Master Teacher and Dance Artist Penny Godboldo and Living Arts’ Teaching Artist Miryam Johnson, with musical accompaniment by Chinelo "Chi" Amen-Ra and Ozvaldo "Ozzie" Rivera, will present a free community performance graciously hosted by the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History on August 8, 2019 from 6:00pm - 9:00pm.
Young Southwest Detroit dancers explore Afro-Latinx identity through dance and music
Living Arts’ Youth Dance Ensemble, under the direction of Master Teacher and Dance Artist Penny Godboldo and Living Arts’ Teaching Artist Miryam Johnson, with musical accompaniment by Chinelo "Chi" Amen-Ra and Ozvaldo "Ozzie" Rivera, will present a free community performance graciously hosted by the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History on August 8, 2019 from 6:00pm - 9:00pm.
Sofrito of Cultures is the culmination of a two-week dance intensive, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. Through the intensive, participants train in the Dunham Technique of dance, which blends European ballet, modern, jazz, and classical African movement.
“Katherine Dunham founded this technique as a means of anthropological study asking ‘What is the function of the way people move? Why do we move differently than Europeans? What history is tied in the ways we move, sing, play an instrument’,” says Godboldo. “Rather than feeling inadequate, there is a body of movement ingrained in culture to define yourself and feel empowered.” Johnson, who has taught with Living Arts for the past three years, was attracted to the project as her work revolves around the concept of the body as an archive of movement. “We’re looking at the ways we move naturally and what these bodies carry into dance; in contrast to the upright form of European traditions of dance.”
Johnson’s role as protege to Godboldo as well as instructor to the students is part of the mentorship process. “We are also looking at the intercultural (black and Latinx) and intergenerational traditions of movement,” says Erika Villarreal Bunce, director of programs at Living Arts. Godboldo adds “there is a history of oral tradition in African and Caribbean culture. This project holds that tradition in the construct of music and movement, it is an accurate account of history — as opposed to the written tradition that has become skewed through the eyes of others.”
The project began with a master dance class in the summer of 2017 through the Teatro Chico program. Since then, the students and families of Living Arts have requested more culturally relevant programming that reflects their own history. “Living Arts’ commitment to respecting partnerships and youth drives our programming. When it comes to our artistic production, we take direction from our youth to create art that reflects their experience,” says Villarreal Bunce.
For tickets to the performance, visit: bit.ly/SofritoPerformance.
Here's Why You Should Come to Open Arts Fest!
Hi! I’m Diamond and I’ve been with Living Arts as a dancer, photographer, and artist for over five years.
And I’m Bailee and I have been dancing at Living Arts for four years. I was originally introduced to Living Arts when me and my mom stumbled upon it, and I have been coming ever since. During my time here I have taken all types of classes like ballet, tap, point, jazz, hip hop, salsa, and Afro-Latin.
This is us at Open Arts Fest 2018!
Hi! I’m Diamond and I’ve been with Living Arts as a dancer, photographer, and artist for over five years.
And I’m Bailee and I have been dancing at Living Arts for four years. I was originally introduced to Living Arts when me and my mom stumbled upon it, and I have been coming ever since. During my time here I have taken all types of classes like ballet, tap, point, jazz, hip hop, salsa, and Afro-Latin.
We’re two of the teens planning Open Arts Fest. We’d like to share some info with you about Open Arts Fest and invite you to join us in this all-teen art party!
Open Arts Fest is an event thrown by the teens in the SPOT, Living Arts’ teen open studio. We first started working on the event last year. Originallym we didn’t know what it was going to be or how it was going to come out but we knew we wanted to spread the name of Living Arts and also have something fun for the community every year. So we came up with Open Arts Fest. The program is not just to bring in more teens, but to have a fun interactive event for not only the Southwest Community but whoever else would like to come.
Last year the event was filled with hula hoop contest, dance competitions, performances, open mics, screen printing, and more! There were so many different things for everyone to do.
This year, we are inviting teens to come to the event, either to stop by and hang out or to sign up to perform. You can submit a proposal to perform here. We’re working to make it bigger and better to top last year!
We have already started posting flyers for the event and even gathered some teens to perform. There will be a DJ with some really cool beats and music! We will also have fun activities to participate in and prizes to win. We’re very excited about the printmaking because of all the different designs.
We’re excited about the food trucks because we know they will be just as good as last year! The performances will be great and we’re also participating in them. Stop by 3-6pm on August 10th at the FREC (2826 Bagley).
Hope to see you there!
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Diamond & Bailee