LIVING ARTS BLOG
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.
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.
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.
Dispatches from the National Guild for Community Arts Education Conference
Every year, Living Arts sends a team to the annual conference of the National Guild for Community Arts Education. This event brings together artists, administrators, educators, and changemakers to share their work and models and build collaboratively on a national scale. The conference is an opportunity for all members of our team (staff, Teaching Artists, and students) to learn from peers and leadership in the field. Previously held in Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, and Baltimore, this year’s conference was held in Austin, Texas from October 30-November 2.
Photo by: Zack Bissell
Every year, Living Arts sends a team to the annual conference of the National Guild for Community Arts Education. This event brings together artists, administrators, educators, and changemakers to share their work and models and build collaboratively on a national scale. The conference is an opportunity for all members of our team (staff, Teaching Artists, and students) to learn from peers and leadership in the field. Previously held in Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, and Baltimore, this year’s conference was held in Austin, Texas from October 30-November 2.
This year, we were fortunate to be able to take Diamond Davis, one of our youth leaders, to the conference for the first time and to attend the National Young Artists Summit which took place in conjunction with the conference. Diamond has participated in our programs since 2015 and quickly became a leader in our teen initiatives and classes.
A major highlight for me was the keynote from artist Favianna Rodriguez, who spoke about the power of culture and art to disrupt violent systems that operate in our society, and concrete tools that center teaching artists as instigators and partners. Rodriguez also addressed ways to design classes to reach all students. I also connected with colleagues from around the country and deepened my connection and mentorship with Diamond.
Overall, the conference this year gave me many tools, ideas, and inspiration that will continue to impact our Out-of-School Arts program and Living Arts as a whole for years to come. It was especially timely, as we continue to strategize and implement ways that youth can (and should!) shape the world around them. Diamond and I are now developing a plan to roll out our preparations for Open Arts Fest 2020 that includes more youth collaboration and community partnership.
Attending the NGCAE conference has given me the tools and inspiration to move our programs forward and be more innovative in the youth-led programming and creative youth development spheres. I am deeply excited and already looking ahead for next year’s conference and youth summit in New York City!
Diamond Davis
For the past 5 years, I’ve been involved with Living Arts programming and youth leadership in a variety of ways. This year, Living Arts invited me to represent them at the National Young Artists Summit (NYAS), an offshoot of the National Guild for Community Arts Education. I was really happy and super excited to be invited because it felt like a big opportunity. I didn’t initially know a lot about the conference but I was excited to represent Living Arts and meet all the different people there. As I learned more about the Guild and the NYAS, I couldn’t wait to start chatting with them about different projects and what they’re involved in at their organizations.
Day 1, National Guild for Community Arts Education Conference
I attended a few different presentations and workshops. One was a cutting-edge marketing session, where they talked about nonprofits, especially music in schools. l left with many ideas that will help us prepare for Open Arts Fest, including new ways to connect with the community, promote the event, coordinate with schools, and reach more youth. Another workshop focused on ways to use artistic experiences to set up safe and comfortable spaces in order to address difficult topics such as race, social justice, and equity. I also went to a youth-focused networking session. We talked about what is it like being a young artist and developing careers, parental approval/disapproval, and their guidance. It made me think a lot about my own pathway and if I want to pursue the arts or engineering, and about my mom’s support.
Day 2, the National Young Artists Summit
It was really fun and interesting with lots of different youth performances. We had conversations about gun violence, police brutality, sexual harassment, and there were artistic pieces relating to those topics such as dances, music, and others. Afterwards we did role-plays and discussed the topics. I also attended a dance session where we learned dance and I bonded with the people in the class. We were all really comfortable and were able to come out of our shells. The adult partners and facilitators reminded me of the adults at Living Arts such as Zack and Stephanie, who are able to step back and allow the youth to take the lead in different ways.
The other youth that I met were very inclusive and cared about all the individuals in the group to create safe and comfortable spaces for us to connect with each other. I was so happy to get a chance to connect more deeply with youth from Mosaic Theatre of Detroit, especially since we live in the same city. We’ll be able to continue chatting and collaborating as we build our friendships moving forward. We’re already talking about ways we can do things together soon. I also met DeLashea from Mosaic and have emailed her to start getting to know her better. There were also youth from around the country that are artists in many different mediums. It was really helpful to hear about their programs and events they are developing and leading.
Now that the conference is over, I’m hoping to get together again with everybody from Mosaic. I’m also looking forward to connecting Living Arts more to teens in schools so they can come to our events and get involved. I’m also going to be finding ways to get involved with other youth programs and nonprofits in Detroit such as Mosaic, Bloombodies, and others.
My experiences at the conference helped me realize how important it is to develop comfortable and safe spaces, especially for Open Arts Fest, so that we can use the space to share important messages and topics. That way we can have fun but also do great work together with our peers. I’m also hoping to join the planning committee next year for the National Young Artists Summit now that I’ve attended once and have met the planning team.