Program News 2009
Works in Progress
Most children attending CS 102 hadn't ever had a chance to be on stage before the Arts Academy's recent ‘Works In Progress' show, where students of the after-school program showed off their newly learned music, dance and acting skills. The newly established CS 102 Arts Academy infuses arts instruction into the regular school-day work and offers additional arts programming to students participating in the after-school program. There had not been arts instruction at the school for many years until Richard Fields, a CS 102 alumnus and generous supporter of Good Shepherd, helped to create the program, which is fully funded through his family foundation.
Program Director Chante Brown introduced each performance with a little information about the children's learning process, which involves a commitment of at least two days a week of intensive work in their chosen art form. Students can choose to study music, dance, theater, or visual art.
Pre-kindergarteners through first graders, currently learning the violin through the Suzuki method, performed an adorable version of "I Like Ice Cream" for the assembled parents and guests. Other musical offerings included clarinet and percussion performances by third, fourth and fifth graders. The audience was also treated to several dance numbers, including a group performance of "Me and My Shadow," and a vintage Michael Jackson-style solo piece.
The theater arts students performed skits of their own making, including a lively group performance of "A Subway Novella." To create the skit, fourth and fifth graders participating in theater arts were assigned to observe other passengers on the subway, The skit they created featured break-dancing pan-handlers, a single mother in a hurry, an ex-con running into a childhood friend, and a couple of young women who believe they're too good to be riding the subway.
After the performances the students, instructors and families gathered in the library for refreshments and a gallery display of collages, created by the visual art students. Created in the style of Romare Bearden, the collages depict the blocks on which each student lives. The halls surrounding the library boast more permanent installations of student work created in the style of artists studied earlier in the year, including Piet Mondrian and Pablo Picasso.
February 9, 2009
