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September 12, 2023

Artists-in-Schools 2023-24 Season

Photo featuring Gaspard dancer leading students

We are so excited to announce our 2023-24 Artists-in-Schools season–our ninth!

We know the arts save lives, so we’re thrilled to continue bringing professional teaching artists into Chatham County classrooms! For the past eight years, our Artists-in-Schools Initiative has been growing, and we’re proud to bring our first traditional middle school residency to Chatham Middle this season.

Our goal is to be in every public school in Chatham County every single year. When we get there, we’ll be the first county in all of North Carolina to do it! 

Photo of Black Box Dance Theatre's Stephen leading Virginia Cross students
Steven of Black Box Dance Theatre leads students in choreography they created.

SEPTEMBER
• Blackspace at Chatham Middle School
Sept.21-Oct. 6 with a student showcase at Shakori Hills Grassroots Music and Dance Festival on Oct. 7
• Gaspard&Dancers at Silk Hope School
  Sept. 27-29

OCTOBER
• Phillip Shabazz at Perry Harrison Elementary
  Oct. 9-13
• Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana at Moncure School
  Oct. 23-25

NOVEMBER
• Mike Wiley Productions at Bennett School
  Nov. 27-29
• Mike Wiley Productions at Bonlee School
  Nov. 27-Dec. 1

DECEMBER
• Black Box Dance Theatre at Pittsboro Elementary
  Dec. 13-15

Photo of young girl, wearing a face mask "sneaky walking" with Mike Wiley in performance of One Noble Journey
Mike Wiley presents his play One Noble Journey with a student assist.

JANUARY
• Phillip Shabazz at North Chatham Elementary
  Jan. 8-12

FEBRUARY
• Black Box Dance Theatre at JS Waters
  Feb. 5-16
• Diali Cissokho at Siler City Elementary
  Feb. 26-Mar. 1

MARCH
• The Magic of African Rhythm at Chatham Grove Elementary
  Mar. 19-21

Female and male students dance in front of other students who are playing the drums.
Students dance with abandon during a Diali Cissokho drum circle.

APRIL
• ClydeFEST 
  (weekend of April 12-14)
• Diali Cissokho at Virginia Cross Elementary
  Apr. 22-26

Related

By Andrea Akin | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured |

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AIS Stories from the 2023/24 Season

Sparking Creativity: Blackspace’s Beat Making Lab at Chatham Middle featuring Grammy-nominee Pierce Freelon
Photo of Black man with dreads showing 3 middle school students the mixing board

Movement Matters: Silk Hope School and Gaspard&Dancers
Students play a game of making different shapes with their bodies through dance with the help of professional instructors inside a school multipurpose room.

Poetic Pursuits: Phillip Shabazz at Perry Harrison Elementary

Igniting the Flame of Flamenco: Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana at Moncure School

Mike Wiley’s Masterful Residency: Teaching through Theatre at Bennett and Bonlee School

Black Box Dancers Delight Fourth Graders at Pittsboro Elementary
Black Box dancers lead fourth graders in dance at Pittsboro Elementary.

Poet Phillip Shabazz Supports Fifth Graders at North Chatham Elementary
Poet Phillip Shabazz instructs a class of fifth grade students on poetry writing.

Black Box Residency Bursts with Creativity and Collaboration at J.S. Waters School

Diali Cissokho Dives Into Drumming with Siler City Elementary Fifth-Graders
Photo of three smiling boys, two brown and one black, sitting playing drums

Chatham Grove Elementary Students’ Sensational Safari with The Magic of African Rhythm
A young Black boy and a young white girl printmaking in classroom

Diali Cissokho Drums and Dances alongside Fifth-Graders at Virginia Cross Elementary

From the Horse’s Mouth…

Don’t take it from us! See what Chatham County students, teachers and administrators are saying about their Artists-in-Schools experiences.

  • “Children were so excited to write and to share. They all came away talking about writing and wanting to talk about poetry. They looked forward to his [Phillip Shabazz] visits each day.” –Classroom Teacher
  • Photo of black man in sweater vest, seated, assisting a female student.
  • “It felt relieving and comforting to express myself during the workshop.” –6th grade student
  • “I really liked showing my feelings in my work.” –4th grade student
  • “This is my 4th time in this school division participating with an artist residency. They have all been wonderful. It is a great opportunity for students to learn in different ways. My hope is for this to be available to us every year.” –Classroom teacher
  • Photo of Black Box Dance Theatre's Stephen leading Virginia Cross students
  • “It made me feel happy because I got to use my imagination.” –5th grade student
  • “It felt good for me to release all my emotions.” –5th grade student
  • Photo of boy with ponytail, with head thrown back in laughter
  • “The students talked about the experience for a week after.” –Classroom teacher
  • “Watching the kids put their plan into action for the performance and actually dance, all while doing so in front of their peers is the reason we do this…The experience was amazing!” –Elementary Assistant Principal
  • “I have a student that is a newcomer to our school, as well as to our country. She found great comfort in being able to communicate with instructors in her native language and showed such enthusiasm in her willingness to participate. It was beautiful. We would welcome the opportunity again in the future!”  –K-8 Principal
  • Photo of Flamenco performer raising her hand in a choreographed movement, with students following behind her
  • “It felt good to be myself in school.” –6th grade student
  • “I personally saw students who, in my experience, have never been willing to speak in a group, let alone dance, do both without fear or hesitation.  Students who participated have asked to join band – they want to have more opportunities to participate in music.  Students in subsequent meetings have asked to learn more about Senegalese cultures.” –K-8 Music teacher
  • “It felt like the best days ever.” –5th grade student
  • Aya Shabu, in front, leads a group of students in an African dance

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