Just before winter break, Raleigh-based modern dance company Black Box Dance Theatre spent three days with fourth-grade students in high energy dance workshops and performances. Students buzzed with excitement about the experience–and about the upcoming break (which allowed for some creative and colorful outfits!). Class Workshops: Moving and Making with History in Mind The company’s… Read More →
Mike Wiley’s Masterful Residency: Teaching through Theatre at Bennett and Bonlee School
“This was absolutely great!” Board of Education members Gary Leonard and David Hamm were enthusiastic after sitting with Bennett School students and teachers to watch actor and playwright Mike Wiley’s solo performance of “One Noble Journey.” The play’s narrative brought to life the remarkable journey of Henry “Box” Brown, a courageous slave who shipped himself… Read More →
Igniting the Flame of Flamenco: Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana at Moncure School
It was the start of an ordinary school week when an extraordinary opportunity knocked on the doors of Moncure School. A dance residency–led by four international artists from the Durham-based Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana Dance Company–had arrived! The Performance: Where Education Meets Entertainment The Moncure gym’s wooden floor echoed the rap-tap-tap of the dancers as… Read More →
Poetic Pursuits: Phillip Shabazz at Perry Harrison Elementary
As the second week of October rolled in, the weather began to cool, but the fifth-grade classrooms at Perry Harrison were warm and snug. Visiting artist-in-residence Poet Phillip Shabazz strolled in and boomed, “Good morning!” With that, students perked up, and they began . . . A Poetic Adventure Begins The theme of the week… Read More →
Movement Matters: Silk Hope School and Gaspard&Dancers
In the span of just a few transformative days, Silk Hope School kids got to experience the joy of dance. One fifth-grader summarized the experience: [I learned] “how to be more me.”
Sparking Creativity: Blackspace’s Beat Making Lab at Chatham Middle
“The assembly, as a whole, created a moment of unity and positivity for everyone, and students’ musical creations were the spark for that experience,” shared AIG Teacher, Mark Spring.
Artists-in-Schools 2023-24 Season
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… Read More →
AIS Stories from Last Season (2022/23)
We were thrilled to bring professional teaching artists into 15 schools across Chatham County in our 2022-23 Artists-in-Schools season. We’ll be announcing our 2023-24 season in the coming weeks, but for now, read all about the joy these residencies bring to Chatham County kids! Click any image below to learn more about each of these… Read More →
Phillip Shabazz Brings Poetry to the Pittsboro Elementary Pandas
North Carolina poet Phillip Shabazz brought the joy of the written word to Pittsboro Elementary this season, and a good time was had by all–even some administrators! Fourth-grade students were introduced to a number of different types of poems–rhyming couplets, lunes (3-line, 11-word poems), list poems, odes, and more. Mr. Shabazz also had students read… Read More →
Diali Cissokho Introduces a Little Bit of West Africa to Bonlee School
“Diali is truly remarkable with the kids!” said a Bonlee custodian who watched the workshops and performance. “He makes me want to have this kind of joy every day.”