YASD RESIDENCY ARTISTS

dance

AKAYAA ATULE (Pronounced uh KAH yuh ah TOO leh) This native Ghanaian master dancer and drummer will teach students traditional dances that incorporate movements taken from Ghanaian village life, such as a harvest dance, a social initiation dance or a Ghanaian children’s dance. Students will learn movement patterns, sequencing and floor patterns, but more importantly, the joy of dance.

ERICA BUECHER Ericka Buechner challenges students to transform everyday movement into dance. In this residency, students begin by learning basic dance technique through a large group warm up. They will then explore dance concepts, (such as energy, time, space, balance, creative expression and aesthetic appreciation), individually or through small group exercises.

AMARA BURKESMITH Amara Burkesmith’s dance classes incorporate movement exploration through the Language of Dance® approach (use of a dance notation system) and working intermodally through the use of Expressive Arts. Classes consist of creating individually, in small groups and as an entire class, leading to choreography that students can demonstrate during a final performance. Classes may also be thematic or linked to other curricular areas.

JESSICA CURIEL Jessica incorporates creative activities and choreographic exercises to create a fun and cooperative class setting. Jessica integrates language arts in her dance classes by creating movement with your child based on classroom books, themes, characters and iconic images. Your child will also create movement that explores their imaginations and feelings. For upper grades, Jessica will incorporate pop culture movement and music in order to create a class that truly excites and speaks to your students.

SUZANNE FORBES-VIERLING Suzanne Forbes-Vierling, master African Dancer, provides a powerful, colorful, high-energy introduction to West African tribal culture. Your students will learn the rich dance and musical heritage of West African life such as understanding the difference between a continent, region and country; the names and meaning of dances; clothes and jewelry; and traditional drums. Students will learn the ease of increasing their self-esteem by feeling proud of personal accomplishments and rooting for the best in others in their community.

BACK TO TOP

KRYSTINA GRAMMATICA Born in Greece, Krystina perfoms and creates art in San Diego. Her classes explore the creative dance vocabulary (space, time, energy) and dance technique. She encourages students to develop their own creative movement and learn the structure of choreography. Students’ choreography themes are chosen by the students or the classroom teacher: literacy (poetry, folktales, etc.), history, Science Moves! (from environment to matter), modern dance and more.

LIV ISAACS-NOLLET Both Liv’s parents are dancers. Her father was a teaching artist with Young Audiences. Liv creates a warm and encouraging environment for children to explore dance and creative movement. Your students will learn musicality, spatial awareness, the importance of different energies used in dance, a variety of different movement “games” and a dance to showcase their experiences.

ROBBY J Robby J’s thematic classes inspire kids to be creative, cooperative and supportive of each other while learning basic modern dance, hip-hop and creative dance movement. Students begin by learning basic dance technique as well as hip-hop footwork and break-dancing basics. Students will then work together to create dances inspired by their own culture. Past themes have included dances about sports, super heroes, friends and more.

FAITH JENSEN-ISMAY This dance residency challenges students to transform poetry into dance, exploring connections among words, meaning, rhythm, music and movement. As students work on warm-ups, they build body awareness and creative expression using a combination of popular, modern and jazz dance. Dance concepts introduced include energy, time, space, balance, creative expression and aesthetic appreciation.

MOLLY KLAPROTH Molly creates an supportive environment for learning that dance is fun and educational. Your students will learn basic dance technique as well as creative movement exploration. A typical class includes a warm-up (students learn dance vocabulary and skills), learning choreography, introduction of the lesson of the day, exploration of the lesson through games and a closing dance.

BACK TO TOP

ERICKA MOORE Ericka Moore’s dance classes inspire kids to be creative, cooperative and supportive of each other while learning the elements of dance infused with hip-hop movement. By tapping into the students’ culture, Ericka is able to empower and excite students about dance and their own ability to push themselves to create unique and inspiring work.

JENNIFER OLIVER Jennifer’s primary focus is to create a dance class that is a positive, supportive and fun environment. A typical class includes a warm-up (students learn dance vocabulary and skills), introduction of the lesson of the day, exploration of the lesson through games, independent and small group assignments and a closing reflection dance. Among the themes for Jennifer’s residencies are Character Counts, Creative Conflict Prevention, Literacy-based Exploration, World Cultures, Hip-Hop and Choreography.

TRANSCENDANCE The transcenDANCE Youth Arts Project is a dance theatre youth company based out of City Heights. We aim to empower youth through the life-affirming power of the arts and performance. Residencies are co-led by the company director, has over 10 years teaching experience and a veteran teen company dancer. Our model is to engage the youth we work with through movement activities, exploring time, space, and energy that even the inexperienced, non-technical dance student can enjoy.

BACK TO TOP

MUSIC/MUSICAL THEATER

JULIE GREATHOUSE-SUAZO FESTIVAL AMERICA — Students will learn and perform dramatic and light-hearted excerpts from great American speeches, important writings along with historic documents and events. The excerpts will be enlivened by the students’ performance of memorable and inspiring patriotic and classic American songs from differenteras. A minimum of nine weeks is required to prepare and rehearse.

JULIE GREATHOUSE-SUAZO & LOREA HERALD BROADWAY BOUND — By learning and performing celebrated Broadway classics, students will frame a new perspective on history and literature in this integrated performance project. The residency combines age-appropriate scene study, choreographed musical numbers and hands-on experience with sound and lighting. Students examine how theatre reflects the attitudes, styles, literature, musical tastes and historical context of its time. This residency provides an opportunity for students to expand self-confidence, self-discipline and augment their verbal and non-verbal communication skills. All rehearsals and performances include live accompaniment and costumes will be provided.

ALI THOMAS FUN WITH DRUMS — Through the medium of the rhythms of West Africa, Ali’s classes inspire students to break barriers and unite through the universal language of music. Utilizing the lessons of the Mandeng culture, students are taught the value of working as a group through interactive djembe drumming. This includes right-left brain coordination while exercising both physical and mental aspects of development.

BACK TO TOP

POETRY

ANT BLACK & KENDRICK DIAL SPOKEN WORD — Ant Black and Kendrick Dial are spoken-word artists who use performance to bring life and energy to poetry. In this residency students will not only enhance their creative writing, but they will also learn to write poetry intended to be performed. Through exercises, students will learn to explore their poetic voice and develop public speaking skills through the art of spoken word.

JAMES HORNSBY POETRY OF LIFE — While learning to write poetry in this residency, students will gain awareness of their personal compasses, exercise right/left brain integration and learn about meter in writing, rhythms in life, and their own take on what’s important. From literary personification and alliteration to conflict resolution, this poetry residency develops students’ intuitive awareness of their world and helps them reclaim their oral culture traditions.

MIME

JERRY HAGER THEATRE OF MIME — Jerry Hager provides a hands-on overview of the elements of mime including the history of the art of pantomime. Students will create solo, duo and group mime scenes and use “The Giving Tree” as a final exercise project. Hager employs theatrical experiences, scene work, improvisation and movement that integrate with other curriculum areas.

STORYTELLING

ABEL SILVAS TALES OF NATIVE CALIFORNIA — Well-known Native American storyteller and mime, Abel Silvas introduces students to native Californian cultures. Adapting the tradition of oral historians, Silvas helps shape students’ storytelling skills through mime. Students will study and develop a working vocabulary of non-verbal communication techniques. Employing mime, participants will learn to present classic Native Californian tales and develop their own mythic stories to present in mime tradition.

MARILYN McPHIE STORYTELLING FOR STUDENTS — Popular local storyteller, Marilyn McPhie, shares stories and tips from her bag of tricks to build student skills in writing, public speaking and listening. She guides and inspires students to voice their own tall tales. Students will learn new ways to use their voices and gestures to hone their communication skills. Separate sessions explore string stories, drawing stories, family stories and stories from around the world. The residency reinforces linear reasoning, understanding of story structure and character development, and encourages positive values through the “moral of the story.”

BACK TO TOP

TECHNOLOGY/MEDIA

HEADS ON FIRE DIGITAL MEDIA/MUSIC — This residency is delivered by Heads on Fire, a San Diego non-profit dedicated to providing access to technology for distressed and underserved communities to affect positive social change. In this high-tech residency, students create music in contemporary electronic idioms that references traditional musical forms from their own ethnic heritage. This residency promotes cultural competence, encouraging intergenerational interaction and enhances students’ sense of self-worth. Participating students have the opportunity to interview, and even record, elders in their families and communities, thus adding unique depth and greater personal context to their electronic music mixes.

THEATER

JERRY HAGER THEATRE CONNECTIONS — Creative actor/director/mime, Jerry Hager ignites student interest with a unique theatre residency program. Each residency is designed to fit the curriculum chosen by the school. Hager provides theatrical experiences, scene work, improvisation and exercises in voice and movement that integrate with other areas of your curriculum. Collaborative planning with the classroom teacher to design the residency provides a flexible focus that can be textbook-centered, topic-centered, skill-centered or teacher’s choice!

KALIN HOVE Kalin Hove focuses on building confidence, communication skills and cultivating creative expression through theatre. Each class includes a section on speech, movement and improvisation. Students are able to explore their creative potential while building the skills needed for effective communication. Though the class is very structured, the content is extremely flexible and may be tailored to other subjects and curriculum the class may be studying. A culminating performance incorporates the skills learned in class in a wonderful opportunity for students to feel the excitement of performing within a casual and safe environment.

VISUAL ART

NANCY ISBELL MURAL ART — Students work collaboratively in this inspiring residency, learning the many steps of planning, designing and painting a mural. Commercial artist and credentialed teacher, Nancy Isbell, presents strategies in brainstorming a theme, researching ideas and creating task-teams to paint the mural. The finished mural will shine with school pride. FUN-DAMENTALLY ART — Partnering with the classroom teacher, Nancy Isbell employs the California state content standards in visual art in a tailored residency. Using elements of line, shape, form, color, texture, and value, students learn to see and think like an artist. Advanced classes study perspective and conceptualize spatial relationships.

SUSAN ROTHMAN VISUAL ART BASICS — Students explore the elements and concepts of visual art.This veteran credentialed teacher and art specialist will illustrate the basics of line, shape, value, form, color mixing and introduce perspective. Students will build a portfolio of their works, explore how visual art is used in society as a career path, and learn to minimize their fear of making mistakes.

BACK TO TOP

For more details about scheduling an assembly, workshop, or Family Arts Night after school, contact Program Manager Sherrie Brown at 619/282-7599 ext. 114. For more details about scheduling a residency program, contact Education Director Jennifer Oliver at 619/282-7599 ext. 113.