Teen or Adult (including Seniors)
Capturing Spirit: The Dynamism of Dance

Facilitation will include dancers from Peabody, Baltimore School for the Arts, and/or local high schools or colleges.

Participants will experience dance through both “immersion”, doing it, and through capturing it visually/artistically (very "meta”, right?).
Participants will come away with a newfound appreciation for what goes into dance training and performance.
And what nuance one might look for when watching a dance performance.

Most of all, I hope to make the artform of dance more accessible to participants. Maybe even inspire someone to take a dance class!

1. Dancers will teach participants a 20 minute barre.
2. Dances will teach participants 10 minutes of choreography.
3. Break for 5 minutes. (allow changing setup of supplies, etc.)
4. Dancers perform. Participants get to watch, very up close.
5. Participants will “become” visual artists* (see * footnote) and “capture” the spirit of the performance art of dance. (30 minutes)
6. Performance will be casual/informal so that questions, starting/ stopping, participation can be welcomed during this time.
7. If time permits, re-gather for reflections and sharing.

* Visual artistry can take the form of photography, drawing, painting, and/or sculpting. Perhaps even inspired creative writing/poetry. Option to provide means for several forms of visual artistry/expression or provide only 1-2 means of expression, to simplify setup/breakdown, and ultimately to help participants explore “creativity within confines”**.

** “Creativity within confines” is meant as a DRIVER of creativity, not a limitation on it. Think how a coloring book provides lines in which to color but does not restrict you on which colors to use. Or, how painting with only the primary colors forces you to either, express in only primaries or experiment with mixing of colors (and ultimately deepening creativity).

Take Home:

Participants will be able to take home the product of their visual artistry. Finished painting, sculpture, drawing, digital photos, etc.
Additionally, participants will “take home” a newfound, or enhanced, understanding of what goes into the making of a dance performance – a taste of technique, choreography, performance aesthetic, and experience of seeing/experiencing performance in a manner not possible when attending public performance in a theater. Perhaps, even some joy and pride in having tried something new, that is also “good for you” – learning to dance.

 

Children or Adult (including Seniors)
Capturing Spirit: The Meticulousness (and Freedom!) of Music

Facilitation will include musicians from BSO, local chamber groups or “pop” groups, Peabody, Baltimore School for the Arts, local high schools, colleges.

Participants will experience music through both “immersion”, doing it, and through capturing it visually/artistically (again, very "meta”, right?).
Participants will come away with a newfound appreciation for what goes into music training and performance.
And what nuance one might look for when experiencing a music performance.

Most of all, I hope to make the study of music more accessible to participants. Maybe even inspire someone to go see a free community concert or to keep practicing with their take-home recorder!

1. Musicians will participants in how to play the recorder. (20 mins)
2. Musicians will teach a high-level music theory lesson. (5 mins)
3. Break for 5 minutes (participants can independently practice).
4. Musicians perform. Participants get move around, get close.
5. Participants will “become” visual artists and “capture” the spirit of the performance art of music. (30 minutes)
6. Performance will be casual/informal so that questions, starting/ stopping, participation can be welcomed during this time.
7. If time permits, re-gather for reflections and sharing.

Take Home:

Participants will be able to take home the product of their visual artistry. Finished painting, sculpture, drawing, digital photos, etc.
Participants will also get to take home their own recorder instrument ($3-$5 cost per instrument).
Participants will also “take home” a newfound, or enhanced, understanding of what goes into making of musical performances – a taste of technique, music/arrangement selection, how to engage and hold audience attention, and the one-of-a-kind up close “passenger seat” in a performance – better than backstage!

 

Children, Teen, Adult (including Seniors), AND FAMILIES!
Capturing Spirit: The Fervor, Frenzy, and Fun of Food

Facilitation will include Chefs-in-training from Franciscan Center’s “DIGNITY PLATES TRAINING ACADEMY”. Alternatively, local restaurant / catering chefs / cookbook authors (for example, Paula Shoyer of The Kosher Baker).

Experience food and food preparation through both “immersion”, doing it, and through capturing it visually/artistically (picking up on the theme?).
Participants will come away with a newfound appreciation for what goes into cooking, food preparation, menu planning, running a professional kitchen, and general food artistry.
And perhaps the courage to try cooking on their own, or try a new kind of recipe outside of their usual style of cooking.

Most of all, I hope to highlight the wonderful work the Franciscan Center (or a local food business) and make culinary arts more accessible to participants. Maybe even inspire the next Top Chef...or inspire someone to take an active role in the community to help fight food insecurity!

1. Chefs will teach some basic food and taste theory - why certain flavors work better together than others. (15 mins)
2. Chefs will teach some basic kitchen skills (safe knife skills, prevenation of cross-contamination). (5 mins)
3. Break for 5 minutes (participants can observe chefs setting up their workstation / "mise-en-place").
4. Chefs will "perform" the preparation of a recipe, perhaps in the style of a cooking show. Participants get move around, get close up to watch.
5. Participants will “become” visual artists and “capture” the spirit of the chefs in their element. (30 minutes)
6. The food prep will be casual/informal so that questions, starting/ stopping, participation can be welcomed during this time.
7. ENJOY THE FOOD of course!

Take Home:

Participants will be able to take home the product of their visual artistry. Finished painting, sculpture, drawing, digital photos, etc.
Participants will also get to take home their newly practice kitchen skills, perhaps a menu planning handout/aid. Perhaps some fresh herbs.

 

Ready to make MORE memorable experiences together? LET'S COLLABORATE!