Summer Production

See http://www.nodaschoolofarts.org/programs.html for the latest info on our summer production of Willy Wonka, Jr. Applications are available and are due April 30, 2008.

New Year's Eve Party!

Fourth Annual New Year's Eve Party!

CC and crew have been gracious enough to plan another amazing party! This year it's moved to the Withers House at Queens University. Price is $35 in advance or $45 at the door, and includes drinks and food.

Pay through Paypal Account -
Pay to - nodaschoolofarts@yahoo.com

Bring in the New Year while raising money for a great cause! Proceeds go to the NoDa School of Arts who provide art programming for underserved youth.
Please invite ALL of your friends for dancing, merry making, and counting down to 2008!

If you frequent Facebook, check out: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=6642323530
Or if you prefer Evites, check out: http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=SXGQKCFBFTFRXSYAYRPW

Vision, Talent, and Urban Youth

One of my favorite students has also been the most difficult. (We'll call him Jay) Jay has a powerful, rich, and beautiful voice that is untrained. At his audition he blew away all of the staff. His voice just filled the whole theater. His audition was so surprising, b/c this is the same kid that liked to roll around stage during class, try Superman tricks off of the stage, and generally disrupt rehearsals. It honestly was like pulling teeth to try to get him to hold it together long enough on stage to run through the show. Unfortunately, lack of support from home, especially an older brother that thinks that theater isn't cool, keeps Jay from returning.
However, what do we do with the Jays? It is our mission to recognize the undiscovered, God-given talents of urban youth. And it is also our desire to challenge these students to excellence. Too many Jays, and we get no where. The talented and dedicated students get bored and frustrated, by his antics and are really held back by the lack of effort.
As we grow and improve, so do our students. We have kids that are discovering that they are amazingly gifted in the arts. Our shows are improving. Its difficult to say, but if we want to riase the bar for all of the kids by putting together an excellent musical in 6 weeks time, we don't have time to fight with kids like Jay to make it happen.
Meanwhile, the level of excellence totally energizes and spurs on so many of the other students. At the end of our last production of Annie the students were so proud of themselves. You could see it in their faces and how they carried themselves. It is our desire to see students turn this success in the arts into success in school and in life. Its a powerful thing to watch happen.
But where is the balance? How do we challenge the students we have, keep discovering new talent, and give kids like Jay a chance?
I'd love your thoughts and experiences.

Two Upcoming Events

Mark Your Calendars

November 27th at 5:30pm at Villa Heights
Young artists, actors, and musicians will share what they have been working on in their after school arts classes. You will be able to view student artwork, hear a song or two, and catch some actors in action.

December 1st from 9:30 to 11:30am at Neighborhood Theater
Join in the fun for our 2nd annual Christmas Art Workshop. You will leave this workshop with a treasured Christmas decoration. More info to follow. This is open to all ages. However, children 4 and up will probably most enjoy it.

Fall Classes

This semester we have three after-school classes at Villa Heights Elementary. Classes include: Theater, Music, and Fine Art.
The theater class, taught by Kellie Brown, allows the students to explore basic principles of acting while learning monologues.
Students in Marty Faulkner's music class have already created their own percussion instruments that aid in their study of basic music theory.
Diana Arvanites teaches the Fine Art/Mixed Media class. The students are creating their own stamps, books, journals, maps, and collages.
Stay tuned for a sharing time to see what the students have learned.

A Big Thank You!

We have been very fortunate this year to have several organizations partner with us in raising money for the NoDa School of Arts by hosting art auctions, company events, and community fundraisers...

Courtemanche & Associates hosted an Art Gala to present Synergy, an art commission featuring seven works, at Green Rice Gallery on the evening of Wednesday, May 23, 2007. The event also raised donations and awareness for the NoDa School of Arts. Synergy was created by Kerrie Bellisario, an artist and a professor of art, teaching at Lesley University in the metropolitan area of Boston. www.courtemanche-assocs.com/press.shtml


Guys With Ties hosted the first ever Moulin Rouge Costume Ball at Cans Bar and Canteen in Uptown Charlotte on October 28th. All proceeds from the event went to support the NoDa School of Arts. The event drew over 1,500 people and raised over $15,000.

Kristine DeArmon LLC utilized a company event/open house of two newly renovated homes to raise money for the NoDa School of Arts. They hosted a silent auction with donated works from David Johnson, Mekenzie France, Rod Wimer, and Diemji Onafuwa.

And lastly, a pre-school class at Dilworth Elementary School auctioned off some of their art to raise money for our summer program.

We are so thankful for these opportunities, and wouldn't have been able to provide the level of programming that we have without them.

Annie, Jr. recap

Programming

• 30 kids put on a production of Annie, Jr. with less than six weeks to rehearse
• Students learned lines, choreography, blocking, and scene changes for 11 scenes.
• Our lead performed for the first time
• 7 of our soloists sang on stage by themselves for the first time
• We performed in Spirit Square for the first time: dressing rooms with mirrors and lights, a green room, wings, and more stage space for a larger cast left students in awe.

Stories

• “One morning I led a devotion on not worrying. I thought that the kids would be worried about the production that was just three days away. To kick off our time I asked the kids if they are worried about anything. Hands started shooting up, probably more so than with any other question I’ve asked them during devotion. I was surprised to hear what they are worried about: whether or not they are going to wake up tomorrow, whether or not they are going to heaven, if their family is going to be safe, and many more. It saddened me that 6 to 14 years olds are so heavy hearted. I was able to address some of these in devotion later that week, and I’m so glad that we are all able to go to God in prayer for these concerns.” –Amanda Bullen, Executive Director.
• One student just moved to Charlotte a few days before camp started. She was not happy to be here and really missed her friends in Atlanta. Because of addictions her parents lost custody of her, and she is being raised by a “god-mother.” They moved to Charlotte to get help from this woman’s family here. To see her light up on stage, you would never guess the painful past that she shared with me over the summer. Her face just beamed on stage with such joy.
• One of our oldest boys had been researching getting into a gang. But instead of getting into trouble this summer, he was memorizing lines for one of our lead roles, helping his siblings with their parts, and enjoying rehearsals. However, for the first 4 weeks he played his role only halfheartedly, wanting to be tough and seeing enthusiasm about drama as not being cool. Staff led devotions that would reach his situation, letting him know that God sees him and that he is not alone. During the last week he came around, and on the night of the show, he glowed on stage, adding expressions and actions that weren’t rehearsed. He was so proud of himself.

Quotes

• “You guys just get better and better every year.”
• “I cried through the whole show. I just kept looking at Tanasha. I couldn’t believe that was my child up on stage.”
• “My girls woke up the morning after camp ended and asked, ‘What are we going to do now?” They were both really sad that camp was over. They shooed me out the door every morning to get them to camp early. They loved it.”

Annie, Jr. is in the Observer

Check it out: http://www.charlotte.com/local/story/210410.html

Annie Tickets are Available Now

Annie, Jr. tickets are on sale now!
The kids are performing for one night only, Friday, August 3rd at Spirit Square. Adults are $10 and children are free.
You can purchase your ticket at www.carolinatix.org or by calling the Blumenthal Box office at 704-379-1380.
Look forward to seeing you there.