(Photo by Heather Fipps)
Theatre 360 invites you to take one of their many virtual and in-person classes, starting with Raise You Up and Tap Classes on Monday, January 11.
Here’s a lineup of the classes available through the week, both virtual and on-site, so you could easily decide which ones to sign up for.
On Mondays, Raise You Up is a new program for students ages 10 to 15 who are looking for a safe space to share your thoughts and feelings with a group of supportive peers, while also incorporating their love of theater. Using acting techniques, journaling, theater games, and scene work, students will learn to process and work through their feelings during this difficult and challenging time. Classes are from 3:45 to 5 p.m.
For kids nine and up, Beginning/Beg. Intermediate Tap introduces kids to Tap dancing, an exciting rhythmic dance form distinguished by percussive footwork that marks out precise rhythmic patterns on the floor. This long-time favorite style of dance has an esteemed Broadway reputation. In this virtual tap class, students will learn and build on basic skills and fundamentals that increase rhythm, strength, and coordination. Starting with a warm-up and combinations, students will learn exciting and fun choreography to develop their performance abilities. Dance attire and tap shoes are required. Classes are from 5 to 6 p.m.
Teen Tap is for ages 11 and up and are designed to refine tap skills, while moving beyond the fundamentals of tap and also focus on faster and more intricate footwork. The dancer at this level will develop speed, clarity, dynamics, and the ability to execute complex rhythmic combinations. Tap shoes are required. A solid two years minimum of tap is required. These are in-person classes from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., so space will be limited.
Adult Tap is also in-person classes for basic to beginning level adult dancers. In each class, students will learn new repertoire and choreography while listening to great music, get a good work out, and have a terrific time! Classes are from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
On Tuesdays, Theatre360 offers the Play Date Series, virtual only, where kids can develop a condensed musical with blocking, choreography, and music. There are two plays – “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” for ages 6 to 9, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” for ages 9 to 12, from 4:45 to 6:15 p.m., where participants will work on acting, dance, and singing skills in a rehearsal like setting. Students will be asked to memorize lines, vocal parts and choreography while creating costume pieces and props at home. Class will culminate in a fully realized (virtual) performance for family and friends. Students are encouraged to work on their own off-screen to practice and rehearse in between classes.
Advanced Beginner/Intermediate Level Ballet are either in-person or virtual, for ages 11 and up, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Here, students can choose whether they would like to take virtually or in a very limited on-site class. This ballet class will teach and develop the musical theatre performer’s knowledge and confidence in ballet. An emphasis is placed on technique, movement control and body alignment, allowing the student to take this knowledge and apply it to any form of dance, and use as a performer. Essentials will be taught through barre exercise and combinations, allowing the student to utilize this movement control throughout their lives. Dance attire and ballet shoes are required.
Wednesdays start with And Scene!, in-person acting classes for ages 8 to 12, designed to get kids to learn to communicate as an actor. Students begin with ensemble building games, story structure exercises, and then scene work. You will learn how to work with scene partners while bringing characters come to life with vivid, compelling, personal choices. Assigned scenes will be given to encourage and stretch our young actors in good storytelling. Classes are from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Beginning Lyrical Dance, for ages 9 and up, is from 4 to 5 p.m., virtual only. This special class is taught by award winning choreographer Victoria Brown who brings her own expertise in teaching lyrical dance to our students. Lyrical dance combines techniques and skills from ballet, jazz and modern drawing on strong emotional connection as well as physicality. Students will explore how lyrical dance emphasizes the interpretation of lyrics to tell a story through movement. Students taking this class will walk away with dance skills that are current on Broadway and can be seen in Tony Award Winning shows, such as “Waitress” and “Hamilton.”
For kids 13 and up, there’s Stand Up, in-person classes from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m., acting classes that draw from the real or imaginary characters in musicals and plays that had the courage to stand up for themselves, others, or for a cause. Students will dive deep into finding the truth behind each character’s reality while utilizing acting techniques, scene work and script analysis. Discussions will be held regarding theatre and roles today and how they can better represent our society. This class incorporates material from plays and musicals and is a scene study and performance class.
Acting Fundamentals is a virtual-only classe from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. for kids 12 to 16. This class is a fun, and safe way to learn the necessities! Voice and speech, movement, improvisation, stage directions and terminology will be taught. Each student will walk away with a strong understanding of how to project their voice, create a character, and teamwork. Students will work together in scene study while developing their self-confidence and talents.
On Thursdays, Intro to Musical Theatre is an in-person class for ages 5 to 8, 3 to 5 p.m. This class will introduce you to all things musical theatre! Songs are staged with movement and choreography while learning vocal stylings, acting technique and great storytelling. Students will learn from the broad range of classic and contemporary Broadway shows furthering their education in knowledge and experience.
There’s also a Play Date Series class on Thursdays, 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. These are in-person classes from 11 to 14. Students will develop a condensed musical with blocking, choreography, and music. Each class will work on acting, dance, and singing skills in a rehearsal like setting. Students will be asked to memorize lines, vocal parts and choreography. Class will culminate in a fully realized performance for family and friends. Students are encouraged to work on their own to practice and rehearse in between classes.
On Friday’s, Performer’s Playground, for ages 5 to 8, is from 3 to 4 p.m. In this in-person class, students will engage in creative thinking through movement, music, theater games, improvisation, and scenes. They will not only learn the basics of projection, breath support, focus, and objective, but how to use their imagination to enact and reflect on their own experiences – real and imagined. While working on scene work students will also learn to improvise telling stories through pop music, puppetry and props.
Improv/Sketch Comedy is for ages 8 to 12. Improv opens you up to the power of being in the moment as an actor! Sketch comedy is how SNL makes the magic happen! This class will be broken into 2 components: non-scripted improv and scripted sketch comedy. Each class will start with improv warm-ups, theatre games, and technique building tools for non-scripted fun! The students will then explore basic sketch comedy structures and foundations of creating strong comedic characters through original sketches and scenes. Classes are from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m.
Saturdays begin with Parent & Me: Disney Kids, virtual-only classes for kids ages 3 to 5, on from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Students enrolled in Disney Kids will get a chance to bring their favorite Disney characters to life through improvisation, story building, movement, and imagination. Each week students will focus on a beloved Disney story and develop their own version with story, movement, and song.
R&P (Rehearsal & Performance) is an in-person class for kids 9 to 14, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This new and exciting class will immerse students in all things musical theater. Each week, class will be broken into components focusing on technique and building skills through rehearsal work in dance, voice, and acting. Students will work with Devon Yates, Theatre360’s Executive/Artistic Director, on finding appropriate and challenging monologues, songs, and taking musical theatre dance with an emphasis on ballet, and jazz weekly. Throughout the 10 weeks, students will be encouraged to experiment with new choices, new skills, and new objectives. At the end of 10 weeks, this amazing and intense program will culminate in a performance built specifically for them.
Finally, A&P (Audition & Performance) are in-person classes from 1 to 3 p.m. for kids 14 and up. This Saturday, January 9, the class will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. due to a conflict with a Master Class. Here, students will get a chance to work with Devon Yates who has successfully coached students to get into the nation’s top theater programs. Each week students will work individually on material for upcoming auditions while receiving feedback and fine tuning. Devon will help students find unique material that shows off each student’s own individual greatness. By the end of the session students will have polished existing material and added new pieces to their repertoire. Additionally, students will use this material to build a showcase to perform for family and friends.
For information about registration, tuition fees and other details, visit www.theatre360.org/classes/#class.
