programs
North Carolina Arts in Action uses dance, an art form embodied by every society, as an enjoyable way for young children to develop discipline, self-esteem and desire to excel. When children are able to express feelings and ideas through artistic movement, they gain self-awareness and often self acceptance and discovering new talents. The program becomes an incentive for students to achieve in the classroom, learn to work as a team and develop respect for one another.
Our program focuses on elementary schools and are designed for all children, including those with special needs. We are embarking on full year programs and short-term residencies. Our program is taught during the day to place the arts on equal standing with other academic subjects. Classes are led by three professional teaching artists: artistic director – choreographer, an assistant teacher and music director.
Approximately, 30-40 students, who demonstrate a commitment to the program, are selected to receive advanced dance instruction after school in the North Carolina Arts in Action Celebration Team program. They will be featured performers at the end of program performance.
Pending availability, each year students demonstrating exceptional ability may be offered an opportunity to participate in the National Dance Institute's annual Irene Diamond Summer Institute. This month-long dance intensive exposes students from all the national affiliate programs to NDI teaching artists and numerous dance styles and techniques.
Arts in Action provides its teaching artists with training in North Carolina and through the National Dance Institute of New York.
2008-2009 Academic Year
Under the direction of Artistic Director Kay Gayner, North Carolina Arts in Action continues its partnerships with Rashkis Elementary and Frank Porter Graham Elementary in Chapel Hill, and Fayetteville Street Elementary in Durham to provide in-school and after-school residencies for 4th and 5th grade students.
During the year, we hope to introduce other area schools to our distinctive dance program and engage more students through participation in the performing arts.