News: YoungARTS Educates and Reevaluates
Seventeen- and 18-year-old performing, visual and literary artists will flock to Miami for YoungARTS week for master classes, performances, exhibitions and enrichment programs, January 11–16. YoungARTS alumnus Desmond Richardson, artistic director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, will teach master dance classes and perform at the final gala, where a panel of experts will choose 10 YoungArts winners in dance as Presidential Scholars. Panelists in the dance field are: Broadway star DeLee Lively-Torti; Ball State University’s Michael O’Hara; Yanis Pikieris, director of Mencia–Pikieris School of Dance; and Pat Graney of the Pat Graney Company.
YoungARTS is reevaluating its Educator’s Conference that usually takes place simultaneously with YoungARTS week. “We want to take it up a notch and be more available and accessible,” says Dr. Armen Shaomian, programs manager at YoungARTS. “Most importantly, we want to make sure that teachers get continuing education credit, because we understand that it’s difficult for them to get funding.” Plans are still in the works for 2011, but potential improvements include more speakers and reaching out to a broader range of educators.
For more: www.youngarts.org
