SchoolTime

Imaginations take flight when students enter Cal Performances' Zellerbach Hall and experience remarkable live performances featuring the world's best artists. Priced at just $5 per seat, the hour-long SchoolTime performances offer a diverse array of music, dance, theater and circus arts, inspire elementary through high school students to make creative connections with classroom curriculum and foster a life-long love of the performing arts.

The 2011/12 SchoolTime spotlight shines on Khmer Arts Ensemble—Music and Dance from Cambodia (Oct 3); Lang Lang—classical piano (Nov 1); Abraham, Inc.—klezmer, funk and hip-hop music (Nov 14); Peking Acrobats—circus arts from China (Jan 23); Danú—traditional Irish music from County Waterford (Mar 9); Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater—modern dance (Mar 15-16); Baltimore Symphony Orchestra—music for orchestra (Mar 30); and Sweet Honey In The Rock—African American a capella music (May 7).

All SchoolTime performances take place from 11 am to 12 noon in Zellerbach Hall on the University of California, Berkeley campus.



Questions? Contact Rica Anderson, our Education Programs Administrator, at 510.642.6838 or eduprogramscalperformances.org



2011/12 SchoolTime Performances

Cambodia's Khmer Arts Ensemble
The Lives of Giants
Mon, Oct 3
Choreographer Sophiline Cheam Shapiro directs the Khmer Arts Ensemble in dazzling, powerful works that dramatically expand the repertory of Cambodian dance. In The Lives of Giants—featuring a company of 36 dancers, instrumentalists, and singers—a blind and vengeful giant wrecks havoc in the heavens. When he is tricked into turning his ill-gotten weapon of destruction on himself, layers of elaborate deception are stripped away and his treachery is laid bare. Lang Lang
Tue, Nov 1
A true prodigy of the piano, the 28-year-old Lang Lang started his concert career at age 5 and has since electrified audiences in every major city in the world. Your students may remember his performance during Beijing's opening ceremony for the 2010 Olympic Games, viewed by millions of people around the world. Beyond the awards and accolades, Lang Lang's performances demonstrate that he is an artist of uncommon depth, sensitivity and maturity. For his SchoolTime performance, he will share his music making, talk about his career and take questions from the audience. Abraham, Inc.
Mon, Nov 14
Audiences dance in their seats and show their enthusiasm with thunderous ovation for the music of this phenomenal ensemble. Extraordinary artists with a brand new sound—trust us, you've never heard anything like it—Abraham, Inc. combines the talents of three cultural visionaries—David Krakauer, klezmer music champion and world-class clarinetist; funk trombonist and arranger Fred Wesley, legendary for his work with James Brown and George Clinton; and Socalled, a rising star, hip-hop renegade and beat architect. Add a three-piece horn section led by Wesley and rappers, and the result is "music that cooks from the opening note!" (Prague Post). Peking Acrobats
Mon, Jan 23 & Tue, Jan 24
Direct from the People's Republic of China, The Peking Acrobats have captivated audiences with spectacular performances of their ever-popular folk art for more than 50 years. Chosen from the finest acrobat schools, these expert gymnasts, jugglers, cyclists, and tumblers transform 2000-year-old athletic disciplines into a kaleidoscope of eye-popping wonder. The performance features live music and acrobatic artists who execute amazingly daring feats that range "from the seemingly impossible to the virtually unbelievable" (Los Angeles Times).

Cal Performances in the Classroom teacher workshop on Sat, Dec 3, 2011. Danú
Traditional Music & Song from Ireland
Fri, March 9
Hailing from historic County Waterford, Danú celebrates traditional Irish music at its finest. The group's energetic concerts feature a lively mix of both ancient music and original repertoire. For over a decade, these virtuosos on flute, tin whistle, fiddle, button accordion, bouzouki, and vocals have thrilled audiences around the globe, winning numerous international awards and recording seven critically acclaimed albums along the way. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Thu, March 15 & Fri, March 16
The great American choreographer Alvin Ailey famously said, "I believe that the dance came from the people and that it should always be delivered back to the people." For over 50 years his glorious company has done just that. This year, the company appears for the first time under the artistic leadership of choreographer Robert Battle. Audiences can confidently expect a continuation of the great Ailey legacy, with programs of exciting new work, and company classics, including Ailey's masterpiece Revelations. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Marin Alsop, conductor
LIFE: A Journey Through Time
Fri, March 30
A multimedia extravaganza, LIFE: A Journey Through Time features breathtaking photographs from National Geographic photographer Frans Lanting that have been musically choreographed to an elegant score by renowned composer Philip Glass. Under the baton of Maestro Marin Alsop, the vibrant diversity of our exceptional planet comes to life in the context of an outstanding musical experience. Expect this inspiring concert to illuminate the fascinating evolution of Earth and her inhabitants with photos so life-like, you will almost feel the dewdrops and sand storms. Sweet Honey In The Rock
Mon, May 7
A tightly-knit vocal ensemble with stunning vocal dexterity, Sweet Honey In The Rock is rooted in the rich textures of African-American musical traditions. This internationally loved group of female a cappella singers, accompanied as always by an American Sign Language interpreter, perform original and traditional works that capture the complex sounds of blues, spirituals, traditional gospel hymns, rap, reggae, African chants, hip-hop, ancient lullabies, and jazz.

Cal Performances in the Classroom teacher workshop on Sat, Dec 3, 2011.

For more information about SchoolTime, contact the Education Programs Administrator at 510.642.6838 or eduprogramscalperformances.org.

Cal Performances in the Classroom

Cal Performances in the Classroom infuses the curriculum with the performing arts through dynamic professional development workshops for teachers, interactive classroom sessions with teaching artists and a field trip to a SchoolTime performance. Designed to enhance understanding by giving students hands-on experience with an art form, this program was developed by Cal Performances and the Berkeley Unified School District as a team of the National Partnerships program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.



A 3-Part Enrichment Program

Cal Performances in the Classroom infuses the curriculum with the performing arts through dynamic professional development workshops for teachers, interactive classroom sessions with teaching artists and a field trip to a SchoolTime performance. This three-tiered program is an arts integration program designed by Cal Performances and the Berkeley Unified School District to enhance understanding by giving students hands-on experience with an art form.

Cal Performances and BUSD are members of the Partners in Education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Washington, D.C. Selected because of their demonstrated commitment to the improvement of education in and through the arts, the Partnership Team participates in collaborative efforts to make the arts integral to education.

Part 1: Professional Development Workshops for Teachers
Expert teaching artists focus on integrating the performing arts into core classroom curriculum in a three-hour workshop for teachers. Participants learn creative strategies and take part in exercises they can use to engage students with the art forms, topics and cultures of SchoolTime performances. The session includes a workbook with additional resources and connections to classroom learning and performing arts standards; supplemental audio and visual materials and a certificate of completion and/or BUSD credit (upon request).

Part 2: In-School Sessions with Teaching Artists
Artists work closely with students to instill an active understanding of their art form. Students gain direct performing arts experience and insight into world cultures and history through class sessions where they participate in dance, music, theater and circus activities. (In-school sessions are available only to teachers who complete the workshop and are subject to artist availability).

Part 3: SchoolTime Performance
Students attend a SchoolTime performance at Zellerbach Hall. Workshop resources, artist coaching and study guides are designed to translate into a heightened experience in the theater, and meaningful reflection afterwards.

Acrobatic Artistry

Sat, Dec 3, 10 am—1 pm
Subject Areas: Chinese History, Social Studies, Physical Education
Chinese acrobats build their acts on four basic skills, beginning with the handstand. Wayne Huey of Red Panda Acrobats combines balancing, juggling, and other acrobatic fundamentals with the culture and history of Chinese acrobatics and the life and training of young acrobats. The essential attributes of this art form—discipline, concentration and cooperation—are skills that can serve students everywhere.
SchoolTime Performance: Peking Acrobats, Mon, Jan 23 & Tue, Jan 24.

The Power of Song: African American Roots Music

Sat, Mar 24, 10 am—1 pm
Subject Areas: Music, History, Social Studies, Language Arts
The music of Sweet Honey in the Rock is grounded in African American song forms. Teaching artists Melanie DeMore, Rhonda Benin and Elouise Burrell bring forward the strength of this music in history from slavery, through the civil rights movement, to contemporary music. Their workshop connects history, language, and song to create avenues of meaningful expression for students.
SchoolTime Performance: Sweet Honey In The Rock, Mon, May 7.



2011/12 Cal Performances in the Classroom

The 2011/12 Cal Performances in the Classroom schedule, brochure and registration forms will be available in late Summer 2011. These programs are for school groups only.

Questions? Contact Rica Anderson, our Education Programs Administrator, at 510.642.6838 or eduprogramscalperformances.org

Study Guides

Customized Study Guides designed for pre- and post-performance learning prepare students for their SchoolTime field trip with engaging activities and points for classroom discussions. Study guides:

• Encourage critical thinking and help students prepare for and reflect on their experience at the theater.
• Provide cultural, historical and artistic context for each performance.
• Deliver comprehensive information about the artists and the art form.
• Connect to core curricular areas such as social studies, literature and history.
• Offer exercises designed to support California Content Standards for Visual and Performing Arts, Reading, and Language Arts, Social Studies and World Cultures.
• Are available one month prior to the performance via mail, PDF, and on the Cal Performances web site.

2011/12 Season

• Cambodia's Khmer Arts Ensemble
• Lang Lang
• Abraham Inc.
• Peking Acrobats
• Danú

Friends of the Schools

"Friends of the Schools" are small businesses and community organizations that sponsor a SchoolTime performance field trip for a school or a class. The program enables students—especially those who would otherwise not have exposure to the performing arts—to experience the world-class artistry on Cal Performances' stage.

A donation to Friends of the Schools sends a class or school to a SchoolTime performance and helps cultivate a student's appreciation and understanding of the arts. For many students, attending SchoolTime is their first experience of the performing arts. Teachers love SchoolTime because they can connect the diverse performances of music, dance and theater to their own classroom curriculum.

To become a Friends of the Schools sponsor or to apply for Friends of the Schools assistance for your school, contact Rica Anderson, our Education Programs Administrator, at 510.642.6838 or eduprogramscalperformances.org or 510.642.6838.

AileyCamp

Combining dance training with personal development activities, AileyCamp is a six-week vehicle for success for middle school students aged 11-14. With professional-level instruction aimed not as a training ground for dancers but at developing self-esteem, self-discipline, creative expression and critical thinking skills, AileyCamp is the nationally acclaimed youth program conceived by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and run locally by Cal Performances.

Learn more about AileyCamp