Stand Up for the Arts in Alabama
Happy New Year!
January is a traditional time to take a moment for reflection and for renewed action. Those together provide real opportunity to invest in what we value. For me and many others, the arts are central to what we value and how we envision our communities. The arts teach us to think critically and creatively, and work collaboratively. These are skills for a lifetime. The arts invite us to consider other points of view, other possibilities, new ideas, and, at their core, are joyful experiences.
Our Alabama legislature begins its budget work soon, and I encourage you to stand up for arts funding in the state budget through the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA). Please take a moment to call, email or write your legislator to request that they restore $500,000 cut to the ASCA budget to fund it at the previous level of $4 million.
Children’s Dance Foundation, along with many others, receives funding from the council each year which is critical to providing direct services to children and adults in our communities throughout the State. This year, we will serve 2000 children each week – boys and girls of all ages and abilities, who are at risk, or have special needs; and thousands more throughout the year with events and performances. Our community programs at dozens of schools and social service agencies are possible because of this public funding source in addition to private support.
ASCA is far-reaching in its efforts to fund programs throughout the State. The arts employ, empower and inspire community members, and have a profound and exponential impact. Help our legislators understand that an investment in the arts is strategic and essential to the health and vitality of Alabama.
Here is a link to finding and contacting your legislator: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/. Look on the left column of links and use “find your legislator” tool. Send a message – tell your story of how the arts are an important part of your life and community. Encourage restoration of the funding cuts for ASCA in next year’s budget.
Thanks for your support of the arts!
Summer Registration begins February 8th!
2012 SUMMER at CDF! June 4 – August 4
Registration begins Wednesday, February 8th at 8:30 am.
Registration forms (available on our website and at CDF beginning Feb. 8th) will be accepted by mail and at CDF, but not by phone, fax or email. Summer classes and camps are held at our Community Arts Center in Downtown Homewood.
Weekly Classes (click for schedule)
Parent/Toddler Class
Parent/Child Class for Children with Special Needs
Movement to Music for ages 2-4
Movement to Music for School-Age Children with Special Needs
Ballet Enrichment for 6th-12th graders
Contemporary Dance for 6th-12th graders
Camps (click for schedule)
Half-day Costume Box Camp for 5 year olds
Full-day Creative Arts Camp for 1st-5th graders
Full-day Two-week Theatre Camp for 6th-9th graders
Hope to see you this SUMMER!
Dancing with the Stars professional Fabian Sanchez to teach at annual fund-raising event
The eighth-annual “Takes Two to Tango” event will benefit Children’s Dance Foundation (CDF) on Saturday, February 11th, 7-9:30pm.
Guests at the event will enjoy a Tango dance lesson taught by Fabian Sanchez, a professional dancer from ABC’s hit show Dancing with the Stars. Guests will enjoy decadent deserts by Downtown Homewood restaurants Crape Myrtle Cafe, Homewood Gourmet and Nabeel’s as well as fun and flirty giveaways. The event will take place in the intimate Studio Theatre at CDF and is limited to 30 couples.
CDF dances with students of all ages and abilities in our community arts center in Homewood and at more than 20 social service agencies, child care centers and schools throughout Birmingham. Our dance classes and performances inspire the child who is homeless, very young, disadvantaged or at-risk, and the child who has special needs. CDF provides these children with much needed opportunities to feed their imagination and strengthen their bodies and minds. CDF is a non-profit organization supported by generous corporations, foundations and individuals.
Registration, beginning January 4th, is $75 at Children’s Dance Foundation or online at http://cdftango.eventbrite.com. Children’s Dance Foundation is located in Downtown Homewood at 1715 27th Court South.
Free performance for the community this weekend
December 10, 7:00 pm
December 11, 2:00 pm & 4:00 pm
CDF’s Community Arts Center Studio Theatre
1715 27th Court South, Downtown Homewood
Free; tickets should be reserved as seating is limited.
Call 870-0073 or visit http://cdf.eventbrite.com to reserve your seats.
Approximately 40 minutes. Suitable for all ages.
This weekend, Children’s Dance Foundation’s Upper School students and staff will present a delightful mix of dances in a 40 minute performance, titled FREEFORM, free to the community. FREEFORM is an annual event at CDF and always greatly anticipated by CDF students, staff and friends. The program includes ballet, tap, modern and musical theatre dance classes as well as solos by a handful of Upper School students and teaching artists. The performance is suitable for all ages!
CDF dances with students of all ages and abilities in our community arts center in Homewood and at more than 20 social service agencies, child care centers and schools throughout Birmingham. Our dance classes and performances inspire the child who is homeless, very young, disadvantaged or at-risk, and the child who has special needs. CDF provides these children with much needed opportunities to feed their imagination and strengthen their bodies and minds. CDF is a non-profit organization supported by generous corporations, foundations and individuals like you. This performance has been made possible, in part, by the Alabama State Council on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts.
To learn more about CDF and CDF programs, call 205/870-0073 or visit www.childrensdancefoundation.org.
United Cerebral Palsy Center – one of CDF’s first Community Partners
Children’s Dance Foundation continues to serve the children each week at United Cerebral Palsy Center – one of CDF’s first Community Partners.
“Go Away Toes, Come Back Toes.” Some parents know this song just as well as their children. The song is one of the “greatest hits” that the children sing while participating in dance every Wednesday at United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Hand in Hand. Children’s Dance Foundation (CDF) has been teaching our Movement-to-Music curriculum to the children in the Hand in Hand program since the mid 1980s. UCP was one of CDF’s first community partners. Classes are fun, educational and inclusive– a great compliment to Hand in Hand’s program.
Dance is a creative and healthy experience that benefits each and every child – the child who is healthy and the child who has special needs and challenges. A non-profit founded in 1975, CDF reaches more than 1,500 students of all ages and abilities in our community arts center in Homewood and at more than 20 social service agencies, child care centers and schools throughout Birmingham – including UCP Hand In hand.
CDF’s Movement to Music curriculum is taught by a dancer and musician together. Classes help children explore skills and concepts through movement, live music and tactile objects. This creative and skill-building curriculum helps prepare the children to enter Kindergarten. Many of the songs the children sing in class, including “Go Away Toes,” are featured on the CDF-produced CD, “Dance to Grow” which can be purchased from CDF.
7th Annual Bargain Costume Closet
Children’s Dance Foundation (CDF) is excited to host the seventh-annual Bargain Costume Closet this Sunday, September 18,2011, 2-4pm at CDF. You can expect to find an array of costumes, dancewear, dress-up clothes, shoes and accessories, at bargain prices that have been donated from individuals, dance studios and groups from across the country. What better time to save money on Halloween and dance essentials than now?!
And, you have a chance to shop early! When you make a donation to the Closet, you will receive a receipt for your taxes as well as a pass to shop before the crowd on the day of the sale. But, please bring your donations of gently-used dance and Halloween costumes, dress-up clothes and dance wear to CDF before Sept. 17th.
100 percent of the funds raised will be used for CDF’s community-based programs including the Community Partnership Program. This Program provides dance education to more than 1,000 children each week at more than 20 social service agencies, child development centers, preschools and elementary schools in Birmingham. The Program is designed to engage students and educators in on-going, creative dance experiences that foster skills, confidence and community. Many of these students face physical, mental or emotional challenges or are considered underserved or “at-risk.” And, for many, it is their only opportunity to participate in a dance class.
CDF’s mission is to provide comprehensive dance education to all, enriching the spirit, enlivening the imagination and celebrating community. All of CDF’s programs are grounded in the belief that dance is a valuable learning tool for all ages and should be accessible for all…that dance is a foundation for life and learning.
Featured Community Partner – J. R. 1 Child Development Center
The J.R. I Child Development Center opened its doors in September 2006 and that same fall Children’s Dance Foundation was invited to bring movement and music to their students. The kids at J.R. I come from a variety of backgrounds, with most of the children coming from low income families.
This past year CDF teaching artist Susie Long had the pleasure of teaching CDF’s Movement-to-Music curriculum at J.R. I. She shared, “I always looked forward to Tuesday mornings when I went to teach at J.R. I. The children there are eager, bright, and energetic. As Matt, the musician that I formerly worked with there, said, ‘It is impossible to have a bad day when you get to spend time with these kids.’ Each week I would hear them approaching the room chanting ‘CDF, CDF!’ We tried to put all that energy to good use by working on galloping, tiptoeing, stretching, marching and jumping. It was neat to see that by the end of the school year, they weren’t merely jumping from spot to spot on the floor, but jumping sideways and backwards too!”
The Movement to Music curriculum encourages the kids at J.R. 1 to be creative and to experience dance classes that they might not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in.
Janiessa Smith-Waller. Director at J.R. I, said “We had a child recently who had a hard time adjusting to being in our program because he hadn’t had much social interaction with other children his age. Attending CDF classes was very relaxing for him and allowed him to begin to engage.”
CDF has really enjoyed our partnership with J.R. I for the past 5 years, and we hope it continues for years to come.
The J.R. I Child Development Center, sponsored by the James Rushton I Foundation, strives to provide the highest quality care and developmentally appropriate activities to children of all backgrounds. For more information on the J.R. I Child Development Center and the James Rushton I Foundation please visit http://www.jr1cdc.org/
Free family event at CDF
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Children’s Dance Foundation (CDF) will host CDF Community Fest, a FREE event with activities and performances for the entire family to enjoy! The event will be held Sunday, August 14th, 2-5pm at CDF’s Community Arts Center in Downtown Homewood.
The event is free and everyone is welcome! Participation in all event activities is free. At the event, family members will enjoy:
- Interactive drumming with Get Rhythm’s John Scalici
- Decorating tambourines in the Kids’ Craft Zone that they get to take home
- Face painting by Magic City Face Art
- Moonwalk located outdoors
- Food and drinks by Crape Myrtle Café and Coca-Cola
- Instructional dancing including silly dances, line dances, and dances throughout the decades
Dance performances by Irish, Flamenco, Belly Dance and Tap dance troupes will be featured throughout the day in CDF’s intimate 99-seat Studio Theatre. Outside the theatre, families can place bids on gift certificates, birthday parties, performance tickets and more in a family fun silent auction to benefit CDF’s community programs. During the course of the afternoon, everyone is invited to compete in a cupcake walk sponsored by Publix, hula hoop contest and a twist contest to win fun prizes. Also, be sure to sign up for the door prizes to be given away several times during the event.
CDF is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to provide comprehensive dance education for all, enriching the spirit, enlivening the imagination and celebrating community. CDF Community Fest was created to celebrate community with fun, participatory activities that highlight CDF’s mission.
CDF hosts camp for Gracehouse teens
Children’s Dance Foundation (CDF) works with various organizations throughout the community to bring movement and music to children and youth. One such organization is Grace House Ministries.
Grace House is a Christian organization that provides stable homes for at-risk adolescent females with a commitment to develop successful, mature women. Using a holistic approach, Grace House addresses physiological, intellectual, emotional and spiritual needs in order to provide hope to girls who are in crisis. CDF began working with Grace House in the spring with funding from the HOT TOPIC FOUNDATION and, due to the success of the relationship, decided to offer a summer program!
CDF’s Grace House Summer Program lasted one week and consisted of one hour each of dance, drama and drumming from Monday through Friday. CDF teaching artists Susie Long (dance), Jennifer Salvant (drama) and Daniel Long (drumming) did an extraordinary job! Teachers and students alike had a great time.
Initially, several of the girls were skeptical about participating, showing concern over embarrassment and working together as a group. However, by the second day, all of the girls showed positive attitudes toward dance, drama and drumming as well as towards group work. The drumming class was a big success – many of the girls expressed interest in taking more drumming classes! In addition, Mrs. Salvant was pleased when, during one of the drama exercises, a student commented – “hey, we can play this game at home!”
Each of the girls had the opportunity to participate in a showcase at the end of the week. Student choreography, personal stories, and fun and lively rhythms were all performed, displaying the concepts learned through these classes.
CDF looks forward to continuing a partnership with Grace House Ministries this Fall.
SAVE THE DATE for a family event at CDF!
Join us for CDF Community Fest on August 14th, 2-5pm.
August 14
2-5pm
FREE and open to the public.
at Children’s Dance Foundation
1715 27th Court South, Homewood
CDF Community Fest is a free event, with activities and performances for the entire family to enjoy…
an interactive drum circle led by John Scalici,
kids’ craft zone,
face-painting by Magic City Face Art,
outdoor moonwalk,
world dance performances,
food and drinks,
door prizes,
instructional line dancing and
a silent auction full of family fun!
ALL activities are free to attend!
205-870-0073
http://www.childrensdancefoundation.org/
