SAVE THE DATES!
Tuesday, July 14 – 15. Summer shows at the Malonga Casquelourd Theater, 1428 Alice St.
Click here to reserve free tickets!
Saturday, July 19 Show at DeFremery Park.
Week 1. July 8 – 12
Summer Program is officially underway! Our usual home at Prescott Elementary is undergoing construction this summer but we’ve found a fantastic “home” at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts. We want to give a big shout out to our HJK hosts. We also want to acknowledge and celebrate Oakland Fund for Children and Youth, our primary funder for the summer program.
We’ve got an amazing group of 28 children and youth from 19 different Oakland schools that are quickly becoming a supportive community of creators and scholars. Our summer cohort proudly includes five teen staff members and two youth apprentices who, along with our adult team, are mentoring rising stars while continuing to build skills.
In just our first week, students have been learning so much! Juggling is a constant from early morning arrival, during choice time, and afternoon rotations.
We started working on pyramids too, practicing familiar shapes and learning new combinations. Students practiced lifting each other up, using strength, trust, and clear communication.
Students also learned the history of Hambone Body Percussion and the origins of this beautiful artform from Derique McMcGee. Derique shares that the story of Hambone Body Percussion is one that demonstrates the resilience and community care of African peoples. It is a story about the ability to “make something out of nothing,” to celebrate and communicate the rhythms of The Drum.
Students reached for higher ground with Damari Gilbert, learning and literally “upping” their stilt skills!
Academic Enrichment is a core component of our summer program and we’re THRILLED to have new-to-PCT teacher and artist Belinda Bellinger, aka Mx. B. Students wrote letters to their future selves and learned about some incredible Black circus artists including The Amazing Vitas. They also set goals for the summer and began to create Circus Poems.
Fun and Games is the special sauce of each that builds interdependence, joy,and laughter and helps make community happen.
That’s not all! Students also began working on tightwire, walking globe, rola bola. And Coach Tristan busted out the bubbles for a Fun Friday!
