Category Archives: Tweens

The 2023 KFDC Holiday Gift Guide: Teen Scene

 

For the first time ever, I’m expanding on the tried-and-true, DC-inspired KFDC gift guide with collections of ideas curated for specific groups of giftees.  This one is for the teens, who can be kind of tough to shop for since they tend to be more selective about their stuff (mine are, anyway). But these ideas, hopefully, will be helpful as they come from both my experience with two teenage kids and actual input from the teens themselves. Happy Gifting!

 

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Filed under 2023, DC, Holidays, Product, Shop, Teens, Tweens

Fun for FALL at Imagination Stage

Imagination Stage has been a beloved and trusted theatre for 43 years! Their fall classes provide an ideal setting for nurturing creativity, exploring the arts, and making new friends and great memories.  Registration is now open for 6- and 10-week classes as well as one-day workshops in acting, musical theatre, performance, dance, and filmmaking for ages 1-18. They are conveniently located in Bethesda, just minutes from the Metro.

The skilled and fun-loving teaching artists are dedicated to the Imagination Stage mission of empowering all young people to discover their voice and identity through the performing arts. Financial aid is available.

For full class information, visit the website.

 

Early Childhood Classes
Check out some of the classes and workshops for children ages 1-5, which focus on providing fun and developmentally-appropriate experiences!

You & Me: On the Farm (12-23 months)

Saturday Song Circle: We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt (ages 1-5)

Sunday Fun Day: Not Quite Narwhal (ages 1-5)

You & Me: Creating with Color (24-36 months)

Heroes, Royalty, & Dragons (ages 3-4)

NEW Drama & Music/Drama & Música (Bilingual) (ages 4-5)

Broadway Boogie (Ages 4-5)

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Elementary School Aged Classes
Kids can embrace the fun, whether they’re dancing to Disney tunes or learning comedic timing 101!

Creative Drama: Star Wars Adventures (grades K-1)

Drama and Music: Jungle Tales (grades K-1)

Mini Broadway Song & Dance (grades K-1)

Creative Drama: Myths and Magic (grades 2-3)

Comedy Kids (grades 2-3)

Dance: Newsies (grades 2-3)

FUNdamentals of Musical Theatre (grades 4-5)

Improv Theatre Games (grades 4-5)

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Teen Classes
Middle and high school aged students have a chance to hone their skills and have some fun in Dance, Acting and Musical Theatre, Training and Performance, Filmmaking, or Access classes!

NEW Freedom Choir (grades 5-12)

FUNdamentals of Filmmaking (grades 6-8)

“Have at Thee!” – Shakespeare Scenes & Combat (grades 6-12)

Dance Academy: Technique and Flexibility (grades 6-12)

Voice & Dance: Rock/Pop Musicals (grades 7-9)

Musical Theatre Performance (grades 9-12)

Access Voice Acting (ages 13-21)*

*Imagination Stage provides equitable access to all programming, from added inclusion supports to peer-group access classes in order to provide the most successful experience for each student.

 

This post is sponsored by Imagination Stage, however, I only promote programs, places, and events that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.

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Filed under 2022, Babies, Class, Extracurricular, Fall, Gradeschoolers, Maryland, Middle Schoolers, Preschoolers, Professional Service, Teens, Theatre, Toddlers, Tweens

A Musical Theatre Summer Experience Like No Other with Young Artists of America

 

You may have heard of Young Artists of America before. They’ve been voted as a top summer camp by Washington City Paper and Bethesda Magazine readers for many years in a row. Their productions have won Regional Emmys, and their year-round programming was named “Best Youth Music Program” (Bethesda Magazine’s Best of Bethesda 2020) and “Best Performing Arts Education for Young Artists” (MD Theater Guide 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards).

With the pandemic, they have been pivoting quickly, thinking creatively with safety first – offering virtual classes as well as fully-staged digital musical theatre productions that include filmed, in-person performances and virtual performances edited together. They were recently featured on Fox5 for one of these productions, their upcoming presentation of Sondheim’s INTO THE WOODS, partially performed literally in the woods!

So, if you are looking for a summer program for your performing arts tween or teen, check out what YAA is offering! They have two different programs this summer:

Conservatories is a full-day, on-campus or hybrid model that focuses on the artistic process plus applied training in Acting, Dance and Voice, culminating in a fully-staged digital musical theatre production (RENT, Cabaret, The Little Mermaid, Jr., and Madagascar, Jr.) at the end of each session. They run from June 25 – July 9 and July 9-23

Academies is a half-day, all virtual model called that focuses on the artistic process to educate aspiring young performers of all levels in the many disciplines of musical theatre. Both of these models have programming for students ranging from 5th grade to college freshmen at all levels. Sessions run from June 28 – July 9 and July 12-23.

You can learn more about both programs here.

If your summer is booked, be sure to check out their year-round programming as well. They offer spring and fall semester training for singers, actors, dancers and instrumentalists as well, and even have one-off workshops (sometimes free!). No matter the program, YAA is known for one-of-a-kind opportunities, truly nothing like anything in the area.

Students learn from top teaching faculty as well as teaching artists, oftentimes right from Broadway. Their students have had the opportunity to work directly with such Broadway legends as Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Children of Eden), Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast), Tim Rice (Lion King), and performers the likes of Kristin Chenoweth, Julie Andrews, and Eleasha Gamble, Anthony McGill, and countless others.

In normal times, they produce full-staged, symphonic productions and perform them on state-of-the-art stages like the Music Center at Strathmore and The Clarice. Check out highlights from Les Miserables, one of their last fully-staged productions before the pandemic:

Even more, Young Artists of America has generously offered KFDC readers $100 off registration for new students depending on the program! Use promo code KF100 at check out when you register on their website.

 

This post is sponsored by Young Artists of America, however, I only promote programs, services, places, and events that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.

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Filed under 2021, Camp, Maryland, Middle Schoolers, Seasonal, Summer, Teens, Tweens, Virtual Programs, Weekdays

National Children’s Chorus Online Conservatory – Apply Now for Spring 2021!

 

The National Children’s Chorus Academy based in Washington, DC, provides children ages 5 to 17 the opportunity to learn and grow in an extraordinary online musical environment this spring. The country’s leading music educators work with students in small groups weekly to develop their vocal and musicianship skills from the most basic concepts through the college level. Tone quality, breath support and musical expression are cultivated within the individual singers, while working together as an ensemble culminates in an exciting array of virtual performances, presenting world premieres and collaborating with an exceptional roster of professional artists from around the world.

Additionally, students have the exclusive opportunity to participate in annual international summer tours and national concerts at premier venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. With a spectacular musicianship curriculum to accompany its first-rate vocal training, the National Children’s Chorus is an unparalleled educational resource for children who love to sing! If your child has musical ability, don’t waste another minute. Set up a virtual audition today!

 

Children ages 5 to 17 are invited to apply.

Online courses include:
Ensemble Training (Virtual Choir Videos) • Individualized Coachings with Conductors • Musicianship & Kodály Method • Voice Class • Advanced Ear Training • Advanced Sight Singing • Masterclass Series


Apply now to book a virtual audition and attend the online information presentation on November 7th!

This post is sponsored by the National Children’s Chorus, however, I only promote programs, events, and places that I genuinely believe in and think would appeal to KFDC readers.

 

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Filed under 2020, 2021, Class, DC, Fall, Gradeschoolers, Middle Schoolers, Music, Social Distancing, Spring, Teens, Tweens, Virtual Programs

The Digital Playwriting Program at Young Playwrights’ Theater

 

On September 28, Young Playwrights’ Theater (YPT) launches its Digital Playwriting Program, after-school virtual playwriting classes for young people. The Digital Playwriting Program is open to students in grades 3 – 12, who are interested in learning how to express themselves through playwriting and storytelling. YPT playwrights learn to create bold characters, imaginative settings, and thrilling action in their very own play with live instruction from a YPT Teaching Artist through video conference.

YPT is dedicated to providing accessible programming to all young people. Students and families have the choice of registering for any Digital Playwriting Program at the cost of $20, $15, $5, or $0 to ensure all students can attend with no financial barrier.

Classes take place on Mondays and Wednesdays, from September 28 to November 4, 2020, at the following times:
3rd to 5th Grade: 3:30pm – 4:15pm EST
6th to 8th Grade: 3:00pm – 3:45pm EST
9th to 12th Grade: 2:30pm – 3:30pm EST

And if you’re an adult looking to explore your own storytelling, YPT has classes for you, too! Step into The Playwrights’ Lab, YPT’s virtual courses for ages 18 and up, where adults can explore playwriting and provide constructive feedback to a group of supportive fellow writers. You’re never too old to be a young playwright!

Enroll in YPT’s playwriting programs today and learn more about all of YPT’s virtual programs as well as their digital curriculum and resources for educators at YPT’s Online Programs Page. For additional questions, contact Young Playwrights’ Theater at programs@yptdc.org.

About Young Playwrights’ Theater
Young Playwrights’ Theater is an award-winning arts education organization and theater company in Washington, DC. YPT inspires young people to realize the power of their own voices through high-quality arts education programming and productions. Learn more at yptdc.org.

 

This post is sponsored by Young Playwrights’ Theater, however, I only promote programs, places, and services that I genuinely believe in and think would appeal to KFDC readers.

 

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Filed under 2020, Class, DC, Educational, Fall, Gradeschoolers, High Schoolers, Maryland, Middle Schoolers, Professional Service, Teens, Theatre, Tweens, Virginia