Opendance “ Discovering Arizona” – This 1 of a 4 part series Arts & Educational program funded by a grant from the Glendale Arts Commission.

Jan 3-7th, 2012, from 2:00-4:30pm, 9 children ages 4-10 yrs of age worked with an Opendance teaching artist on the flora & fauna of AZ, reading and looking at pictures, making the scenery and animal masks, creating and practicing 3 dances, “The Desert”, “Buzz, Buzz, Buzz”, and “Arachnids” . On the 3rd day they got to practice outside, exploring the flora & fauna of the library, which is its own mini botanical gardens with cacti, and even peacocks! Show day they practiced and then performed in the auditorium for their friends and family, who were happy, applauded and took lots of pictures.

The program was free to children from the surrounding districts, at the Glendale library. This past and 3 more to come programs, will take place during the Glendale Elementary School District and Peoria Unified School District’s Spring and Fall breaks for ages 4-12.

Discovering Arizona our Flora and Fauna – Jan 3-7, May 29-June 1,
Discovering Arizona our Cultural Roots –March 12-17, July 10-14
(Sign up on the Glendale Library website www.glendaleaz.com

The program series planned by Opendance will engage children and families in the arts and focus on Arizona culture and history, during the Centennial year. The children will participate in music, visual art, and dance, along with one Opendance professional. In this interactive environment, they will learn more about their state from a science, social studies and arts perspective. Offering Discovering Arizona at four different parts of the year makes it accessible to a wide range of the community.

Thank you Opendance teaching artists Tracy Thomason, Ana Bonilla Moreno, Hector Moreno,
Rosy Ferguson and Michèle Ceballos Michot for all your hard work, creativity, inspiration and continued
support for the important collaborative work in arts & education with children around the Valley.

The Opendance adult classes, held at the Pat Smith school of dance ended in July, and will start
up end of August, just across the street from Pat’s at the Pauite Neighboorhood Center.
Currently classes are also being planned in various other areas, please check back in August
for our new class schedule.

Please do not hesitate to email us at mcm@opendanceaz.org if you have any questions or suggestions.
Thank you!

Opendance Tavan School Summer Students

Perform at Fiesta Mall in Mesa, AZ

Tavan Opendancers at Fiesta Mall
Faith, Jacob, Joey, Zach,Mia,Rowan,Alejandro,
Caleb,Mario,Bode and Jared.

This summer, Tavan elementary school, offered a free arts camp
for 150 of their students, June 1 to the 30th.
30 of those students, ages 9-11yrs participated with Opendance
teaching artists, Michele Ceballos Michot, Ana Bonilla Moreno
and Hector Moreno, on a creative movement piece “I Am Alive”
and two folk dance pieces, MX Aztec  and Country dance.

They performed them on June 30th as part of the final summer program
event for their families and friends.

On Saturday July 2nd, Opendance invited the Tavan students to perform their Folk dances and freestyle with breakdancer, Dashiell Cote.  Ana also brought dancers from her company, Ollin Yoliztli who performed dances from Jalisco and Veracruz.

Thank-you
performers for a great show!