IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
ASSEMBLIES
In-school assembly performances with GRoW @ The Wallis are a dynamic and engaging way to bring the arts to students. The program provides schools with the opportunity to host professional performers for in-school assemblies, bringing the excitement and energy of live performance directly to the students.
In-school assemblies provide a unique opportunity for schools to enhance their arts education curriculum, helps to foster a love of the arts, exposing students to new and exciting forms of artistic expression and inspiring their creativity, and encourages them to explore their own talents and interests in the field. By making the arts more accessible and engaging, the in-school assembly program helps to create a more vibrant and dynamic arts community.
Audience: Elementary, Middle & High School Students
The 50-minute in-school.engagement features the Micaela Taylor piece SNAP and a movement section led by company members as well as a Q&A. SNAP was intended to urge audiences “to ‘snap out of’ social pressures to conform, and to connect with their individuality as well as with people around them.
Audience: Elementary and Middle School Students
The 50-minute in-school engagement features a 6 piece Mariachi Band hosting a series of instrument and attire demonstration a music history presentation and a performance of turns. Song selection examples include Un Poco Loco, La Bamba, Cielito Lindo, El Cascabel (This song is typically the last song to be played as it features solos from each instrument.) During these pieces, we encourage the staff and students to sing and join in the rhythm section by clapping along! The engagement concludes with a Q&A portion.
To sign up, please fill out this form:
Questions? Email education@thewallis.org or call 310.246.3800 ext. 757.
RESIDENCIES
MUSIC
TA: Beth Sussman, Grades: PreK - 6, Subjects: Reading fluency, reading and speaking with expression, math
Beth Sussman teaches students academic concepts covertly through music and movement. The kids are having a blast as they sing, move and play various percussion instruments while connecting to steady beat (neurologically linked to reading fluency), fractions and number sense (through rhythm) as well as speaking and reading with expression (through the understanding and application of musical terms). Beth is also a teaching artist with The Kennedy Center and the Los Angeles Music Center and is a graduate of The Juilliard School.
TA: Nani Agbeli, Grades:5-12, Subject pairing: Physical Education
Learn about the traditional dance-drumming culture and history of Ghana, West Africa. Discover the primary rhythms and accompanying body movements to express yourself through movement at a higher level. Gain a deep understanding of the relationship between traditional drumming, dancing, and singing. Develop an independent ability to feel dominant and polyrhythms, confidently respond to musical instructions from the drums, and understand the culture/history behind it.
TA: TBD, Grades: 5-12, Subject pairing: Math, English Literature
In partnership with ASCAP, this experience is designed to immerse young people interested in joining the songwriting community in different genres and styles. The residency will provide participating writers and lyricist the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and hone their craft through both mentorship and collaboration. At the end of the residency, each participant will have written a piece to share.
THEATRE
TA: The Chameleons, Grades: TK - 5, Subjects: Language Arts & Theatre
Acclaimed mime artists, Keith Berger and Sharon Diskin, provide joyful and inspiring workshops in the ancient art of mime. Students will be introduced to classic illusions such as the invisible rope, the invisible wall, the escalator and more! Then, they will use these skills to interpret short mimetic scenes that they can perform for the whole family and even be inspired to create their own story mimes!
TA: The Chameleons, Grades: 6 - 12, Subjects: Language Arts & Theatre
Students will learn skills in the ancient art of mime to tell non-verbal stories (some to spoken narration) that focus on our modern lives. Once the foundational techniques of how to create illusions, physical characters and imaginary places are established, the students will apply these skills to depict stories that are at times funny, at times beautiful, and always thought provoking.
TA: Peter Kors, Grades: K - 12, Subjects: English
Taught by Peter Kors, students actively engage in grade-appropriate folktales and fables to learn the basic elements of theatre through improvisational games and pantomime. The focus is on developing self-confidence, creative expression and teamwork through project-based learning and small-group work. Each residency culminates in a joyful sharing of a unique, student generated performance.
TA: David Guerra, Grades: 6 - 12, Subject: English, Social Science and Science
In this arts integrative course, students theatrically reimagine stories and concepts drawn from their studies and personal lives. Collaboration and growth mindset are the core of the students’ artistic process, as they are encouraged to thrive on challenges and generate new ideas by designing their own outcomes through improvisation.
TA: David Guerra, Grades: 3 - 5, Subject: English and US History
In this arts integrative course, students are guided in ensemble work, a core value in both the professional theatre and early childhood education. Through this collaborative, artistic process; students gain skills in self-efficacy, character analysis, improvisation, movement, dramatic structure and playwriting.
TA: David Guerra, Grades: K - 2, Subject: Language Arts
In this arts integrative course, students are introduced to First Nations creation stories. Students explore animal characters and learn life lessons of community and the conservation of Mother Earth by singing songs about the natural world.
DANCE
TA: Kristen Smiarowski, Grades: TK - 5, Subject: English Language Arts, Physical Education, History, Science
Students will strengthen the body and brain as they explore movement concepts, develop dance skills, collaborate with peers, and use their imaginations to improvise and invent original dances. Kristen Smiarowski’s Creative Dance classes engage students through a myriad of themes, topics and curricular connections, including history, storytelling, science, cultural background and heritage.
TA: Lynnanne Hanson Miller, Grades: TK - 5, Subjects: History-Social Science, Physical Education
All cultures throughout history have used dance as a way to celebrate and build community. Using basic movement skills and vocabulary, students will experience cultural dance traditions, build partnering and teamwork skills to create a “dance community” with their fellow students.
TA: Lynnanne Hanson Miller, Grades: K – 3, Subjects: English Language Arts, Physical Education
Sessions in this program use dance as the medium to tell stories. Featuring examples of West African, Native American and Polynesian dances, these workshops allow students to explore the basic elements of dance, to learn how to communicate or tell a story through gestures and bring a legend to life through movement.
TA: Lynnanne Hanson Miller, Grades: 3 -5, Subjects: History-Social Science, Physical Education
These workshops make curriculum connections to the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade social studies standards by using line, square and circle dances from early United States history. Sessions are customized per grade-level, therefore could include dances related to Native Americans, California Ranchos, the Gold Rush and Fort Ross as well as Colonial America.
TA: Lynnanne Hanson Miller, Grades: 2 – 5, Subjects: Arts Education, English Language Arts, Physical Education
Through creating choreography, students learn the concept that all stories have a beginning, middle, and end. They will choose a theme, such as a favorite book, a significant time or place in history or work of art, identify the main ideas, then create movement patterns and use gestures to create a choreography for a performance. By learning basic movement skills and dance fundamentals, they will work collaboratively and individually while developing creative expression and self-confidence.
TA: City Ballet of Los Angeles, Grades: 3 - 12, Subjects:
City Ballet of Los Angeles (CBLA) offers classes that are well rounded in the performing arts. From the history of ballet & modern dance, we incorporate in our classes the basic vocabulary and the fundamentals of dance movement.
VISUAL ART
TA: Alvaro Asturias, Grades: 2 - 8, Subjects: History/Natural Science/Math
Taught by Alvaro Asturias, students explore tempera-painting techniques while reviewing and applying the elements of art and the principles of design. They experiment mixing and blending colors of different values to create the illusion of space on a flat surface. They utilize brushes of various widths to create different kinds of lines, shapes, and textures. Projects focus on different painting styles from Realism or Naturalism to pure Abstraction and everything in between. The content varies from Landscapes and Portraits to mathematical equation charts. Students will create artwork that represents both natural and constructed environments.
TA: Alvaro Asturias, Grades: 3 - 8, Subjects: History/Social Studies/Natural Science.
Artist Alvaro Asturias will guide students in the exploration of the history and conventions of various traditions of art works made from fabric. They will examine the personal narrative nature of these works. Project focus varies from the narrative Colonial Quilts from the South and the abstract quilts from the Gee’s Bend in the USA, to the South American “Arpilleras” from Peru and Chile. Students will apply fabric cutting and collaging techniques focused on patching, layering, and overlapping, engaging in imaginative play with different kinds of fabric. Ultimately creating works of art that reflect various community cultural traditions.
TA: Joan Harrison, Grades: K – 12, Subjects: Language Arts, Science, History, Social Science, & Theater
In this inclusive series, students explore various drawing traditions and styles as they do a series of engaging drawing exercises and create original artworks. As students develop their understanding, focus, observational skills, and discernment, increasingly detailed and refined drawings demonstrate their growing-confidence and self-expression.
TA: Joan Harrison, Grades: 3 - 12, Subjects: Language Arts, Science, History, Social Science, Theater, & Dance
Students explore various traditions of observational drawings and do a series of engaging exercises designed to develop their focus and observational skills. As students develop the ability to draw what they see, their accuracy and self-confidence grow and are reflected in their increasingly detailed original artworks.
TA: Joan Harrison, Grades: K - 8, Subjects: Theater, Language Arts, Science, History, Social Science
Students explore Toy Theatre cultural traditions and emerging works from a variety of cultures as they create and use original Toy Theaters. Working individually or in small groups, students develop artistic and communication skills as they use various materials to create or adapt stories (or excerpts), make theaters, puppet characters, backdrops/settings, set elements, and then perform their shows.
TA: Joan Harrison, Grades: TK - 8, Subjects: Language Arts, Social Science, History, Math, & Science
Traditional and contemporary paper artworks from a variety of cultures provide inspiration as students, working individually or collaboratively, create original artworks. Students develop expertise using scissors and paper, adding mixed-media decorative elements, (when appropriate), to projects such as collages, symmetrical designs, “quilts”, pop-up cards, winged “flying” creatures and paper murals.
TA: Joan Harrison, Grades: 1 - 8, Subjects: Engineering, Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Science, & History
Art, design and engineering combine as students, working either individual or in small groups, experiment, brainstorm, plan, create, and refine original 3-D paper artwork that has interesting forms and structural integrity. Working on projects such paper sculptures, kinetic paper art, masks, bridges, marble roller coasters, students develop a deeper understanding of tools and materials, as well as creativity, communication, critical thinking, cooperation and persistence.
TA: Joan Harrison, Grades: K - 8, Subjects: Language Arts, Science, History, Social Science, Theater, & Math
Students work with watercolors or tempera paints to create original painting studies that connect to various curricular areas. As they engage the creative painting process, students investigate and develop a deeper understanding of artworks from various cultural traditions as well as brainstorming, sketching, color theory, painting techniques and cooperative Studio Practices.
TA: Joan Harrison, Grade: K - 8, Subjects: Language Arts, Social Science, History, Science, & Math
Students use a variety of materials to experiment with creating portraits or self-portraits, from symbolic to observational. As they examine a variety of artworks from various cultures and times, and then develop their own skills with lines shapes, and colors, and with materials such as pencils, pastels, collage papers and small objects, their willingness to take creative risks and creatively express themselves expands.
TA: Joan Harrison, Grades: K - 8, Subjects: Theater, History, Language Arts, Science, & Social Science
Students explore shadow and rod puppetry traditions, and emerging works from a variety of cultures as they create original rod/shadow puppet characters. Working individually to create puppets, or in small groups to create puppets, simple theaters, settings or screens, and short scripts,, students develop artistic and communication skills as they use materials such as tag board, markers, paint, collage materials and scissors to create their original works.
TA: Joan Harrison, Grade: K - 8, Subjects: Science & Language Arts
Working individually or in small groups, to develop communication and cooperation, students use a variety of materials to investigate and interpret the natural world, such as the connections/adaptations of animals to their habitats/ecosystems. Workshops with an emphasis on 2-D imagery may include work with pencils, watercolor pencils, markers, collage materials, watercolors or tempera paint. Workshops with an emphasis on 3-D may include work with paper, found materials, and paint.
TA: Joan Harrison, Grade: 6, Subjects: Social Science, History, Language Arts, Science
Working individually or in small groups, to develop communication and cooperation, students use a variety of materials to investigate and interpret the lives and cultural environment of people from specific cultures and times. Workshops with an emphasis on 2-D imagery may include work with pencils, watercolor pencils, markers, collage materials, watercolors or tempera paint. Workshops with an emphasis on 3-D may include work with paper, natural materials, and paint.
To sign up, please fill out this form
Questions? Email education@thewallis.org or call 310.246.3800 ext. 757.