Summer Fun with Center for Dance Education

Thursday, June 25th, 2009 | All Posts by Stacey Blakeman

Hi! I’m Stacey Blakeman, and I work for the SF Ballet Center for Dance Education as the Dance in Schools and Communities (DISC) Manager. DISC includes a variety programs that operate in the San Francisco Unified School District and provide FREE interactive movement classes to over 3,500 students each year. Once school’s out, we run a one-week summer dance program, Community Circle Dance Camp (CCDC), for boys and girls ages 6-14 from all over the Bay Area. Our campers explore a variety of art forms with professional teaching artists. This year our classes include Musical Theater, Bhangra, Hip Hop, Creative Movement, Voice, West African Drum & Dance, Ballet, Yoga, and Visual Art. This year we have 75 students participating in the camp, and 50 of them are attending on a full scholarship. Campers also receive three healthy meals each day (made with organic and locally grown produce) at no additional charge.

In the middle of the week we will take a field trip to the War Memorial Opera House. Campers will go on backstage tours and participate in a special Opera Workshop. On Friday there is an end-of-week celebration for students to demonstrate to friends and family some of the things they learned during their experience at CCDC.

We encourage every student at CCDC is to find his/her inner artist. It truly is an exciting week for all involved, both children and adults. Below is a little glimpse from the second day of the 2009 CCDC:

Executive Director Glenn McCoy & SFB Staff member Ruben Fonseca help serve breakfast to students at the camp.

Executive Director Glenn McCoy & SFB staff member Ruben Fonseca help serve breakfast to students at the camp.

Director of Education Charles McNeal prepares students for an exciting day during the morning circle.

Director of Education Charles Chip McNeal prepares students for an exciting day during the morning circle.

Camp Instructor Joti Singh leads students through the morning warm-up.

Camp Instructor Joti Singh leads students through the morning warm-up.

Camp students warm up their vocal cords for singing class.

Camp students warm up their vocal cords for singing class.

Dancer Instructor Stacey Blakeman leads the youngest group of campers through a Creative Movement class.

I lead the youngest group of campers through a Creative Movement class.

Students learn to sing and dance to the music from Oliver! in their Musical Theater class.

Students learn to sing and dance to the music from Oliver! in their Musical Theater class.

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