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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-009 EDC-Arts - Estes Hills Elementary School PTA Fall 2012 Art Grant Agreement $1,000 a 0 ORANGE COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION , !JRAtJGF COUNTY A[tT$ FALL 2012 GRANT AGREEMENT el UZI OR 0 tio n THIS AGREEMENT, entered into this 17th day of December, 2012, by and between Orange County ("County"), by and through the Orange County Arts Commission ("Arts Commission") and Estes Hills Elementary School PTA("Grant Recipient"). WHEREAS,the Arts Commission is a countywide arts agency that ensures the growth of local arts experiences by providing funding and support for diverse high quality programs and projects. WHEREAS, the Arts Commission administers the Spring and Fall Arts Grants Program to provide economic opportunities to Orange County artists and non-profit organizations coordinating arts projects benefiting the citizens of Orange County. WHEREAS, the Spring Arts Grants Program is supported by Arts Commission with funds from the Grassroots Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Cultural Resources and the National Endowment for the Arts. WHEREAS, the Grant Recipient was selected by the Arts Commission to receive the Spring Arts Grant through the procedures duly adopted by the Arts Commission; and WHEREAS, both parties wish to promote and maintain the integrity and clarity of the Grant Recipient's ideas and statements and delineate the Grant Recipient's obligations to the County; NOW, THEREFORE, the County and the Grant Recipient, for the consideration and under the conditions hereinafter set forth, agree as follows: 1. Approved Grant Project. Grant funds are provided under this Agreement for the project ("Project") described in the Grant Recipient's Grant Application, attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A. 2. Grant Award. Grant funds in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) have been awarded by the Arts Commission to the Grant Recipient for the approved Project. These funds must be matched at least dollar-for-dollar with cash from the Grant Recipient's funds not derived from either Orange County appropriations or the North Carolina Arts Council. 3. Contingency. This grant is contingent on North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Program funding to the Arts Commission. Final decisions on Grassroots Program funds to the North Carolina Arts Council are subject to approval by the North Carolina General Assembly. 4. Responsibilities of the Grant Recipient I Revised May 2412 A. Implementation. The Project implementation shall take place between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. The Project shall be implemented in the manner described in Exhibit A. Time is of the essence in the implementation of the Project. B. Modifications to project. Grant Recipient shall present major changes to the original proposal, including but not limited to changes in design, implementation schedule and increase in Project budget by more than 10%, in writing to the Arts Commission for approval. Arts Commission shall approve or disapprove Grant Recipient's request for modifications within seven (7) days of receipt thereof. Consent to project modifications shall not be unreasonably withheld. Arts Commission's decisions shall be in writing. In the event the Arts Commission fails to approve or disapprove the requested modifications within the time stated herein,the modifications shall be deemed approved. C. Non—assignment. The grant cannot be assigned or transferred to a different project or artist without prior written approval of the Arts Commission. D. Records. Grant Recipient must maintain records and other evidence pertaining to costs incurred and revenues acquired during the Project implementation. Grant Recipient shall maintain financial records pertaining to the Project for three (3) years from the date of this Agreement, in case of audit. E. Use of Funds. Grant Recipient shall not use the grant funds to repay outstanding taxes or other debts of any nature. The grants shall be utilized solely for the purpose of implementing the Project and Project related expenses. F. Final Report. Grant Recipient shall submit to the Arts Commission a Final Report on January 14, 2014 . The Final Report shall be in the format required by the North Carolina Arts Council. Failure to submit the Final Report or late submission of the Final Report, for any reason, shall be grounds for denial and/or cancellation of grant funds for the Project and future grant proposals. 5. Responsibilities of the Arts Commission A. Payment. The Arts Commission shall release the grant funds in the amount of $1,000 to the Grant Recipient. 6. Publicity A. Acknowled eg ment. Credit must be given to the Orange County Arts Commission using the Arts Commission logo and if State funds are received to the North Carolina Grassroots Program in brochures, news releases, programs, and all other printed and online publications. Copies of such printed materials must accompany the evaluation report. When no printed information is used, verbal credit shall be given. In addition, all print and promotional material must include the following credit line (check all that apply): 2 Revised May 2012 , m s�rvr 1 C ii. North Carolina Arts Council Funding. "This program is supported by the Change County Arts Commission with funds from the Grassroots Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency. " B. The Grant Recipient must enter all events, exhibits and performances open to the public and related to this grant award on the ExploreChapelHillARTS.com website and display ExploreChapelHillARTS.com publicity materials (postcards, brochures, etc.) prominently and consistently at their venue or performance space. In addition, the Grant Recipient must add a link to the ExploreChapelHillARTS.com (ExploreChapelHillARTS.com logo preferred) to their main webpage. The Grant Recipient shall contact the Orange County Arts Commission for replacement ExploreChapelHil ARTS.com publicity materials, 7. Indemnity. The Grant Recipient agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County, the Arts Commission and the North Carolina Arts Council and their officers and employees from any and all claims or actual injury, damage or loss to a person, or real or personal property that results from or is in any way connected to the use of the grant funds. 8. Independent Contractor. The Grant Recipient is an independent contractor and not an employee, agent or other representative of the County and/or the Arts Commission. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to create the relationship of principal and agent, or employer and employee, between Grant Recipient and Arts Commission or Orange County Government. Grant Recipient understands and agrees that he/she is not authorized to incur any expenses or any liability whatsoever on behalf of the County or the Arts Commission and has no authority, expressed or implied, to obligate or make representations on behalf of the County or the Arts Commission. In addition, Grant Recipient agrees to maintain his or her own worker's compensation insurance for himself/herself and his or her employees for the duration of the art work's installation. 9. Termination A. In the event of any of the circumstances set forth below(hereinafter referred to as "default"),the Arts Commission may immediately terminate this Agreement: (i) Any fraudulent representation in any verification required to obtain payment under this Agreement or other dishonesty on a material matter relating to the performance of services under this Agreement. (ii) Nonperformance, incomplete service or performance, or failure to satisfactorily perform any part of the Project or to comply with any provision of this Agreement, as determined by the Arts Commission in its sole discretion, 3 Revised May 2012 (iii) Failure to adhere to the terms of applicable county, state or federal laws, regulations, or stated public policy. B. In the event of default by the Grant Recipient, the Arts Commission has the discretion to elect to terminate this Agreement, in whole or in part and/or require the Grant Recipient to repay the grant funds within seven (7) from written notice of default or allow the grant recipient the opportunity to cure the default. This clause shall not be interpreted to limit the County's or the Arts Commission's remedies in law or in equity. 10. Miscellaneous. A. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the attachments contain the final and entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. All modifications and amendments to this Agreement shall be in writing. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties, their heirs, successors and assigns. B. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina and the Orange County. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Orange County and the Grant Recipient have signed this Grant Agreement, effective on the last date this Agreement is signed by both parties as indicated by the dates set forth under signatures below. For and on behayof the Grant Recipient Estes Hills Elementary School PTA Date For and)oneh a oJr0 0 #ge county Government y �;071 a" '-7 Frank lifton, Cotly Manager Date For and on behalf of Orange County Arts Commission/approved as to technical content Steve Brantley,Economic Develops Director Date Approt and legal sufficiency Annetti M. Moore, Sik Attorney Date 4 Revised May 2412 This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act Clarence G. Grier,Administrative and Financial Services Date 5 Revised May 2012 off Arts in Education Grant - Fall COO 2012-13 Application Form ORANGE COUNTY ARTS Orange County Arts Commission COMMISSION Promoting the artistic and cultural development of Orange County, North Carolina Evaluation Criteria • Artistic merit of program. • Populations served—impact for geographic&traditionally under-served populations. • Feasibility of proposed activity&effectiveness in providing high-impact arts experiences in schools. • Cooperation between schools and artists. • Evidence of feasibility of program, community support, and responsiveness to community needs. • Integration of arts program into grade-level appropriate curriculum. I Applicant Information Applicant Name Estes Hills Elementary School PTA Mailing Address 500 Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Daytime Phone — 919-942-4753 Fax Number 919-960-2475 ,Email Address michellesieqlinq(a)-yahoo.com Web Site www.chccs.k12.nc/estes Project Director Meredith Lassiter Title Cultural Enrichment Chair DUNS Number 2 Project Director Information Project Director Home Address 5 Tupelo Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Daytime Phone 919-259-8873 Evening Phone 919-259-8873 Email Address iowameredithOyahoo.com 3 Grant Request Summary Arts Program Grant Request - $1000.00_ Total Cash Match $1,200.00 Total Organizational Budget 2011-2012 $4,649.00 (PTSA/Cultural Enrichment 2012-2013 $3,721.00 Committee/Arts Program) 2013-2014 $3,700.00(est.) Summary Statement for Proposed Uses of Arts in Education Grant We will use the grant to fund a portion of the artists' fees for two performances during Spring 2013: Donna Washing ton (February 4, 2013/$525 for one performance for the 3rd_5th grade); and Jabali African Acrobats (March 14th/$1.675 for two Shows,one for K-2 nd-grade and one for 3rd-5t"grade). Questions? Call 9191968-2011. Delivery address: 501 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 NARRATIVE SCHOOL PROFILE Founded in 1958, Estes Hills Elementary School is one of the oldest schools in the CHCCS district. Estes Hills is a neighborhood school in the truest sense, with many students from the surrounding homes walking to school. This proximity to the neighborhood also results in a high level of parental involvement in the school. Estes Hills Elementary currently serves 566 children from kindergarten through fifth grade. The school has 25 traditional classrooms, and offers programs in Exceptional Education, Gifted Education, and English as a Second Language. Estes Hills also provides "specials" instruction in French, Art, Music, and Physical Education. This year a Head Start pre-school program, serving 13 children, was added to the campus. The student body is fairly evenly divided along gender lines (300 Male / 266 Female), and has a diverse racial composition: White (54%), Hispanic (15%), Black (14%), Asian (8%), Multi-Racial (7%), and American Indian (2%). SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAMS • Estes Hills offers Art and Music instruction in accordance with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for elementary school students, with a full-time professional in each "specials" discipline: Art, Music, and Physical Education (which incorporates Dance). • The PTA Cultural Enrichment Committee promotes the cultural arts in education by bringing professional artists to perform at our school. During the 2011-12 school year, our students enjoyed the following performances: Transactors Improv did a "Back To School' themed improvisational show for 3rd-51h grades. Transactors Improv is the oldest active improvisational theater group in the South. Their work focuses on emotion, physicality, character, commitment, teamwork, and fun. Their approach to improvisation revolves around discovery rather than invention. Doug Berky incorporated storytelling styles from many diverse cultures into his presentations at the school. His performances include the use of masks, mime, inventive costumes, and puppetry to introduce families to a collection of wisdom stories from around the world. David Gonzalez presented "Cuentos —Tales from the Latino World," creating a vivid and captivating picture of the people and rich cultures of the Spanish-speaking world with colorful tales from the Caribbean, South America, and the Bronx. Farmer Jason presented a concert of sing-alongs and good-time songs. Whether it is the diversity of our natural world, or where good, healthy food really comes from, or the farm and forest animals around us, Jason transforms family music, pulling from his own musical journey pioneering the fusion of punk rock and country with his band. This fall, the PTA Cultural Enrichment Committee brought the following performers to our school: Bright Star performed for the K-2 Id grade students, bringing the stories of Johnny Appleseed,'Daniel Boone, and Paul Bunyan to life by combining these American Tall Tales with toe-tapping, old fashioned, southern style bluegrass music for an upbeat production that had our students fully engaged. Hobey Ford performed his "Migration" story two times, once for our K-2nd grades and once for our 3rd-5th grades. In this original story, Mr. Ford tells about a Mexican girl named Beatriz ("traveler") and her family's migration from their home near Mexico City to the United States. Using the migratory world of animals such as Monarch butterflies, polar bears, and birds, Mr. Ford illuminates Beatriz's personal migratory journey. He utilizes realistic puppets, performing behind a thin circular theatrical scrim onto which scenes are projected, thus making the puppets appear to be performing within the video scenes. In previous years, performances have included: The Hoop of Life by Native American hoop dancer, Kevin Locke The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Bright Star Children's Theatre Fiesta Flamenco by the Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana dance troupe The Legend of Chocolate by The Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre Native Voices by Lakota storyteller Dovie Thomason Magical Mask, Mime and Music of Japan by Kuniko Yamamoto Hands and Feet Speak by Djembe Fire (African dancing and drumming) Chinese Dance Collection by Yu Wei Jackie Robinson:A Game Apart by Mike Wiley A jazz performance by Marcus Roberts Marsh Madness by Roger Day PROPOSED USES OF GRANT FUNDS The Estes Hills PTA Cultural Enrichment Committee plans to use the grant to help fund two performances in Spring 2013. Performances will take place in the school gymnasium during the regular school day, to best utilize the students' time and the committee's budget. For space considerations and developmental reasons, we divide the audience into two age groups consisting of the younger students (kindergarten through 2nd grade) and the older students (3`d grade through 5th grade). The spring performances will be: Donna Washington — Ms. Washington will perform one show on February 4, 2013 for 3`d-5th graders. A very vibrant, dynamic storyteller, Ms. Washington is based locally, but travels all over the country. She presents shows that have a wide range of tales from different cultures. Ms. Washington bases her performances on the audience and age group. For this show, Ms. Washington will share her art of storytelling through a focus on African and African-American folktales. Having performed for over 20 years, Ms. Washington uses her incredible vocal pyrotechnics, dramatic facial expressions, and dynamic physicality to make her stories come to life. Relying on cultural traditions from around the world, Ms. Washington presents a wide range of fairytales and folktales that enthrall and delight audiences of all ages. Ms. Washington has published several critically acclaimed children's books, including A Pride of African Tales and The Story of Kwanza. Her recorded performances have won several Parents' Choice and Children's Music Web awards as well. She has performed at thousands of schools, libraries, and story-telling festivals across the country. f Several years ago, Ms. Washington performed for our students at Estes Hills. Her humorous, dynamic story-telling skills captivated students who, according to one teacher, were still repeating lines from her stories long after the performance was over. "They loved it and so did I," said the teacher. "What a talent!" and "More!" said others. We hope our African-American students will find Ms. Washington especially engaging and that she will provide all students with a strong and articulate role model. Samples of her performances can be heard at: http://www.dlwstoryteller.com/samples/red_red_lips.wav http://www.dlwstoryteller.com/samples/monkeys_heart.wav Jabali African Acrobats—The Jabali African Acrobats will perform two shows on March 14, 2013. Direct from Mombasa, Kenya, the Jabali African Acrobats are phenomenal performers that combine the artistry of fast paced movement, music, dance and incredible acrobatic elegance to perform a full stage theatrical extravaganza. This thrilling performance exemplifies the link between athletics and the arts. Incredible acrobatics, contortions, tumbling, human pyramids, and chair balancing skills turn to dance, with the Congo Snake Dance, the Flaming Limbo Bar Dance, and Skip Rope Footwork techniques. All of this is done within a comedic framework and is set to electrifying music. Audience participation is often an element of the show (e.g., kids may join the performers on stage to do the limbo). Jabali African Acrobats have put on many shows in schools, as well as in theaters, at festivals, at sports events, and at other venues. They have performed at many of the world's top festivals of the arts, including the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, the Adelaide Festival in Australia, the Tokyo Festival in Japan, and Circo Moira Orfei and Gatherland Park Verona in Italy. Additionally, they have performed at various International Children's Festivals and Performing Arts Centers throughout the United States and Canada. In the past, performances that have been interactive and highly energetic have been well received by both students and teachers. When Step Afrika performed in at Estes Hills in 2007, teachers remarked that the performers were"very personable young role models" who made the values of education and responsibility seem "cool." None of our currently enrolled students were present for that performance five years ago and we believe that the school community will find the Jabali African Acrobats similarly exciting and inspirational. Highlights from the Jabali African Acrobats' performances can be seen at: http://www.class-act.com/acts/JabaliAcrobats/jabalitheaterweb.htmi 2012 — 2013 Enrollment by Grade, Ethnicity, Gender KINDERGARTEN FOURTH GRADE Male Female Male Female White 26 18 White 35 31 Black 7 7 Black 8 4 Hispanic 15 5 Hispanic 3 10 Asian 4 3 Asian 5 4 Native American 1 0 Native American 1 0 Multi Racial 0 1 Multi Racial 2 4 Total 53 34 Total 54 53_ FIRST GRADE FIFTH GRADE Male Female Male Female White 18 29 White 20 26 Black 5 9 Black 8 4 Hispanic 6 7 Hispanic 10 6 Asian 4 3 Asian 4 5 Native American 0 2 Native American 3 0 Multi Racial 1 5 Multi Racial 5 6 Total 34 55 Total 50 47 SECOND GRADE ALL GRADES Male Female Male Female White 28 26 White 158 150 Black 11 5 Black 47 34 Hispanic 5 3 Hispanic 47 36 Asian 4 4 Asian 27 21 Native American 1 0 Native American 6 3 Multi Racial 3 1 Multi Racial 15 21 Total 52 39 Total 300 266 THIRD GRADE Male Female White 31 20 Black 8 5 Hispanic 8 5 Asian 6 2 Native American 0 1 Multi Racial 4 5 Total 57 38 2012-13 Arts in Education Application — Page Three G ORANGE COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION Financial Information Please provide a projected budget for your proposed project utilizing the format below. Project Expenses Cash = Grant Amount + Applicant Expenses Requested Cash Match A Personnel Administrative staff Artistic staff Technical/Production staff B Outside Fees and Services Artistic contracts —$2,200.00_ _$1,000.00— _$1,200.00_ Other contracts: C Space Rental D Travel E Marketing F Remaining Project Expenses G Total Cash Expenses —$2,200.00_ _ _$1,000.00— + _$1,200.00— Project Income Cash Income A Admissions B Contracted Services Revenue C Other Revenue(specify) D Private Support Corporate support Foundation support Other private support E Government Support Federal State/regional(not including this request) Local(not including this request) F Applicant Cash _$1,200.00- G Grant Amount Requested _$1,000.00_ in this application H Total Cash Income _$2,200.00_ (must equal Total Cash Expenses, Item G above) G2012-13 Arts in Education Application — Page Four G ORANGE COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION Signatures °: �'c�-..e�t� �.�..�-- �1- � l� •_Jam. Signature of Project Co-Director Date Meredith Lassiter Typed or Printed Name— Project Co-Director Signature of Authorizing qfficial, Date Michelle Sieglina Typed or Printed Name—Authorizing Official INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE FUNDED ESTES HILLS ELEMENARY PTA ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGET 2008-2009 Cultural Enrichment Committee $ 4,500.00 2009-2010 Cultural Enrichment Committee $ 4,500.00 2010-2011 Cultural Enrichment Committee $ 5,075.00 2011-2012 Cultural Enrichment Committee $ 4,649.00 2012-2013 Cultural Enrichment Committee $ 3,721.00 ESTES HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ART AND MUSIC STAFF 2012-2013 Art Instructor: Debbie Gast (919) 942-4753 ext. 30263 mailto:dgast _-chccs.k12.nc.us Music Instructor: Joy Harrell (919) 942-4753 ext. 30269 mailto:jharrell @chccs.k12.nc.us Physical Education Instructor: Melissa Pearce (919) 942-4753 ext. 30271 mailto:mpearce@chccs.kl2.nc.us ESTES HILLS ELEMENTARY PTA BOARD CONTACT LIST 2012-2013 PTA Parent President Michelle Siegling 44 Partin Street Chapel Hill, NC 27514 mailto:michellesie-gling(a)-yahoo.com PTA Faculty President Kris Swanson 919-942-4753, extension 30258 mailto:kswanson(cD-chccs.kl2.nc.us PTA Treasurer Shannon Grabowski 418 Lakeshore Lane Chapel Hill, NC 27514 mailto:shannon-cirabowski(a)-yahoo.com PTA Secretary Jennifer Villa 706 Kensington Drive Chapel Hill, NC 27514 mailto:iennifervilla22(cD-aol.com Cultural Enrichment Meredith Lassiter Chair 5 Tupelo Lane Chapel Hill, NC 27514 mailto:iowameredith(a)-yahoo.com ARTIST CONTACT LIST Donna Washington 2 Haggis Court Durham, NC 27705 919-471-3036 Email: QbotS @aol-com Jabali African Acrobats P.O. Box 10479 Bomburi, Mombasa KENYA Booking Agent: Class Act Performing Artists & Speakers, Inc. 1690 Cottage Drive Lake Geneva, WI 53147 (800) 808-0917 or (262) 245-0700 Fax (262) 245-0775 Email: info @_class-act.com L 00 pill o - �- � O � 4 4 _ Y S J -d- ­mw - - :, j : c bt 3 . r c C =o" o to ^J c 4:11 zx s ©O = n Ira tA A2 / �., "� ag aB 3 w 0-0 , Nit tA YD c rs :X 0 44 AIL O � _ .u!wtyy Y 1 "rte, Opt T3 "�3 e 6A � u O OZ t Q '�3 � a p t t 0t Oft Q , , 3 11ward Winning CVO r 'Donna's C(Ds haw, garnvrvd ov¢r 15 s national awards including: parsznt'6 Ghoie4z e5ilwr-award6 1pary-ntin:8 exev-llv-netz in M�zdia-oward,5 x _q Childr¢n'5 Musie Wszb 29war& �, �j ,� = �Storgt�llin8 World'tlonor� �torg#¢llin8 World Winnizr6 It IR 5h¢'s rgAziwd rav�z nzvi�zws from th�z jlm�zrican Librarg oc and mang oth�zr placiz8 wM Thsz�Xplod . rod and othszr 8toritz3 Prv--K and up F—tu rg and f"olktalsz6 Prv--K and Up ' ds 11! e5hivizr 2nd Gradfz and up rd and Thy Yaon- 5th Cradsz and Up pry-K and Up St 0r )li Troubltz Prv,-K and Up iP Up Ormg 5th Gradfz and zip u f'ok mor¢ Ib f ormation about 8pizci f is CID6 go to donnawa,5hington.com � . Or C913abg.com c 4 P— .x ' ;f Caen G i� ($15.00 =_ TY -------------- e5hippi&and Handling�u�dsz nw 3 60.00 $2 ALAx$120.00 or mom is Court am, tiC 27705 t OT11 __ H MsK¢Gbeck,5 payabl¢to%W StorytQllvr,Ine. ' Dream On Productions Buenos Aires,Argentina Tel +54-11-4302.5755 dreamon��_L;holmail.com,ar wNvAv.dreamonproductions.com.ar My name is Alberto Alexander, Director of Dream On Productions. I met Donna Washington in Peru, where Donna was touring with us for the duration of one month. For 9 years I have directed Dream On Productions and I have had the opportunity to see a good number of Storytellers,many in person, others in video form throughout the selection process. Without a doubt, Donna Washington is one of the best Storytellers I've had the pleasure of getting to know. At Markham School, I had the opportunity to chat with a student's mother, who'd come by to purchase one of Donna's CD's. She told me that it was the first time a narrator was able to inspire so much enthusiasm in her son,and that it was her son who had asked her for Donna's CD. Many storytellers who are excellent in their home countries are not necessarily excellent with Latin audiences where English is a second language. However, Donna was able to adapt to the audience's needs in an impressive manner. She demonstrates an excellent amount of flexibility in adapting her stories,depending on varying English levels. She also selected stories that were absolutely appropriate for the maturity level of the children,taking into account the fidgety nature of Latin audiences,and the particular values of each school. Our tours offer the possibility of sharing moments with storytellers outside of the school setting,with tours lasting one month, and a fair amount of personal time in the foreign country. Donna shared a 3- bedroom flat with me and another Storyteller, and the living arrangement worked very well. This is a lot to say for 3 different people sharing an apartment together who had never known each other previously. I believe Donna is open to other cultures, and can appreciate the unique things that each culture has to offer. Likewise, this is no small observation, considering the notable differences between the U.S, and Peru, where many individuals traveling to such a distinct place suffer from culture shock. I would like to end this letter with a quote from one of our contacts: Mrs. Kate Day,English Teacher, S3C Tutor,Fleming College,Trujillo, Peru "Thanks so much for coming all the way up to Trujillo and despite getting ill,still telling your stories. The kids LOVED it. From Primary, up to the end of Secondary,I have heard nothing,but good comments. Some teachers have even said,so when can we go and see her!" Donna got ill due to food poisoning. Most storytellers would have canceled.Not only did she not cancel, but she gave them fabulous performances. No one even suspected that she was ill. I recommend Donna to anyone looking for a Storyteller, who love the art of oral narration, and seek the best for their public. If they wish to contact me directly,my e-mail is dreamon(ahotmail.com.ar. i! Alberto Alexander ME SA PUBLIC SCHOOLS Rod Castith, To Whom it May Concern: Director Creative is Perfaratin,Art., This year Mesa Public Schools had the pleasure of hosting storyteller Donna Washington. from the minute she began speaking the audience was captivated. After fourteen performances Donna had shared her -155 North Center street amazing storytelling skills with 4200 K-6 students and their teachers. Mv.m, Arizona 85201-6682 tory n.ruEsrtz.or8 With every telling, Donna's stories seem fresh, her energy level high. It's amazing to see how, through voice and expression, she actually transforms into the characters in her stories. She frequently has the Tax( 80) 08- audience participate in the storytelling process and sweeps them up in `a', t4cG°�'�0 �'3'� her excitement. It is very obvious that Donna derives as much pleasure from telling the stories as the audience does from hearing them. Donna Washington's warmth and professionalism make her a pleasure to work with. 1 would highly recommend her and Iook forward to working with her in the future. Rachel Ontko Drama Specialist Mesa Public Schools, Creative and Performing Arts ^ � r��� � ����������� � ��� ��� ����^������ Wednesday, March 26,208g To Whom h May Concern: Last month, I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Donna Washington on a five-day storytelling residency that reached over 3.60O youth in our community. The experience mf working with Donna from the initial inquiry to the booking itself all went incredibly smoothly; and above all, it was such a treat to make Donna's artistry accessible to so many children in our community. Our booking with Donna consisted of12 shows in area schools and two student matinee performances at our site for bussed-in school groups. During the five days, Donna was m joy to work with; she was always at schools in plenty of time to get ready for the show, very accommodating, and easy to work with from start to finish. � | Furthermore,the feedback wm received from all of the school hosts was overwhelmingly positive. Many amazed were at how Donna could sustain the children's interest fo 45-minute h ow with j stories. Her facial expressions and vocal dynamics lit up the stage, and I stood amazed in our theater the morning of our student matinees at how one person could captivate a sold out crowd of elementary students in such a meaningful way. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Donna tell stories and interacting with them myself,and I could tell from the level of involvement among the students in our theater that they were also having a blast. Working with performers like Donna is always a dream for presenters. I would highly recommend bringing Donna Washington to your community or venue. She is a high-quality performer whose artistic ability combined with her knowledge and experience of performing for school audiences make her extremely adaptable and able to work with a variety of ages. Because she caters her shows specifically to the age make-up of the audience, everyone leaves the performance with a fuller experience. Additionally, Donna's art of storytelling provides a fantastic point from which to link Language Arts and literacy curricula. We are so happy to have included Donna Washington in our School Show Series this year and look forward to having her back in the future at some point. Maybe next time,we will add on a public performance for our family audience as well! Brooke Kesterson Director of Children's&Family Programs The ArtsCenter iY 1: 4 db X it ak I 9$ i1 t to Ns �IJ IN r � c + s Q 00 <. 00 O Ln 00 E �3` u a cCL M >q f�a $ :ac U cn v �j a ¢, �r N x s � � t 3 • t a 4 S 2; y i d v^�II CQ LLEG Eof COAS1AL GEORGIA UtV Vtsiry 'Ys-gp OF"QJ A Office of Student Atfairs February 1,2010 To Whom It ME Con. eem: T am writing in regards to the perforrWng group,The Jabali Rican Acrobats. I re,;ently had the pleasure of booking,this performing group at my college f6r two shows.I worked with Class Acts,Perfbrunuug Artists and Speakers, ke.to got fts group booked. i highly xecomznend this performing group.Their showmanship was excellent,their ability to adapt their oerformance to the venuos a-,ailabic was great,and their rapport wit the audience niernbers,both before and after the show was wonderful.In short they w e a j oy to-svork with from the perspective a program p,oduce,r. be content of their program was-surprisingly broader then I Arst imagined. WbAle the a--.obatics, dance and movernent of the performance were interesting and en ter*ring the cultural information was a del igbt. The ability of the perfortners to traiialate an acrobatic performance into a performance that included so much cultural information was amazing.The group used native languages and music to translate our stages into a 9limpse into life on anotber continent I-,.vas Yervy im-pressed and p)vasW. Ln closing,I recormuend thisperforma- ace Woup for their talent and performance but also for their �_illingne-ss to share their valture. Sincerely, Da--v-id Leenhouts Director of Student Life .a °. SV ,x;:� .r rrt., 5 The Zoolog'cal Society of San Diecyi) :'drrd.'rn7cs;rtrhr'�ruzrl tva.F f'aw:sr'GrCraf !�• Kick i'.SiEr.�• February 5. 010 Sandra Brut SeeYenayy Wi,;a„rmjwlef To vvhom It May Concern: �:3a� C)�atuc;:ri Wcicor4�trt 8trii N.Dislur In 2010 and 2011 The San Diego Zoo is considering a long-term George L.Gilarcd promotir�r al relatirnshipie perforrr[ance group, 7aba € Acrobats. Nazi ita[°r<a These performers provide unique talent and instruction of ancient su ss.« ts,:zr tradition and tribal dances and culture specifically indigenous to Kenya 0 V; `LL ri „ and Mombasa. The San Diego Zoo and The Sari Diego Zoo's Wild "Ar¢at«�Frnerst's Animal Park have a long tradition of hiring diverse ethnic groups to anraak C.lexand r enhance visitation to our facilities. Kurt Benirs0ke.:L?.n. 13Ui s_.Fox These acrobats/dancers offer something that to not othenvise Yvur,nc W.1 1CL h obtainable relevant 1.- the Kenyan culture. Adults and children alike L--e J. onroe�rYE—, lusia"1-lNee:', are able to learn ancient folklore and culture first hand from these h"Im M.Thorawn performers, Their presence at our parks would be beneficial for both A.F,. ene.`[Yepr;_ parties. Char%e L.Bieft7 FW'r,:;,> Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, e Phiiip Leiss Operations Manager/Special Events San Diego Zoo l�s_��Cldiecto���.ort? Posf Office Box 120551,San Dicgo,Cati;ovn.3 92112-0551 USA Tel phone f619j 231-1515 lrr�A.z�r:^alurxrii��l7n,tc1(i rrf:rs 9cc1rrt6rfeI1b)--heAa:srrc:tw e ttfurs r:a%t<r:rr rungs r:riu<;£rf r;is e err:1'seic'ir,=lti7r:�f i#stcurrt;a: d epr!yte{r`ew Recpcted peep er n. a s a u BO:EE44.� Arts in Education Deparmeti:of Nistructional PrograMs To Whona It Mav Conner rn-- and Alternative Sahools Frona: Joanne Spencef, Program S:rx�cipalis-". Naas w B 0 C E 8 Axt s in E d v c,�rt 4 o n D-�ne: February 3, 2()10 Re. Jatbali Afficar, 'N'assau BOCE S �V zs ir,Hdluca�ion-provides cultural cnncnment programs in rriusic, I theater, v1sual arts anj author visiis to Nassau,CouniN, school chilciren, roan ox. h ti access to seeing, -te Q dents, wovid no-otherwise have Jabah African Acrobats combine Ttheartistr,, of fast paced movemont, music. dance find mcredible acrobatic Ql"gance to perform a ful' star e :heatnce-d extravaganza. These acrobats exthbi t L sk:lis mid, unique talents vvhich,are directly ref Lective of �Vlfombassa and Kenyan culture. Through program s such as the one offered by ti.is art onaily, these List, students -acquire a better of-world cultures. xdditi artust are a Positive, rc-,k -model children, exem-Offling the dedication and discipline needed to devellop their skill- Thds arn st I s prograra is a'j-1 gom,ed wit tae Ne-,x Yo r K State Learming Standards for the A-rts- The jaball Africd n Ac-'robats' use of artist c, expression in their art fo m hclps s-,wlcnrs undersiand an A-f-riCan cultiue and Ken--a's Con ributions to the arts. Stanch 4. Underitwading vw- Cultural Dimensions and Contributions ofrhe Arts: S-LudenN z i#1 dot elop an Lmd--rstzmdjin-g of the personal and.culrura'-' force&that share artiSTIC col-Li murlication ardhavv the mots in tum shape the diverse cultures of pas7, and present socle!N. . alt AE-1can ;xcroba-ts have performt!d in many_Nassau County `Schools, -primary schools t1irough high school, thro-zagh IN-asswu B6CF-s eArts .,,n Education- ieacher' evalvatio-ms at all gia-de,ieveiz gi've st:,,onl;endorsement to Lhis,prooram- A-daliftistradve Center 71 C-lintanRaz4 Joaauie 'SpNncei. Program S-pecialist F-C'1-130N 9195 Gardcn Cit3�Vew 114,30-91,95