The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Arts groups join forces for student workshops
WINSTED —The American Mural Project has teamed up with ASAP! to offer art, music and movement classes for children in fourth and fifth grade, as well as a collaborative community dance project with world-renowned dance company, Pilobolus, culminating in a performance at the Warner Theatre in Torrington in March.
The 10-week series runs from January through March AMP and ASAP! offer music, art, and movement classes for fourth- and fifth-graders held at the Forbes Elementary School in Torrington from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
In the music classes, students who are interested in singing and writing will create strong, dynamic narratives as they compose blues songs that draw on the work they do and the challenges they face each day.
The art classes explore music, dance, and mixed media materials in
the creation of a “My Big Idea” mural, inspired by the American Mural Project.
Led by members of Pilobolus dance company, the movement classes encourage students to become involved in Pilobolus’ signature style of creating dance by being physically creative, collaborative, and expressive. Each series of workshops includes ten sessions for $120; and the workshops are free for Torrington students. Registration is required.
“We are very excited to work with ASAP! on this collaboration,” said Amy Wynn, executive director of AMP. “It has been wonderful working with them and with Pilobolus, because our approach to working with students and having them ‘lead’ the process is similar. Based on my familiarity with each organization, I am confident that all the collaborative elements will tie together in interesting and unexpected ways, which is the best part of this endeavor.”
On Sundays and Wednesdays in February and March, AMP and ASAP! team up with members of Pilobolus and community members from across Connecticut to offer a one-of-a-kind series of exhilarating, collaborative dance workshops. Participants will explore, invent, interact, and become involved in a unique style of dance while discovering the limitless possibilities within the medium of movement. At the end of the eleven sessions, a showcase of the group’s work will be featured in a full-scale Pilobolus performance on March 30 at the Warner Theatre in Torrington.
Classes meet on Wednesdays, 5:45–7:45 p.m. at Forbes Elementary School in Torrington, and Sundays, 1-3 p.m. at the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts in Torrington. Dance experience is not required. Cost is $132 for eleven sessions; scholarships are available. The program is open to students in grades 9-12, as well as adults. Registration is required. For information, visit www.asapct.org, or call 860-868-0740.
“ASAP! is honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with AMP, Pilobolus, and the Warner Theatre. We are thrilled to work together to increase our impact as equitable, accessible, and inclusive arts organizations in our region,” said JoAnne Torti, executive director of ASAP!.
Funding for the “Ultimate Collaboration” has been provided by the Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Office of the Arts, which also receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation; and the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund, a fund of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, Inc.