Very Special Arts Florida-Brevard County Program Hosts Fourth Annual Performing Arts Showcase
By Space Coast Daily // October 8, 2017
SET Feb. 16 In King Center Studio Theatre
BREVARD COUNTY • ROCKLEDGE, FLORIDA – Very Special Arts Florida-Brevard County, one of two art programs of Brevard Achievement Center, hosts its 4th Annual Performing Arts Showcase on Thursday, February 16 at 10:30 a.m. in the King Center for the Performing Arts’ Studio Theatre.
The event is free and open to the public.
The Showcase features seven middle and high school Exceptional Student Education (ESE) classrooms from Brevard Public Schools and one class of adults with disabilities from BAC’s Adult Day Training program performing various routines on the Studio Theatre stage.
To prepare for the event, classes have trained with a visiting artist for eight weeks, or eight hours total. Artists were assigned based on the classroom’s area of interest in dance, rhythm, singing or songwriting.
“The Showcase isn’t just about performing,” said VSAF-BC Director, Lee Sorensen. “Learning the routines helps our artists with disabilities stay focused, increases their cognitive skills and improves self-esteem.
‘Plus, for many, the Showcase is the only time each year they get to display their artistic talents to family and friends.”
Classes performing from BPS include Central, Johnson (two classes) and Southwest Middle Schools, as well as Eau Gallie, Rockledge and Viera High Schools.
This year’s visiting artists are:
- Eyster-Mercado is a dancer with 30 years of experience including as a ballerina with the Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Kirov School of Leningrad, Russia, among other notable companies, Eyster-Mercado is the Director of the Muscle Memory Dance Company.
- Rhodes is an experienced ballet, Pilates, lyrical and modern dance instructor who, during her four years at the University of South Florida, studied with the All American Classical Ballet School in the Tampa area; she has worked with VSA Florida for three years teaching all ages.
- Nicole C. Warren has studied dance since the age of five and has a classical dance foundation of ballet, jazz, tap and pointe and in 2016 co-founded the Chance 2 Dance Foundation, which includes the Chance 2 Dance Studio, a non-profit organization that provides dance instruction to the disability community at free or reduced rates.
- Chris Kahl toured throughout Europe and was featured on the BBC several times before returning to Florida and writing “A Musical Journey Through Florida” which highlights Florida history through original music.
Although there is no charge for admission, donations to VSAF-BC are welcome.
Click here for more information about VSAF-BC or BAC.
CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS
