Online Program Catalog

These artists of international reputation bring award-winning classical music programs to Southeast Texas. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Grieg and others are presented in short and easily assessable formats. Also included are the Hispanic Lecuona and the African-American Scott Joplin. Interactive composition featuring audience members uses movable note on a music staff board. Questions and answers and an interactive finale combine to make this a fantastic introduction to the world of classical music!

Ann and Isidor Saslav introduce students to classical music in an engaging and participatory way, highlighting the music of famous artists through the ages. Question and answer sessions are included in this highly participatory program.

Becky Valls joins creative forces with dancers Toni Valle and John Box to create a science lesson on ocean communities. Their dances will bring you "into the deep" to explore ocean landscapes, plant-life, the species of fish, and the power of waves and Tides. A crazy choreographed fashion show with audience participation will focus on fish with and without backbones. The concerns for endangered species and the effects of oil spills on ocean life will also be presented.

Presented by Toni Valle and Jenny Magill. Learn entomology through dance? Yes! Teach science through music, dance, and poetry when modern dancers Becky Valls and Toni Valle take the stage to demonstrate bees' social behavior and a caterpillar's metamorphosis. The discovery of how insects move becomes a springboard for active student participation through creative movement and discussion of choreographic elements.

In this world of feathers, students will learn about the common characteristics of birds. Some have huge wingspans, others have webbed feet, and some birds don't even fly! Prior to dancing, Toni Valle shows students the hand and body movements to be used in a dance. The "Dance of the Swan" delights the students while illustrating how to use body movements and props to present a thought. The use of music and poetry that match a bird's characteristics helps students understand the dance. Throughout the program, students participate in delightful dances such as the "Chicken" and the "Penguin" dances. All will enjoy the poetry, music, creative movement and choreography based on images of birds.

Brien is one of very few people who play a seldom-heard instrument, a set of tuned glasses called the Glass Harmonica or Glass Harp. 42 individually pitched glasses are played on their rims to create music often described as ethereal and mesmerizing. Music of different styles and periods is combined with anecdotes about the history of this instrument and some of the people, like Mozart and Ben Franklin, who played a part in its evolution. He explores musical instruments made from everyday materials, the history of glass and water-tuned music, and concepts of physics and sound.

Visual artist Celia Coleman combines her talent education, travel experiences, and treasure collections to create a complete cultural experience for students. After exposure to the architecture, customs, music, food, textiles, art, and costumes, students create a visual art project that will reflect that particular culture. Work with Celia to create a series of workshops on Africa, China, Guatemala, Japan, Mexico, or Russia.

¡Una programa muy interesante! Students will explore the fiery excitement of Spanish classical and flamenco music and dance and its remarkable influence on Texas and the entire western hemisphere. In this fast-paced, bilingual program with award-winning dancer Daniel de Cordoba children experiment with rhythms, zapateados (foot beats), bazeo (arm and hand movements), and castanet playing. Ole! (Also excellent for middle or high school Spanish classes!)

Wanna have big fun on the bayou? Bring a heaping batch of Cajun Culture into your classroom with a visit from Donald Fontenot, an accomplished musician and former French teacher. In this lively introduction to the Cajuns, Mr. Fontenot rolls out their story, from the French exploration of North America through the expulsion of the Acadians from Canada and their eventual relocation in Louisiana. Student involvement includes learning a few simple phrases in French and singing along as Donald plays his Cajun accordion. Donald’s easy rapport and understanding of children allow his deep pride in his own cultural roots to transfer to the children, fostering in each an appreciation of his or her own unique heritage.

Storytelling... an art that has been handed down through the ages, meeting a basic need in human culture - that of preserving our history, identity, and personalities. Through stories, our heritage is preserved and a love of learning is encouraged. Professional storyteller Dru Woods motivates children to read and instills an appreciation of literature through her incredible ability to capture her audience's attention with stories. Using music, puppets, body language, audience participation, and high energy, Dru takes young people on a journey to other lands and other times, introducing them to characters from throughout literature. Stories may include Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories, Texas legends, fractured fairy tales, contemporary stories, or tales with morals. Dru Woods is also available through Young Audiences for meetings, care facilities, and other public programming.

Elizabeth portrays the famous trailblazer from Southeast Texas, Babe Didriksen Zaharias, the world's greatest woman athlete of the first half of the 20th century. On the surface, Babe was a tough-as-nails, no-holds-barred, anything-to-win athlete. but what was underneath? What drove her to hit golf balls until her hands bled? Why did she run for hours by moonlight when track and field team practice was already plenty hard? Elizabeth explores this insatiable desire to win and how Babe triumphed over poverty, an often nasty press, society's constraining ideas of femininity and cancer, to emerge as one of the most inspiring athletes and women of all time. This one-woman original play teaches students success in life - discipline, commitment , the thrill of competition, how it feels to win and how it feels to lose!

Students and teachers gain insight into the process by which Gayle writes her slam poetry with a workshop that introduces her step-by-step method. In addition to focusing on the structure and language of slam poetry, participants discover creative ways to use language, review performance techniques that draw the poet closer to the audience, sharpen listening and critiquing skills, and perform original poems.

Singing one moment, whispering verse the next, Gayle's ever-changing expressions and movements enhance the emotional energy she beams into the audience. This poetry warrior's interactive performance deals with contemporary issues important to the young, exposing children to poetry that is, to quote Gayle, "cathartic, moving, and above all, real." Depending upon grade level, her poetry encompasses subjects such as urban life, the undying love between two friends, grief and healing, and other topics important to today's young people.

Don't know what Slam Poetry is? Discover the power as Gayle Danley, International Slam Poetry Champion, introduces "poetry with the gloves off." Slams are performance poetry competitions where the audience rates both the poem and the performance. Gayle Danley is a presence like few have ever seen in the classroom or on the stage. By proving that poetry can be dynamic and dramatic, she encourages students to express their creativity in a positive way.

In this make-it-take-it workshop, students will each make a pot of clay and have it fired by artist Greg Busceme, a master on the potter's wheel. Greg will tailor his workshop to meet the needs of your students.

Local artist Greg Busceme uses an electric potter's wheel to show a step-by step procedure for making pottery. Teaching about the traditions and history of pottery, its effect on society and its development from prehistoric times to the present, Busceme tailors his program to the needs and capabilities of the school and students.

Hope Shiver illustrates through story and song the life of famous abolitionist Sojourner Truth. Students learn how laws are made and examine the plight of slaves in the North while clapping and chanting to the familiar spirituals of the time. Featured topics include the abolitionist movement, the women's movement, the Civil War, and President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

In this outstanding program Hope Shiver portrays Harriet Tubman, interweaving her monologue with spirituals of sorrow and joy. Discover how this heroic woman used lyrics of spirituals and other devices to aid her slave "passengers" on their quest for freedom using the Underground Railroad. You will chant, clap, cheer, and rejoice!

Join soprano/storyteller Hope Shiver on a fantastic ride through African American History via popular music styles. With lots of audience participation, students don costumes and become one of the lovable characters - Bluesy, Jazzy, and others.

In this animated exploration of poetry, Jean Donatto conducts a tour of the animal world through poems of A.A. Milne, Ogden Nash and Lewis Carroll. Join Jean on an entertaining adventure into the animal kingdom through her poetry performances.

All aboard the super liner that guides magically from continent to continent with Jean Donatto. Known for her interpretations of poetry and other literature, this acclaimed actress turns her inimitable talents to storytelling. From Africa to Russia to the American South, she recounts folk stories from different cultures around the globe. In this highly participatory program, students journey through an itinerary filled with tricksters, humor, high drama, and lessons of life.

An eight year old girl, sold into slavery an ocean away from home, shows a remarkable aptitude for languages and goes on to become one of America's most distinguished poets. Join actress/dramatist Jean Donatto as she recounts Phillis Wheatley's fascinating quest, from her initial capture in Africa and early life of servitude in Boston, through her ultimate liberation and the attainment of the greatest freedoms of all - literacy and creativity.

Miss Bessie Smith "holds court" with students about the living conditions in the major cities in which she traveled and performed during her rise to stardom. The years 1923-25, generally considered to be the beginning and apex of her career as a recording artist, are the focus of the program. Politics and the mood of post-World-War I America form the foundation of this discussion. As Bessie Smith, Jean Donatto sings, chats, and answers questions from the students about how it felt to be famous and black in the 1920s.

"Something there is that doesn't love a wall, that wants it down." This familiar line from one of Robert Frost's most memorable poems is only one of Jean Donatto's examples of verse that examine conflict, the way we feel about it and the way we deal with it. In this insightful program, Jean discusses various aspects of conflict resolution, illustrating her message with poems that lend the comfort of knowing that others have experienced and dealt with these same emotions.

Inspired by an African proverb that says "A village without music is a very dead place," this stage production explores the impact music has had on Africans and Americans of African descent throughout history. Students create a drum circle and learn of "Congo Square" in New Orleans, where traditional African rhythms and some elements of modern jazz fuse together. Mr. Dixon also explores the impact the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s had on society at the time and its present influences, such as today's hip-hop culture. The show ends with an upbeat percussion performance using buckets and found objects.

This fun and engaging activity uses drumming as a source of cardiovascular conditioning. While this activity is great for developing motor skills, they will also show improvement in social and intellectual skills and increase flexibility, balance and rhythm which consequently improves self-esteem and confidence.

What does the color blue sound like? How does a melody look? In this fascinating, interactive workshop, Kim Ellis turns the classroom into a sensory immersion in music and visual imagery. Blending beautiful clarinet music with visual art and photography, Kim engages students' imaginations as they create short stories and art works of their own while accompanied by works of such composers as Bach, Gershwin and Von Weber with displays of photos by Keith Carter and other artists. Listening to classics such as Peter and the Wolf, students create their own musical books. What develops is an irresistible album of musical "snapshots." Adaptable for secondary students as well!

Discover the vast and varied percussion family when Mark Shelton brings an assortment of instruments including drums, hammered dulcimer and marimba into your school. In this exciting and educational program, Mark plays melodic percussion and indefinite pitch instruments to demonstrate the variety of sounds at the fingertips of a percussionist.

Two singer-actors and an accompanist take the audience on a lively journey through the "greatest hits" of opera, including The Barber of Seville, Carmen, Hansel and Gretel, Il Trovatore and The Magic Flute. During the course of of this highly interactive program, students learn appreciation for what it takes to become a professional opera singer. Most importantly, they discover that opera is FUN!

In existence since 1984, Poetry Alive's actors have memorized hundreds of poems, from the classics to contemporary, to present to more than 7 million people in 49 states and many foreign countries. Poetry Alive actors present "poetry with a twist," transforming the poems into scripts and the audience members into fellow actors in their innovative performances. The result is a non-stop tour de force of words with a hint of sorrow and a dash of silliness and every emotion in between.

Hear about the Texas Revolution in a different way-through its music. Combining keyboard, guitar, singing and creative dramatics, the true story of The Yellow Rose of Texas is told, from its origin as slave song through its journey to state song. Learn how the music of this period added its own unique style and influence to the Texas Revolution.

Setting his firefighter knowledge to music, Ray Simien uses original songs to reinforce the basics of personal safety. What do you do in case of a fire, how do you stay safe in water, in a car? Accompanied on a guitar, these toe-tapping songs include Stop, Drop, and Roll, On the Right Side of the Road, and Crossing the Street.

Using the talents of our Southeast Texas neighbors, the music from the 40's through today serves as an example of how music composition is influenced by events. Local musician and songwriter Ray Simien puts history in a lively and fun context. Music features some of our famous local artists including Harry James, The Big Bopper, Janis Joplin, Tracy Byrd, and others.

Born outside of Linden, Texas in 1868, Scott Joplin demonstrated his extraordinary talent for music at an early age. He combined classical music with African American harmony and rhythm in his compositions of ragtime music. Joplin's impressive repertoire totaled some sixty composition including his best known Maple Leaf Rag and The Entertainer. In 1973, more than 50 years after his death, his music was featured in the motion picture, The Sting, which won an academy award for the film score. Three years later, in 1976, Joplin's opera Treemonisha won the coveted Pulitzer Prize. In his portrayal of Scott Joplin, Ray Simien exposes the students to Scott's consuming love of music along with the trails of an African American musician in the early 1900s when ragtime and jazz were an emerging form of American music.

Gather your "Waddies" (young cowboys and cowgirls) around Red Allen as he demonstrates how he captures the history of the American cowboy on canvas. Elementary student will be spellbound as Red paints while sharing personal stories of his dying American lifestyle and the fulfillment he experiences in the creation of art. Red will demonstrate and explain more advanced painting techniques and design with secondary students. Hang on partner! These classroom workshops are sure to knock you off your saddle!

1999 National Young Audiences Artist of the Year

It's an Asian occasion with Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo of Eth-Noh-Tec! For more than two decades, Robert has engaged audiences around the country with his versatile performances that draw from his Japanese and Filipino ancestry. Whether he is imitating a toad or "flying" over his audience on the wind, Robert is a mesmerizing and delightful performer.

Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo delights students with folk tales and myths from Asia: Korea, Japan, China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, and other cultures. His engaging performances immediately mesmerize his audiences on an adventure of the imagination. Robert weaves a variety of traditional tales with music and theatre, often embellishing the plots with bronze gongs, bamboo rattles, flutes and drums, or bringing characters to life with animated facial gestures. His use of timing, elements of surprise, and audience participation create a joyful rapport that draws youngsters and teachers alike into an exploration of Asian culture.

1999 National Young Audiences Artist of the Year

It's an Asian occasion with Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo of Eth-Noh-Tec! For more than two decades, Robert has engaged audiences around the country with his versatile performances that draw from his Japanese and Filipino ancestry. Whether he is imitating a toad or "flying" over his audience on the wind, Robert is a mesmerizing and delightful performer.

From the land of the "Southern Kingdom," also known a s Vietnam, comes a rich garden of tales and myths as fertile as the Mekong Delta. Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo takes his audiences on a magical and whimsical journey where Toad is the "Uncle of Heaven," where bridge magpies bring Star Lovers together, and where the Big Liar of the village ends up on the Moon. Join Young Audiences of Southeast Texas for Robert's newest program, featuring the legend of Vietnam!

Shelby Smith brings her many years of teaching, the language arts, and storytelling together in these delightful 45-minute performances. Shelby focuses on developing a love of learning and the environment through nature stories and stories of respect. But she can't leave out multi-cultural tales that foster understanding between all people.

Her stories are entertaining, engaging, and thought-provoking, and are guaranteed to inspire, motivate, and delight audiences of all ages. Shelby can also design a performance just for you.- whether it's multi-cultural tales, science, history, math, or just for fun, Shelby's stories are a sure hit just for you and watch your students bloom!

Storytelling is at the heart of human experience. In ages past, stories were often used as teaching tools. Subtlety and humor could often get across messages that didactic teaching could not. In her storytelling, Shelly uses her quick wit and wordplay to demonstrate the importance of vocabulary skills. Her stories are entertainment, but often beneath the obvious there are positive messages about human values. Folk tales, family stories, ghost tales and urban legends are woven with universal themes.

Young Audiences artist Shelly Kneupper Tucker uses her language skills to encourage better writing in young students. Encouraging them to write creatively, Shelly spends time helping youngsters find a variety of ways to express themselves. Excellent for state test preparation!

Spiced with historical fact, science, and folklore from many cultures, this program is a unique whole language experience. The students are exposed to three lost folk arts: spinning, weaving, and storytelling. With her spinning wheel, Shelly demonstrates the entire process of making cloth: preparing and carding fibers, spinning the thread, and weaving thread into fabric. After the demonstration, Shelly "spins a yarn" telling a folk tale, a fairy tale, or a family story.

Students will create a classroom book in this workshop designed to explore creative writing and drawing skills. Teachers please provide paper, crayons, and markers.

Students will learn that art doesn't have to be expensive or difficult. Art can be created from "found" objects, things around the house, things you would find in the most unlikely places!

This story is a great tool for teaching math concepts and a variety of other educational skills. Storybook Theatre captivates young children in this amazing session filled with creative voices, music, dance and audience interaction.

Storybook Theatre brings this classic tale to life as Cousin Elli and Cousin Ida Mae compare city and country life. The differences they find in each other encourage children to understand and even celebrate the differences they see in others.

2000 National Young Audiences Artists of the Year

Like tap dancer Savion Glover (of the Tony Award-winning Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk,) Tap Team Two of Philadelphia have made the great American dance form relevant to a whole new generation. Tap Team Two uses the sounds made by hoofing (street tap dance) to form an orchestra, with each dancer a different instrument. It's a collaboration between percussion and movement that exposes American tap as an evolution of Irish, African, jazz, hip hop, and house rhythms. Students will join this duo of upbeat feet on stage to learn the history and basic steps of tap dancing.

Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee for 2008 All 2009 elementary bookings will receive an autographed copy of Tim's Bluebonnet Award Nominated book for their library!

Discarding such "extras" as pen and paper or computer keyboard, Tim Tingle helps students discover and use the most important tool available to any writer - the imagination - a tool everyone has! De-mystifying creative writing and addressing the "I can't write" syndrome, this workshop for middle and high school students uses "nickels" (the five senses), details, gestures, voices and quotes as Tim teaches students to look at the world in new ways. Conducted in an out-of-the-classroom environment, the "jumpstart" experience helps students appreciate how words evoke emotions and ideas. Spark excitement for language while improving literacy skills! Excellent state test preparation!

Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee for 2008 All 2009 elementary bookings will receive an autographed copy of Tim's Bluebonnet Award Nominated book for their library!

A member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Tim Tingle uses a unique blend of Native American tradition, history and lively fictional narrative to recant his fascinating stories. For elementary grades, his animated tales are filled with audience participation and humor, For secondary level, Tim introduces more challenging themes through an array of colorful characterizations. Using traditional "vocable" style chanting, and instruments such as the Indian flute, Chippewa drum, and Choctaw chant sticks, Tim allows participants an easy journey to the past as the stories unfold.

Hammered dulcimer, fife, banjo and fiddle are included in this exciting program demonstrates various types of American music: old time, Cajun, ragtime and bluegrass. Tin Roof Tango discusses the mixing of cultures and styles in our country and the concept of oral tradition.

Travel the globe as Tin Roof Tango combines music and social studies in this high energy musical tour of six continents. Students experience the tone colors of over twenty instruments ranging from the exotic South American kena and bombo to the dancing sounds of the Celtic bombarde and fiddle. Students thrill to such fascinating musical styles as Zydeco, African drumming and Latin American music. The amazing talents of this popular acoustic ensemble, along with lively participation from the students, create an exciting expedition through the musical and cultural landscapes of our artistic global village.

Tipi Tellers brings a unique storytelling experience to students, as they set up a real 15-foot diameter tipi and transport students back to another time and place in history. The Tipi Tellers story bag includes wit and wisdom from folktales and legends from many cultures, as well as personal tales. This is an experience students will remember for a lifetime as they learn from history then relate and apply these life-lessons to today.