Refusing to deny showcasing the talents of students of all abilities, The Music Center’s 42nd Annual Very Special Arts Festival (VSAF) will be streamed virtually on The Music Center Offstage Friday, April 16, 2021, from 10:00am – 11:00am (PST). The Public is Invited to witness performances by students and professionals, travel through a virtual student art exhibit and participate in educational workshops. This is a free one-of-a-kind event, that will include an ASL interpreter and which will be transcribed for people with visual impairment.
This festival is usually a private event for K–12 schools located throughout Los Angeles County, but because it is taking place online this year, the public will be able to enjoy and take part in the celebration. The hour-long event promises to be a fun experience for all ages featuring student performances, professional entertainment segments and six participatory educational workshops. Plus, in a virtual gallery, The Music Center’s 42nd Annual Very Special Arts Festival Goes Virtual will showcase numerous visual artworks, all created by students based on this year’s theme, “Seeds of Kindness”. The festival not only celebrates the students’ artistic achievements, but it encourages active participation in the arts and connects all the students and participants together as one community.
Pio Pico students perform an original song from their In the Band music program as part of VSAF – Photo courtesy of The Music Center
“The Music Center’s Very Special Arts Festival is going on 42 years strong, and we are going to make sure these incredible students still have the opportunity to show off their creative talents and have the chance to shine for friends, family and other student performers,” said Rachel S. Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center. “We postponed the live fall event hoping we could still gather in person sooner, rather than later. Yet, even with continued closures, we can still celebrate and share the fun and enrichment the arts offer all of us, and how dancing, singing and performing makes each of us feel special.”
“Our partner schools look forward to the VSAF each year and we’re thrilled we could create a virtual version that allows young people to actively participate, learn and express themselves through creating and contributing to artistic work. The opportunity of an online format enables students and teachers—and the public—to engage with the program at their convenience without the worry of missing any of the many dynamic arts experiences. The Music Center’s 42nd Annual Very Special Arts Festival Goes Virtual as well as our other arts learning offerings available on The Music Center Offstage provide opportunities for all to enjoy no matter your age or ability,” added Keith Wyffels, associate vice president of education, TMC Arts.
The Music Center’s 42nd Annual VSAF Goes Virtual will be hosted by master teaching artist David Prather and mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzmán. There will be four three-minute video performances of students from Little Citizens Westside Academy (Leimert Park); Christopher Dena Elementary School (East Los Angeles); Millikan Middle School (Sherman Oaks); and Pio Pico Middle School (Mid-City). The videos were all created and edited by the students. Also included on the program, directed by Nicole Alexander, is master magician Kenrick “Ice” McDonald, performances by ILL-Abilities, an international professional break dancing crew featuring differently-abled dancers showing the world that anything is possible; Infinite Flow Dance, an L.A. dance company composed of dancers with and without disabilities who use dance to promote inclusion and innovation; and student members from Straight Up Abilities, a local non-profit which provides dance training to students of all abilities and ages.
Teaching artist Joseph Peck leads a music workshop that introduces students to percussion instruments and the rhythmic scale – Photo courtesy of The Music Center
The six visual and performing arts participatory workshops include:
Dance Workshop: Led by Music Center Teaching Artist Tara Cook Davis, this workshop embodies kindness by using the vehicle of dance for self-expression and lots of fun. Viewers will learn choreographed movement and have the opportunity to create moves of their own.
Dance Workshop: The public is invited to dance along with Robin Olive and two of her All-Star dancers, John Tucker and Marci Landeros, from Straight Up Abilities. This non-profit believes “Everyone can and should dance.”
Media Arts Workshop: Guided by Music Center Teaching Artist Lynn Okimura, participants will learn how to cut and move simple shapes around to make paper cutout characters drawn from imagination.
Fine Arts Workshop: Music Center Teaching Artist Beth Peterson teaches viewers how to dream up and create a hand puppet character who can plant a seed of kindness!
Theater Workshop: After viewing a short performance by the Chameleons Mime Theatre, participants will learn an invisible rope illusion that can be applied to a short mime piece, called “The Tug of War.”
Music Workshop: Joseph Peck’s Scavenger Drum Circle introduces various percussion instruments and then teaches the audience how to make a drum and shaker. Viewers will also learn the rhythmic scale and participate in an Engine Room Jam!
The Music Center’s Very Special Arts Festival Goes Virtual is produced in partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Schools throughout Los Angeles County with students in grades K–12 are invited to participate. Support for this year’s event comes from Glorya Kaufman Dance Foundation; Jerry and Terri Kohl Family Foundation; LSMK Investments; The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation; The Ring-Miscikowski Foundation/The Ring Foundation; Marie Song; California Arts Council; Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles; National Arts & Disability Center; and Superior Grocers. The festival is part of The Music Center’s longstanding, multi-faceted arts education program that typically serves over 150,000 students and educators throughout Los Angeles County.
Mark your calendars
When: Friday, April 16, 2021, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Where: The Music Center Offstage
*Artists and programs subject to change
To learn more about The Music Center’s Very Special Arts Festival Goes Virtual, click HERE.
To learn more the many incredible facets of The Music Center Offstage, click HERE.
By Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Members from Infinite Flow Dance Company perform during the 2021 Very Special Arts Festival virtual program – Photo courtesy of The Music Center.
