General Information: Dream Shapers offers student and teacher performing arts workshops and residencies designed to foster a deeper appreciation for a variety of performing arts. The workshops and residencies provide “hands on” performing arts experiences that not only develop skills in a variety of art forms but demonstrate how arts can be used to enhance the learning of a wide variety of concepts and curriculum.

Student Workshops / Residencies

Fees:

STORYTELLING – for language, literacy and public speaking. (available with a bilingual presenter)

This program is available for ½ and all day residencies that range from 5 to 10 weeks at the school site. Students are exposed to story, story structure, and techniques of storytelling and public speaking presentations. The final day is a concert for the students or the school of storytelling performed by various participants in the program. We work with the teachers to include relevant stories and materials to each classroom curriculum. The program works best with grades 3, 4 and 5 though we do have and program available for grades 1 and 2. The program consists of an Orientation meeting and then the schools choice of 5 to 10 weeks of instruction.

International Rhythm / Percussion

This series of workshops introduces students to percussion and rhythmic foundations to music styles from around the world. It includes all the drums and other percussion instruments needed. Students are exposed to a variety of concepts in music as well as creative self expression. We work with the teachers to try and tailor the program to fit the needs and desires of each school and fit the program within the curriculum and is ideal for all grade levels. Presenter provides handouts, instruction and develops a final student presentation on the last meeting of the class.

Teacher Workshops and Enrichment Programs

Fees:

Reading Together is Twice the Fun

This workshop stresses the importance of early reading and how to capture a child’s attention with books. The workshop will effectively maximize reading aloud as a fun learning opportunity. Teachers will learn and practice read aloud techniques to enhance language learning and promote early literacy skills.

Ina Buckner-Barnette, The Sunshine Storyteller fills each event with an exciting and often humorous mix of participatory multicultural tales, movement, songs and stories. She is and award winning, including an Emmy, performer/TV producer who has presented programs at schools, libraries, community centers, museums and churches throughout Southern California. She co-hosted LA City Channel 35’s “City Works” magazine show for two years and was featured in KOCE’s (PBS) “Dollars & Sense” series.

Literacy Alive!

From page to Stage – This workshop involves creative dramatics, improvisation, brainstorming, body language arts, & the spoken word. Literacy Alive! will help teachers use their resources to bring even their shyest students out of their shell. This in-service will engage all types of learners, and will promote visualization, which is a huge road block in the path to learning how to read. Teachers will learn to implement a joy for this theatrical art form while still focusing on standards and classroom needs.

Everyone will receive worksheets with detailed notes and future reference. Literacy alive! Iincorporates the four R’s- Readin’, wRitin’, aRthmetic, and aRt!

Diane Doyle brings 30 years of professional experience teaching and enlightening thousands of students on the art of creative dramatics. Being an actress, choreographer, award winning writer, and director with Tony award winning South Coast Repertory has finely tuned her communication and teaching skills. She is the founding director emeritus of SCR’s young conservatory. All of her experiences are directly related to the imagination and how to tap into that wonderful source of life-long learning.

Storytelling Brings Learning Alive

Storytelling for the Classroom helps teachers to develop their storytelling abilities by understanding some storytelling basics, character, structure, body movement and voice. Teachers will discover how to use storytelling to enhance and support the learning of not only language, but all other aspects of curriculum. This storytelling workshop offers teachers a way to engage all their students and to promote an enthusiasm for learning.

Dream Shaper Storyteller Instructors

Advanced Storytelling

Master Storyteller Michael D. McCarty develops already existing storytelling skills with this workshop that features an in depth approach to the art of storytelling. Character development, artistic presentation and story enrichment are part of what will be featured.

Michael D. McCarty, storyteller and instructor, has been developing storytellers throughout Los Angeles County at his Griot Workshops for years. He is a national board member of the National Storytellers Association

Puppetry for Learning and Literacy

This puppetry workshop offers teachers insights into the use of the art of puppetry to support language arts, reading and other core curriculum.

Ric Morton has built, taught and performed hand and rod puppetry throughout southern California for over 30 years. He has worked with schools, libraries and movie studios. His insights and information will allow you to enhance curriculum through the use of puppetry.

Reading Writing and Rhythm – Music and Language Arts

Award winning, internationally recognized children’s music performer and educator, Dan Crow, demonstrates and instructs on the use of and incorporation of songs to support the learning of language, phonics, spelling, parts of speech and reading skills.

Dan Crow has been performing around the world for over 30 years. His background in language arts and music have combined to provide teachers with useful and easy to follow methods on using music and songs to support language learning skills. He is a Performing Artist in the Schools award, has written songs for major motion pictures, recorded a wide variety of albums and DVDs, been featured by Disney and other major American record labels and currently performs all over the world.

Music Injected Learning

Dave Kinnoin offers his years of experience as a professional songwriter of children’s music as the foundation for his workshop on inspiring teachers to music and songwriting with their students to learn any part of the curriculum they are working on.

Dave Kinnoin is a Grammy award winning recording artist, a performer and a song writer with over 100 titles with Disney, Nickelodeon, Sesame Street, Henson Productions and more.