Class Descriptions

SPACE’s Building Emotional Understanding Through the Arts philosophy is centered on giving young people a sense of safety and respect, while maintaining necessary behavior standards without punishment, blame, shame or humiliation. It assumes the best in young people and expects the best from young people, while taking into account the emotional experience and burdens that young people may bring with them into their interactions at SPACE. Teaching staff learn how to handle behavioral difficulties without stigmatizing the young person who carries those difficulties.

It's not easy for kids from rural and often segregated communities to enter a performing arts program, where each young person is challenged to show himself or herself, and to understand and work with young people from very different backgrounds. Emotional issues and relationship snarls are bound to arise. Rather than paper these over and march the young people on, the SPACE staff has been trained to understand, to help young people face and move through their preconceived and limiting notions about themselves, and about one another. This program is unique in its commitment to emotional awareness and support. Kids don't have to pretend they're doing fine, when they aren't. They're listened to, they're accepted, and still, they are beckoned forward as one of their group.

—Patty Wipfler
SPACE is a long-time collaborator with Hand in Hand Parenting

SPACE’s dance, creative movement, drama and singing curriculum for youth is based on the work of Mary Joyce and has been adapted by Laurel Near, Paulette Arnold, Kate Magruder, Jim Beatty, Sandy Metzler, and Amanda Rosenberg-Gutierrez. Other influences include the work of Orff-Schulwerk, Ruth Zaporah, Sarah Crowell, Krissy Keefer and other performing arts leaders.

YOUNG CHILD CREATIVE DANCE PROGRAM

Music Together®(Ages infant-5)
This internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program is designed for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and the adults who love them. Led by the example of the adults, children learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with confidence in a rich and multicultural collection of songs. Classes are based on the recognition that all children are musical, especially when early childhood environments support such learning. Each student receives a CD and booklet containing songs of the session.

Creative Dance 1, 2, 3 (Ages 2 ½-4) Not This Session
Young students move at their own pace, learning how to improvise, tell stories and express emotions through their bodies. In a nurturing and safe environment, students explore direction, speed, energy, weight, shapes, relationships to dancers, levels, spacial relationships, rhythm and musicality. There is no right or wrong way for children to enjoy this type of dance.

Adventures in Movement, Voice & Story (Ages 5-6)
Concepts are introduced relating to technique and alignment that help the students to control their bodies and use their imaginations. Techniques include imagination games, yoga, improvisational structures, locomotor steps, sequences and rhythmic activities.

DRAMA & COMEDY IMPROV

Acting 1 (Ages 8-10)
Using improvisation and scene study, actors learn the basics of character, story, voice and movement skills. Students are taught the foundations of acting, are exposed to general stage vocabulary, and given various acting tools. Class includes a final showcase so that the students can present their work.

Acting 3 (Ages 13+)

Acting for more advanced students. Text analysis and detailed character development are included.

Teen Comedy Improv (Ages 12 & up)
Students improvise, play games and learn the basic principles of comedy and acting. Both short and long form improvisations are explored. This class is tons of fun, but also teaches that comedy is serious business! There are multiple performance opportunities at SPACE each semester.

MUSICAL THEATER

Performance Ensemble aka Performance Workshop (Age range 10–16)
Students train singing, acting and dancing as they prepare to present a fully staged play in a series of public performances. The program teaches students to adopt a professional attitude and work ethic in order to create a fun and engaging production. Students will work on solo and group numbers, developing their own skill sets while also working as part of a greater ensemble. Students may perform in 6-10 shows including morning matinees for school children as well as weekend shows for the public.

SINGING

Group Singing 1 (Ages 7-8)
Students enjoy singing together and explore their voices using games, movement, clapping, imagery and props (such as bean bags, ribbons and scarves). Students explore volume, breathing and listening to create beautiful sounds.

Group Singing 2 (Ages 9-10)
Students learn to sing with each other as collective group, and also in smaller subgroups that go beyond melody with ostinatos and rounds. Through games and a variety of techniques, students explore rhythm, volume modulation, breath and ear training to achieve beautiful sounds.

DANCE THEATER

SPACE produces original shows with content developed through student interviews, cumulating in performances by the students who participate. SPACE has been producing these original performances for over 30 years—before SPACE became SPACE! Originally they were developed for summer camps, dance extravaganzas, cultural performance projects and touring shows.

All the dance theater classes have three components- dance, singing and acting. The dance section is the core class designed to increase the performer’s strength, flexibility, balance and coordination, and includes a warm up, isolations, stretches, across the floor progressions and choreography. Classes focus on precision, rhythm, physical challenges, personalized style, self-expression, confidence, coordination and team building. They also provide live performance opportunities. Guest singing directors are invited to teach all-cast songs and solos, and guest acting teachers develop scenes and monologues. At SPACE our original plays, dance extravaganzas and adaptations usually open and close within one weekend! Below is a list of the core classes.

Pre-Street (Ages 7-8)
Younger dancers explore and discover movement by building motor skills and embracing the fun and excitement of moving to the beat. Students learn to dance purposefully while engaging in energetic movements and choreography. Pre-street teaches basic dance moves that will help students with coordination and agility as they continue to grow and develop.

Street Dance/Fusion 1 & 2 (Ages 8-11)
Students love this exhilarating and athletic style of dance with roots in hip-hop and African dance, and bringing to the table an exciting blend of fusion. This class is designed to increase confidence, coordination and team building as well as providing opportunities for students to freestyle to “old school” and current popular music.

Strictly Streets 1 & 2 (Ages 8 and up)
This all-boys class is designed to give young dancers a strong foundation in hip-hop. It is a fast-paced class designed to increase awareness of the body in relation to movement. Students perform big motor movements, drills and skills with a variety of music genres and special focus on team building and freestyle.

Higher Ground Dance Troupe (Ages 13 & up)
Students learn various styles of dance and movement, with emphasis on hip-hop. Dancers have opportunities to act, sing, drum and stomp to express ideas and opinions through performance. This intermediate/advance group requires a year-long commitment, and attendance is crucial. Knee pads are required. By audition only.

Contemporary 1 & 2 (Ages 8 & up)
This modern dance class offers multiple styles, ranging from lyrical to funk and blues. Class emphasizes technique, alignment and musical variations. Students learn basic dance elements as well as the fun of creative and expressive movement. Contemporary 1 & 2 is also known as Fierce Feet and Exception to the Rule.

Freedom Feat Dance Company (Ages 12 & up)
This high level contemporary fusion dance class is designed for intermediate/advanced modern dancers. Students work to refine and perfect skills while expanding repertoires and building a strong group dynamic with other dancers. By audition only.

Technique (Ages 11 & up)
Students enjoy learning funky-fresh elements of hip-hop and mainstream commercial dance. Students perform fun, energetic and dynamic movements, while also learning proper alignment and executing turns, kicks and leaps.

SUMMER PROGRAM—IN PERSON, ONSITE

Performing Arts Summer Camp
Originally the summer program was developed by Near, Arnold & Magruder. Through the years the style and format has changed but the core idea remains the same—students train in the performing arts while developing friendships and deepening connections.

GRANT FUNDED PROGRAMS

The Latino Program California Arts Council Local Impact (LI)
Viva la Cultura! is a multi-year program directed, by Ignacio Ayala, which engages the Latino community in creating and participating in traditional and new performance projects. The 2020-21 project was designed to educate the community about and commemorate the Concilio Latino Americano, 1970-2020.