New virtual arts classes, set to begin in October, have just been announced by ArtPlay.
From dance, musical theater, acting and improvisation to story time, digital and creative non-fiction storytelling, podcasting and photography, classes are available for children of all ages as well as teens and adults. This session also features classes in thinking “outside the box,” embroidery, music and mindfulness, sight singing, and mixed media art.
ArtPlay, part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, provides lifelong learning through the arts to people of all ages. With engaging weekly classes in fall and spring, summer camps, and fun, educational events for the whole family, ArtPlay connects the community with the arts.
Since March, ArtPlay has embraced virtual classes and camps, with great success and enthusiastic response from students and families. Due to the success of its summer camp offerings, ArtPlay hosted teachers and organizations from Hawaii, Colorado, New York, Florida and Alabama to learn best practices for virtual engagement through its Virtual Classroom Engagement Workshop, scheduled again for Sept. 8.
Registration is open now. Class fees begin at $45, with a UAB discount available when registering by phone at 205-975-4769. Explore ArtPlay’s offerings online at www.alysstephens.org/classes. Private instruction is also available in a variety of instruments, as well as group classes provided by local teaching artists.
Pre-K classes
Primary Ballet, with teaching artist Brooke Lofton. Saturdays, Oct. 3-Nov. 21.
Class for ages 4-6 is from 9-9:45 a.m.; class for ages 2-3 is from 10-10:30 a.m.
Beginning ballet students are introduced to classical ballet, fundamental positions and movements to build their foundation for dance. In addition to stretches, ballet and freestyle dancing, students will enjoy story time at the end of each class session. Cost is $60.
Arts and Laughs, for ages 4-6, with teaching artist Alley Bulka. Saturdays 10-10:45 a.m. Oct. 3-Nov. 7. This mixed media art class with “The Wacky Nanny” focuses on imagination and creation. Children will be led through projects that will open their creative minds and allow them to make their ideas come to life. Cost is $50.
Storytime Studio, for ages 2-3 plus a guardian, with teaching artist Alley Bulka. Class meets Saturdays 11-11:30 a.m. Oct. 3-Nov. 7. Favorite storybooks and fairytales invite us to use our imagination and allow those characters to jump off the page. In this class, children will explore an exciting new story each week. With you by their side, your young artists will create fun and engaging art projects that bring a whole new dimension to the enchanting world of books. Cost is $50.
Music, Me and You, for ages 2-3 plus a guardian, with teaching artist Calliope Pettis. Class meets Wednesdays 9-9:30 a.m. Oct. 7-Nov. 11. You are your child’s first teacher, and why not make learning fun? Join Ms. Calliope for self-exploration through music and song. Guardians and children will enjoy singing together throughout this 30-minute lesson. With a new song each week, your child will learn new words in a fun and exciting way. Cost is $45.
Elementary/Middle School
ArtPlay Kids Acting, for ages 7-12, with teaching artist Jennifer Salvant. Saturdays 10-11 a.m. Oct. 3-Nov. 21. Actor and educator Salvant will guide participants through the basics of theater. Students will learn theater games, improvisation, monologues, scene work, and voice and diction. Cost is $80.
Musical Theatre Basics, for ages 7-12, with teaching artist Diego Villanueva. Wednesdays 3:30-4:30 p.m. Oct. 7-28. If your passion is to perform, this is the course for you. Students will be immersed in the world of musical theater through song, dance and acting, plus everything needed for the stage. Through these cooperative ensemble activities, elementary school-age students will increase their confidence, sense of camaraderie and understanding of basic theater techniques. Whether brand-new to theater or an accomplished thespian, all levels of experience are encouraged to join. Cost is $45.
Music and Mindfulness, for ages 7-12, with teaching artist Calliope Pettis. Mondays 3:30-5 p.m. Oct. 5-26. When you begin with the breath in mind, you possess the power to express yourself authentically. You do not need an expensive instrument or any fancy training to join. Simply bring the instruments you were born with — your body and your voice — and learn how to celebrate their intrinsic beauty. Cost is $40. This class is also offered for adults.
Out of the Box, for ages 7-12, with teaching artist Tonya Wise. Tuesdays 3:30-4:30 p.m. Oct. 6-Nov. 10. Join Wise and be inspired to think outside the box: This class will inspire students to think differently about everyday objects. Using predominately simple materials that can be found in every home, students will explore getting creative with the very basics. Cost is $50.
High School
Sight Singing Fundamentals, for ages 13-19, with teaching artist Charles Henry. Mondays 4-5 p.m. Oct. 5-Nov. 30. This class is designed to cover the notation, concepts and application of beginning music theory as it relates to solo music selections. Students will be able to identify clefs, note names, keys and key signatures, as well as melodic, harmonic and rhythmic patterns. Through sight singing practice and ear training, students will also be given a framework to learn and read music on their own when a recording for a song might not always be available. The goal of this class is to empower the student to take greater ownership of their musical journey — from selection of song to learning the music independently, to a genuine, self-decided performance. Cost is $80.
Digital Mixtape, for ages 14-18, with teaching artist Jameka Hartley. Wednesdays 3:30-5 p.m. Oct. 7-Nov. 11. Digital Mixtape is an interdisciplinary course that explores the technique of telling digital stories — a personal narrative told in the author/storyteller’s voice, usually from a first-person perspective that is produced and accessed using digital mediums (video, audio, etc.). This course will be taught as a collaborative seminar/workshop format, with a focus on developing a well-told story. By the end of the course, students will have a solid understanding of storytelling. They will develop an ability to strengthen writing skills through story boarding and drafting stories. In addition, students will be able to think critically about voice and whose stories get told and why. Students can also expect to develop technical skills as they produce their own digital story by the end of the course. Digital stories can be shared on a variety of platforms, including YouTube, Instagram and Vimeo. Cost is $65.
Embroidery 101, for ages 14-18, with teaching artist Nikki Kintner. Tuesdays 3:30-5 p.m. Oct. 6-Nov. 3. Join Kintner, a local textile artist and owner of Stitch & Petal, for this beginner’s modern hand-embroidery course. Over five weeks and through three different projects, students will become familiar with embroidery tools, learn to set and finish hoops, and master four of the most-used stitches in modern hand-embroidery. The projects include a stitch sampler, a floral fabric outline piece and a pattern designed by Kintner. Each project will be started in class, but students will continue their embroidery at home in between classes. After completing this course, students will be able to confidently complete any beginner hand-embroidery patterns. Cost is $60. See a list of materials needed for this class here.
The Art and Craft of Creative Nonfiction, for ages 14-18, with teaching artist Audrey Atkins. Thursdays 5-7 p.m. Oct. 1-Nov. 5. Creative nonfiction is defined as “true stories, well told,” and the art of telling your true stories well is just what you will learn in this interactive class. Examine the craft of establishing voice, theme, mood, character and place, and put what you have learned to use with writing prompts. Through weekly readings, writers will receive support and constructive feedback about their pieces from the instructor and other attendees. The class will also talk about careers that involve writing and communication and how to turn your writing hobby into a rewarding profession. Cost is $60.
Beginners Photography, for ages 14-18, with teaching artist Tonya Wise. Class meets Tuesdays 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 6-Nov. 10. During this class, students will learn the elements of good photography. Tonya Wise, accomplished photography whose career includes photographing the Emmys as a celebrity photographer, will guide students through how to capture captivating images. Using whatever camera is available to them (smartphone, professional camera or other), students will learn to take compelling photographs. Cost is $65.
Musical Theater Performance, for ages 10-18, with teaching artist Reid Watson. Saturdays 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Oct. 3-Nov. 21. This ArtPlay course is a study of musical theater songs and techniques for their performance and will focus on the learning process of acting and singing musical theater songs. While studying important aspects of musical theater history, the class will examine its existing repertoire and find new material appropriate for each student’s strengths. Students will improve their abilities to learn songs quickly, deal with nerves, cut a song into a needed audition length and create a musical theater binder. While students have taken this course to prepare for college auditions, show choir adjudications, and community or professional productions and masterclasses, all levels of experience are welcome. Cost is $80.
Adult
Music and Mindfulness, for adults, with teaching artist Calliope Pettis. Class meets Mondays 5-7 p.m. Oct. 5-26. When you begin with the breath in mind, you possess the power to express yourself authentically. You do not need an expensive instrument or any fancy training to join. Simply bring the instruments you were born with — your body and your voice — and learn how to celebrate their intrinsic beauty. Cost is $50.
The Art and Craft of Creative Nonfiction, for adults, with teaching artist Audrey Atkins. Wednesdays 6-8 p.m. Oct. 7-Nov. 11. Creative nonfiction is defined as “true stories, well told,” and the art of telling your true stories well is just what you will learn in this interactive class. Examine the craft of establishing voice, theme, mood, character and place, and put what you have learned to use with writing prompts. Through weekly readings writers will receive support and constructive feedback about their pieces from the instructor and other attendees. The class will also talk about careers that involve writing and communication and how to turn your writing hobby into a rewarding profession. Cost is $80.
Intro to Podcasting, for adults, with teaching artist Drew Romanowski. Mondays 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 5-9. In just six weeks, you — or you and a partner — will learn everything you need to know about podcasting and walk away with the first episode of your very own podcast. Cost is $75.
Intro to Improv, for adults, with teaching artist Chris Davis. Mondays 6-8 p.m. Oct. 5-23. This class will teach the fundamentals of long-form improvisation, including how to create strong characters, play at the top of one’s intelligence and build strong comedic scenes together out of thin air. Cost is $80.
“So You Think You Can Broadway,” for adults, with teaching artist Reid Watson. Saturdays 1-2 p.m. Oct. 3-24. This class requested by supportive ArtPlay parents, is created for stage moms and dads or any adult looking for a creative outlet. Class will begin with a warm-up (specific focus given to basic understanding of dance). Then, get ready to say “yaaaas” while doing cardio to Barbra Streisand and Liza Minelli, followed by isolations, movement sequences and core training to modern musicals such as “Legally Blonde,” “Mean Girls,” “Heathers” and “SIX,” and stretch it out to more of your requested favorites. Wear an optional costume for each week’s Broadway dance. Class will aim for the 5 C’s: Clarity, Control, Comfort, Choreography and Calories. All levels of experience, abilities and bodies are welcome and encouraged. If you are an adult who loves Broadway shows and wants a creative way to burn a few calories, then this is the class for you. Cost is $75.