28th April, 2011
“Beautiful Day” Spring Musical Theatre performance
Image by Parvin ♣( OFF for a while ) via Flickr
Thank you to all the families that visited New England Dance Centers in Westfield, MA and Granby, CT this week for our musical theater department’s performances of “Beautiful Day”.
The students all did a fantastic job with their one act plays, bringing a smile to everyone’s face with their beautiful voices, drama skills and overall cuteness!
Older classes presented the plays that they created in our actor’s workshop script writing classes.
Some parents have posted videos to our Facebook page (thank you!) that we encourage you to watch.
Registration for next year’s classes begins in May. Be sure to visit www.newenglanddance.com for schedules and forms.
Posted at 2:15 am | Comment (0)
12th January, 2011
Musical Theater Class Portraits
Example of Red, White & Blue theme from 2010
The musical theater department at New England Dance Centers in Westfield, MA and Granby, CT will have their class portraits and individual photos taken on March 5 and 6th at the studio where the students study. The specific times are still to be announced.
2011 Performance Shirts
Students will wear their T-shirt that is on the way along with an outfit that they create from the assigned color palette. The pictures in this post are examples of past year’s outfits to help you understand how to create the ensemble. The students should also wear beige jazz shoes for girls and black jazz shoes for boys.
This year’s color palette is hot or florescent colors. The T-shirt (see picture) will be lime green. Suggested colors for the outfit are: bright yellow, hot pink and bright blue. The outfit should be comprised of street clothes (NO JEANS) which can be purchased new or found at second hand stores or even the kids closets! Feel free to embellish and accessories are encouraged!
2009 Musical Theater show: Spring colors
The students can wear their hair any way they like, but it should be off of the face and hats do not work well because the brims shadow the face.
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10th November, 2010
Exposing Children to Musical Theater
One of the joys in my life is running the musical theater department at New England Dance and Gymnastics Centers in Westfield, MA and Granby, CT.
There are few things more precious and amazing that seeing kids lose themselves in the spirit of theater. Whether it is singing a song they love or playing a fun role, musical theater allows and encourages children to let their dramatic nature roam free.
I especially love the ability to share different music with these musical kids. My current classes, for example are singing selections from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella “Impossible”, Guys and Dolls “If I Were a Bell” and the classic rock staple “Joy to the World” by Three Dog Night. It is too exciting for me to see these children light up as they belt out “joy to you and me!” as if this song was written new for them. I think the parents enjoy sharing this experience with the kids, too, as songs from their youth come back in a fresh and fun way.
Exposing children to musical theater at a young age is a wondrous thing. Especially when children are pre-teen, they are so open and adventurous when given a safe and fun place to work their gifts. As their director in this journey I strive to find balance between the education and the experience of the craft. It is delicate work to help train their talents without criticizing them, but it is the most important work.
At this young age, musical theater isn’t about becoming a star, the lead singer or getting the largest part. It is about the playful adventure of putting on a show: the costumes, the singing, the characters, the sharing, the FUN.
The Kids’ Cabaret at New England Dance Centers was created as an ensemble experience for children of all ages. Everyone is a star in our program!
photo courtesy of Mike King on flickr.com
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29th October, 2010
Dressing up doesn’t end at Halloween for Musical Theater students!
Kids love to dress up for Halloween. They also love to sing and dance and play and have fun. So do we!
The musical theater experience at New England Dance and Gymnastics Centers in Westfield, MA and Granby, CT has been described as fun, exciting and even empowering for the students. Parents have told me that their child who was shy learned to speak in front of people and received accolades at school for presentations. Other students have stood up and sang in front of school assemblies or family gatherings with confidence and joy.
Our drama program is about exploring acting skills, learning to embrace our voices and supporting each others creative spirit. Students from 6 and up are embraced in this ensemble experience and encouraged to allow themselves to try new songs, new personae, new moves and make new friends.
If your son or daughter enjoys musicals, the hit TV series “Glee!”, playing dress up, making up songs or telling stories: they are bound to love our program!
The playing parts and dressing up that makes Halloween so exciting (besides the candy, of course) doesn’t end with our musical theater program!
For schedule and more information visit New England Dance and Gymnastics Centers website.
Posted at 3:22 am | Comment (0)
21st October, 2010
Musical Theater in Westfield, MA and Granby, CT
The Kids’ Cabaret is in full swing for another fantastic year of singing, dancing, acting and FUN!
Musical Theater Department at New England Dance & Gymnastics Centers in Westfield, MA and Granby, CT offers kids ages six and up the opportunity to experience theater in a warm and relaxed environment. Lessons include vocal, singing, dance for theater, acting, improvisation and performance opportunities.
Directed by: Lesley Lambert
Keep in Touch!
Phone: 413-568-3731
Email: nedctheaterdepartment@yahoo.com
Website: www.newenglanddance.com
Musical Theater blog: www.thekidscabaretonline.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/NEDGC
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DanceNEDC
Welcome! I am so glad you are here!
Reminders:
Students must dress appropriately, no jeans or skirts please.
Students need a three ring binder with clear sleeves and a pencil at EVERY class
Class structure will contain the full range of theater including: voice, acting, dance, improv games, pantomime, diction & staging.
Students will need to memorize & rehearse at home
I communicate via email: please be sure to have a working email on your registration and/or send me an email to be certain you are on the list.
The studio is not always closed when schools are closed. Please call when you are unsure.
We can still accept registrations….does your child have a friend that would like to join? Free t-shirt from last year’s cabaret if your friend enrolls! (supplies limited/first come)
Theater is about having fun and trying new things, encourage your child to come with an open mind and a willing attitude and we will all get more out of the experience!
There are no costumes ordered, you will be creating your own costume using the mandatory T-shirt (please stop by the front desk to order this before November 1, 2010) and a color palette that I will assign. Pictures of last year’s groups are in our studio foyer if you want to see what has been put together previously.
We are so glad to share the love of all things musical theater with you and your child, thank you!
photo courtesy of Virtualdistortion on flickr.com
Posted at 1:38 pm | Comment (0)
8th September, 2010
New This Year!
Welcome!
We are glad you are here and hope to see you at the studio for our exciting new season of musical theater!
As we enter our 6th season of The Kids’ Cabaret, we are making some changes that will be sure to thrill our young performers.
First: this year each musical theater class will perform a routine in the style of the hit tv show, “Glee!”. This fast paced and fun routine will be showcased in one of our recitals and will afford our performers the opportunity to strut their stuff for a larger audience.
Second: we will be performing extra in-house performances. This change will give the performers a chance to have a quick paced class with varied content and several more opportunities to have an appreciative audience.
Third: we preform every year for charitable events and are hoping to expand our performance schedule. If you know of an event that would benefit from a joyful performance of talented kids, please let us know!
Our program is a chance for performers to expand their skills in a fun and fast-paced environment. We are still accepting registrations, so come “play” with The Kids’ Cabaret!
Posted at 1:47 am | Comment (0)
20th August, 2010
Wanted: Drama Queens and Kings! Register for Musical Theater
Do you have a child that can’t stop singing and dancing and would be great at theatre?
The Kids’ Cabaret at New England Dance and Gymnastics Centers in Westfield, MA and Granby, CT is a comprehensive musical theater program for youths age 6 and up.
Featuring singing, acting, dance and lots and lots of theater fun, this program is ideal for kids who love to make believe, play dress up, sing out loud and improvise.
Students will spend 45 minutes each week gaining experience and training in theater arts and participating in a minimum of two performances each season.
The first performance is a holiday/seasonal in studio performance (see video here) which is a great chance for students to show off how much they already learned in a safe and festive environment. The second performance is the Kids’ Cabaret’s annual performance in June held at Granby High School, Granby, CT. Each class is featured in a complete act of approximately 15 minutes per class which contains four to five songs, dialogue and dance.
Registration is being taken today for classes held on Monday in Granby, CT and Tuesday in Westfield, MA. If your son or daughter has dreams of being Broadway bound, this is the class for them!
Fill out the registration form to hold your spot before classes fill up! For more information call 413-568-3731 or email: nedctheaterdepartment@yahoo.com
Posted at 12:38 am | Comment (0)
21st April, 2010
We want YOU to come see our show
The Kids Cabaret, musical theater department at New England Dance and Gymnastics Centers is excited to invite you to attend their performance of “America!”.
This musical performance is a blend of American pride, spirit and patriotism with performers age six and up singing, dancing and acting their way into your hearts.
This year’s show will culminate with a military salute as their grand finale with Active Duty and Veterans of the Armed Forces included in the last number of the show.
The Kids’ Cabaret performance of “America!” will be held at Granby Memorial High School, Granby, CT on June 5, 2010 at 6pm. For tickets and more information contact 413-568-3731.
Posted at 11:02 pm | Comment (0)
14th April, 2010
We want YOU to be part of The Kids’ Cabaret spring show!
Active Military and Veteran Military Members:
The Musical Theater Department at New England Dance and Gymnastics Centers, “The Kids’ Cabaret”, is performing “AMERICA” and our finale is a tribute to our service members and a thank you for all they do for us.
We would love for you to join us in the finale to be honored. Those interested in participating will need to attend the Musical Theater rehearsal on Friday June 4th at 7pm and the performance Saturday June 5th at 6pm. Both the rehearsal and the performance will be held at Granby High School, Granby, CT.
Formal invitations will go out via email and hand delivered over the next two weeks. We hope you can make it!
Posted at 1:22 am | Comment (0)
10th February, 2010
The Kids’ Cabaret Announces Show Theme: “America”
New England Dance Centers’ Musical Theater Department, The Kids’ Cabaret will present “America” as their annual cabaret show.
A show in four acts, the students will sing a blend of patriotic, standards, Broadway show tunes, rock and pop songs that feature the U.S.A.
performance t shirts
As a special addition their finale will feature guest appearances by the performer’s relatives who are military members or veterans of the services.
Students of The Musical Theater Department of New England Dance Centers at both the Westfield and Granby locations will perform in the same show. The show will feature a blend of singing, acting and dance in true musical theater style!
Rehearsals are well under way and the show promises to be a wonderful experience for performers and audience alike!
Posted at 3:55 pm | Comment (0)
