By Belize Wilheim | HDD Education Director
Heidi Duckler Education is meeting Los Angeles where they are! We are excited to announce two new partnerships with community centers in South LA established this past Spring. One at Hoover Recreation Center, led by HDD Teaching Artist, Marianna Varvianni, and another at Expo Center, led by Joseph Stevens. Students ages 5-11 participated in weekly classes exploring improvisation, choreography, and the Heidi Duckler Dance methodology. While some students arrived with prior dance experience, all shared a passion for movement. The programs culminated with a joyful performance at the Expo Center’s garden amphitheater. Students, teachers, friends, and family celebrated eight weeks of site-specific dance practice. The beautiful Exposition Park Rose Garden inspired the performers, dressed in bright colors and florals. The young dancers boldly showcased their unique abilities, impressing everyone with their dedication and talent.
Check out the performance video HERE.
Special thanks to Laronica Southerland, Trish Delgado, and Mark Rose at Expo Center and Yvette Hernandez and Jennifer Garcia at Hoover Recreation Center and the University of Southern California for supporting these programs.
As we move into the summer season, Heidi Duckler Dance Arts Education is thrilled to announce that we are bringing site-specific dance programming to four LAUSD summer schools across Los Angeles.
Our skilled Teaching Artists will be guiding middle school students through movement workshops twice a week at part of their summer school studies. Teaching artists and locations include: Nadia Maryam at Young Oak Kim Academy in Koreatown, Colleen Loverde at Sotomayor Art/Science Magnet in Frogtown, Vanessa Verdoodt at The New Charles Drew Middle School in South LA, and Marquice Perrera at Le Conte Middle School in Hollywood.
By offering bi-weekly dance programming as part of their summer school day, students can stay active, express their creativity, build self-confidence, and make new friends in a fun and supportive environment. We can’t wait to see what these students create during this partnership.
