Community Partnerships
Programs
Partnerships with District of Columbia Public Schools
DC Partnership Schools Initiative
The purpose of the DC Partnership Schools Initiative is to support and enhance arts education in select Pre-K to grade 12 District of Columbia public and charter schools. The DC Partnership Schools Initiative is aligned with the approach to arts education employed by District of Columbia Public Schools - experiencing the arts, learning in the arts, and learning through the arts. Each school works collaboratively with the Community Partnerships manager to develop an individualized plan selecting Kennedy Center resources that align with the school's arts education goals. Partnership schools participate in professional development for teachers and administrators, in-school lecture/demonstrations by performing artists, in-depth arts integrated curriculum residencies with teaching artists, and performances at the Kennedy Center. Participation in the program is by application.
PDF to list of 2008-09 partnership schools.
Artists in Schools Programs
- In-Depth Residency Programs. Residency programs are sequential classroom sessions led by teaching artists integrating an art form with other curriculum. There are two types of residency programs. In the student centered residency program, the focus is on increasing student understanding in and through the arts, and modeling effective arts integration for teachers. In the professional development residency, the focus is on increasing the capacity of the teacher to integrate the arts into their own curriculum. Teaching artists who lead residency programs participate in a rigorous application and review process, including participation in on-going Kennedy Center professional development.
- Lecture/Demonstration Programs. Students from partnership schools receive multiple in school performances during the school year. The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) In-School Ensembles program provides performances by small ensembles of NSO musicians to elementary schools. The In School Performing Artists program provides lecture/demonstrations by artists performing in Kennedy Center Dance, Theater and Music productions. In addition, all DC Partnership Schools may participate in the Concerts in Schools program of the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative.
Performance Attendance Opportunities
- Student Groups. DC Partnership Schools attend performances at the Kennedy Center through the Arts for Every Student Program of the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative. The Kennedy Center sponsors the Collaborative's Fifth Grade Initiative, providing every 5th grader in DC public and public charter schools tickets and transportation to a Kennedy Center performance. Secondary schools also receive tickets and transportation to attend daytime performances in the Kennedy Center Jazz Club.
- Families. Each participating school selects students and their family members to attend evening or weekend performances from the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences series.
Professional Development for Teachers and Administrators
- Teachers. Teachers from participating schools attend Kennedy Center Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers workshops held at their school site or at the Kennedy Center. In addition, teachers attend professional development workshops through the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative.
- Administrators. Participating school principals attend the Kennedy Center Principals' Arts Education Forum meetings and events to receive current information about arts advocacy, research in arts education, arts integration, and ways to strengthen school arts programs.
The Duke Ellington School Partnership
The Duke Ellington School of the Arts is a magnet high school in the District of Columbia that offers college preparatory academic instruction and pre-professional training in the visual and performing arts. The school is managed and operated by The Kennedy Center, District of Columbia Public Schools, George Washington University and the Ellington Fund through the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Project. As a member of the partnership, The Kennedy Center supports the curricula through teacher professional development, master classes/clinics, lecture/demonstrations, and performances at the Kennedy Center. The Kennedy Center Vice President of Education serves on the Board of Directors of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Project.
Opportunities for School and Community Groups
The following two programs provide tickets and transportation to Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences performances to underserved greater Washington, DC metropolitan area students.
America's Promise
In response to General Colin Powell's national America's Promise campaign, the Kennedy Center developed the "Get On the Bus" program. This program supports Title I schools attendance at daytime Kennedy Center Performances for School Groups.
Community Outreach Ticket Program
The Community Outreach program supports students enrolled in after school, community-based programs to attend Kennedy Center evening/weekend performances.
Opportunities for Students
Dance Theatre of Harlem Residency
2008-09 Season Information
The Dance Theatre of Harlem Residency program is celebrating its 16th year at The Kennedy Center. The 2008-2009 season of this 20-week class series featuring instructors from Dance Theatre of Harlem will meet on most Saturdays between October 25, 2008 and March 28, 2009. The Residency will conclude on Sunday, March 29, 2009 with a performance and master class led by Mr. Arthur Mitchell, Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Free tickets may be obtained as available by contacting us.
History
Since 1993, the Kennedy Center's Dance Theatre of Harlem Residency program has provided ballet training for male and female students age 9-18 with identified promise in ballet taught by Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) instructors or formerprincipal dancers. Students are selected by audition for a twenty-class series, culminating with a public demonstration and performance on a Kennedy Center main stage. Classical ballet training is taught in four class levels, from novice to advance. Students must have at least one year of ballet training to qualify for the program.
The program has provided classical ballet training to more than 2,000 students over the past sixteen years. Students, past and present, along with their parents and local dance instructors, have commented on the numerous positive aspects of the Residency including developing dance technique and presentation as well as self-confidence and discipline, which have resulted in both social and academic improvement. Over 95% of the students who have participated in the Residency have graduated from high school and many of them have gone on to college to pursue majors as varied as Business, Medicine, Psychology, Zoology and Dance. Several others have continued their ballet studies and are currently dancers with some of the nation's premiere companies, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Pacific Northwest Ballet, the American Repertory Company, the Rockettes, and the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts