ARTISTIC RESOURCE FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, (A.R.T.S.) INC. PERFORMING GROUPS 2024 – 2025

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BOMBA MARILÈ  shares Afro Puerto Rican traditions of Bomba music and dance with the greater Utah community.They have organized Bomba workshops with visiting instructors, social events including dominos and picnics, and educational activities including showing documentaries discussing issues related to Puerto Rico. They are grateful for the opportunity to highlight our musical traditions from Puerto Rico and to share them with those who support the cultural arts.

JAZZ SWING Firstly, our young Utah audiences will learn that “Jazz” is much more than a basketball team! Jazz is music that is uniquely American with roots in the musical traditions of New Orleans, Louisiana. Students learn about the city of New Orleans and how African Americans created blues, spirituals and combined them with dancing and marching music to create a new kind of music, jazz. They will learn about the great Louis Armstrong who was the most important creator of Jazz music. Students learn unique and fun musical concepts such as Improvisation, Swing, Call & Response, and Scat Singing as a jazz band plays and students sing along.

SALT DANCE COMPANY Dance is the oldest, most universal language, powerfully connecting body, mind and soul in a communication that goes beyond words. Dance is not just highly technical steps, it is the expression of life through movement. In addition to providing an outlet for healthy emotional expression, the physical exertion of dance releases endorphins necessary for the rise of dopamine, the body’s “happiness” chemical. 

FIDDLE TUNES Fiddling is fun! The Fiddle Tunes Stringband will teach students about the rich tradition of fiddle music in America. You don’t need to be a professional to play this music. Fiddling is for everybody! We’ll introduce the most common instruments that are used in string bands as we demonstrate a variety of styles and sounds. Students will learn the difference between the fiddle and the violin, they’ll learn how music can tell a story or accompany a dance, and they’ll learn some basic concepts about harmony, rhythm, singing and fiddling in a community setting.

THE MUSIC MAKERS “AMERICA SINGS” This program provides a lively and educational musical experience for elementary students. It is a celebration of America’s rich musical heritage. It features traditional American songs along with new original music composed on the spot with the students. Beautiful visual materials will be displayed to illustrate concepts and focus student attention. The program features American Music with a focus on Musical Theatre. It will encourage students to discover how to use their talents and to keep America singing. 

1520 Arts – HIP HOP Hip hop is not just a dance or a genre of music, it is a lifestyle. Hip hop is surrounded by 4 elements which consist of; breakin’, D-jing, MC-ing and graffiti/art. Hip hop came to the forefront of the United States in the late 60’s in the Bronx, New York. Since then, breakin’ has been at the front lines of the movement. Breakin’ was recently showcased during the 2024 Olympic Games. 1520 will be emphasizing the foundation of breakin’ and will also touch on the other 3 aspects of the elements.

UTAH HISTORY MADE DELICIOUS The assembly begins with “Awesome Utah Geography Cadence”, a drill sergeant-style call-and-response virtual tour of Utah’s geography, since that influenced Utah’s history in major ways. It also focuses on the pioneers’ need to grow their own food, and the challenges that presents in the second-driest state in the United States. Clive Romney uses song and story to teach innovation, improvisation and collaboration that early settlers learned.

SOUNDING BRASS All five professional musicians will introduce each of the brass instruments and feature each in a solo selection. There is a brief and humorous demonstration of what makes the sound on a brass instrument and how students can make their own instrument. The ensemble members will take turns explaining such musical terms as pitch, melody, tempo, dynamics, tone color, and imitation. Above all, they will teach students that playing a musical instrument is fun.

SAMBA FOGO brings Brasilian Carnaval to life on stage and in the classroom through high-energy cultural arts performances, community drum and dance classes, and arts outreach in local schools. Samba Fogo arts education programs and school assemblies are infectiously engaging for youth, and include a discussion of Brasilian history, language, and culture. The programs get students and even teachers up and moving! Samba Fogo’s high-energy performances and educational programs offer the community a unique opportunity to experience deep-rooted culture, infectious enthusiasm, and the celebratory spirit that makes Brasil famous.

THE PREVAILING WINDS  The Prevailing Winds is a woodwind quintet consisting of flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn. We have been bringing fun and engaging music assemblies to elementary schools for more than 20 years. Our objective is to inspire children to become involved in music so they will enjoy the multiple benefits of having the arts in their life. Our instrumental diversity allows us to present a large variety of music from various cultures and genres, contemporary and film scores, and music from well-known classical composers. We look forward to performing at your school!

VOCAL DIMENSION “Opera Works!”  A mixed vocal quartet with piano accompanist presents an entertaining introduction to the world of Opera.  Students will learn about the history, the voice parts, and various elements of Opera.  They will enjoy the “light” side of Opera as they, themselves, become the costume artists, set crew, and sing in the Opera chorus of a delightful version of the “Three Little Pigs.” Energetic, and fast-paced, “Opera works!” proves that Opera really can be fun!

STORYTELLING Steffani Raff has developed short storytelling sessions to engage children in an interactive performance to spontaneously co-create a story. These entertaining storytelling performances will develop literacy, listening and visualization skills. Along with these skills, children will be invited to write and/or retell their own version of the story Steffani performs. 

MINI MAESTROS – Join Peabody as he welcomes Jay, a Musical Time Traveler, back from the past! Together with the help of each other and a time machine, we’ll excavate masterpieces, instruments, and all kinds of artifacts from another epoch and learn some musical mastery along the way. Maybe they’ll have some surprises from the future, too…? (available for virtual assemblies in Northern Utah and in person assemblies in Southern Utah).