IMAGINATION STAGE INC
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : d*********t@i**************e.o*g
Mission Statement
Imagination Stage empowers all young people to discover their voice and identity through performing arts education and professional theatre.
About This Cause
Imagination Stage is the largest and most respected multi-disciplinary theatre arts organization for young people in the Mid-Atlantic region. We offer a year-round season of professional shows (adult actors performing for families and classes), after-school programs and summer camps for ages 1-18, and arts-integration professional development training for teachers, students, schools, and families. All of our programs are informed by our core belief in making the arts inclusive and accessible to all children, regardless of their physical, cognitive, or financial status. Vision Imagination Stage envisions a future where theatre experiences are a fundamental aspect of children's lives, nourishing their creative spirit, inspiring them to embrace the complexity and diversity of their world, and helping them overcome their challenges with hope, courage and, above all, creativity. Background Imagination Stage was founded as BAPA (Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts) in 1979 in response to the urgent need for arts education for young people. The company was renamed Imagination Stage in 2001 in anticipation of its move to its downtown Bethesda theatre arts center in 2003. Imagination Stage has grown from a handful of children in a single classroom to a full-spectrum theatre arts organization, with theatre productions by professional actors and artists. Unlike most children's theatre companies, Imagination Stage commissions new works for children every year. These productions have been recognized with awards and productions by other companies around the world. Imagination Stage's education program includes the nationally recognized arts integration residencies and professional development model: Imagination Quest, expansive after school education programs based in a unique pedagogy expanding from the multiple intelligences theory of Howard Gardner, and nationally-acclaimed programs for children with disabilities. Every year nearly 120,000 children and their families attend our professional performances, and participate in our classes and student performances. Imagination Stage is the east coast's première children's theatre and arts education organization. Acting and Musical Theatre Classes As students explore the worlds of acting and musical theatre, they grow from the world of play to applying more advanced, specialized training. All classes, regardless of age, foster personal growth, teamwork, and creativity. Creative Drama Kindergarten through Grade 3, students use storytelling, books, and songs as springboards to explore characters through structured, creative, and fun activities culminating in short scenes or skits created by the students. Through various drama, music, movement, and visual art activities, these classes also promote confidence, self-esteem, and creative expression, while working on skills such as active listening and sharing. Acting Technique Grades 4-5 students transition to Acting Technique: the actors’ process of creating three dimensional characters and truthful actions for the stage. Classes utilize theater games, guided improvisation activities, and scene work to develop characterization and script analysis skills. Classes culminate in a sharing of 2-3 person scenes. Grades 6-8, 7-12, and 9-12 classes continue to hone the core concepts of acting: from script analysis to performance skill building. As the acting student matures in his or her performance skills, they are encouraged to delve more analytically, and more emotionally, into each of those concepts. Students learn to apply interplay and spontaneity, as well as work on transitions and moments of decision. Musical Theatre The Musical Theatre program at Imagination Stage is passionate about teaching singing technique that will promote vocal health and longevity, as well instilling the importance of acting technique. Many musical theatre programs focus only on performer charisma and vocal volume, neither of which will not sustain the performer in high school or college (or beyond!). Students begin their voice training by developing proper breathing habits and posture, gradually building their technique with proper sound placement, mouth shapes and vocal dynamics working to produce clear, full singing voices. They also learn to create sustainable characters and to make motivated character choices on stage. Dance Classes Imagination Stage offers fun, non-competitive dance classes for students of all abilities, in grades K-12, meeting the needs of dancers at every stage of their development. Dance classes allow students to explore a variety of dance styles, including musical theatre, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, lyrical, and ballet. Filmmaking The Filmmaking Program (Grades 5-12) is a progressive and comprehensive curriculum that offers introductory through advanced filmmaking classes, encouraging students to dicover their distinctive artistic voice. The program focuses on filmmaking technique, emphasising the pre-production process, visual storytelling, and artistic style. Working in a hands-on environment with state-of-the-art equipment, young filmmakers develop their skills in the pre-production/production process and post-production techniques. Film students in intermediate and advanced classes work as an ensemble to create short projects from the planning and pre-production stages through production and editing. Dedicated film students can continue to the Film Conservatory (Grades 9-12) where they will study advanced techniques in lighting, cinematography, and directing, with an emphasis on working with actors in rehearsal and during production (permission of instructor required). This class is designed as a stepping-stone for those students with an interest in moving on to the Independent Study Program and/or college. Access and Inclusion at Imagination Stage Imagination Stage encourages children of all abilities to discover and develop their full creative potential through the performing arts. We work with students and their caregivers to identify and provide the most successful scenario for each student whether in a peer-group Access class or in a general classroom setting with reasonable and appropriate inclusion supports. All placements provide children a safe and welcoming environment to develop and enhance language, gross motor, developmental, cognitive, social and life-learning skills.