York Little Theatre Announces New Theatre Classes at The Belmont Academy, Beg. 3/3

York Little Theatre (YLT) has introduced The Belmont Academy, YLT's new educational component. The mission of YLT's Belmont Academy is to provide a well-rounded education in the area of the performing arts. Classes will incorporate and instruct many diverse genres, as well as facilitate each student's self-discovery of his/her own artistic gifts, enriching themselves, their community and society at large.

These classes will provide instruction of the highest quality, with highly acclaimed professional instructors on staff. Each student's skills will not only be discovered, but professionally developed as well.

New classes begin the week of March 3rd. For more information and to enroll, contact YLT at (717) 854-3894.

The new classes to be offered are as follows:

THEATRE DANCE PROGRAM
Theater Dance classes taught by Rachel Cyr from EMC Performing Arts Studio will give your child a "leg up" when auditioning for musicals! Class will begin with a short warm-up, followed by basic patterns and foundational steps that are often used by show choreographers. Auditioning skills will be discussed as a part of the class curriculum. Students will also learn classroom etiquette and tips for picking up choreography quickly. Students will develop a combination from week to week which will culminate in an informal showing for parents on the last day of class. The class will be instructed by Rachel Cyr. It costs $60/month and will be Wednesdays from 6:00-7:00pm (ages 7-11) and 7:00-8:00pm (ages 12 and up).

VOCAL PERFORMANCE INSTRUCTION
Students will receive formal vocal training that will make them able to perform music of almost any genre. They will also learn how to protect their voices from overuse, illnesses, etc. Singers will receive a thorough technical training that will increase their chances in auditions. Music reading skills will help them with sight singing, which is included in many different audition settings. Singers will learn in a safe environment where the teachers will focus on hard work. The student will also learn to enjoy the process of working hard and seeing the results.

Classes will be available as private lessons, offered as 30 minute or 60 minute lessons depending on the singer's age and abilities. One half of the vocal lesson time will be devoted to technique which will build a strong foundation for the singer. The second half of the lesson will focus on songs for performance. Students will learn repertoire that they are interested in and the teacher will also recommend songs. All students will work toward performance of the songs that they are learning. The instructors will be Bethany Corley and Chalet Harris. The cost is $30/hour and $15/half hour and times are arranged with the teacher.

NOW PLAYING ON BROADWAY
"Now Playing on Broadway" is a course designed for young people ages 8 to 15 who are interested in learning more about musical theater. It will include exploration of various musical shows to offer a better understanding of what the authors and composers had in mind. Individual songs will be studied for their meaning and interpretation and students will choose songs which they wish to perform for a showcase at the end of each month. Techniques for presentation will be offered and learning audition skills will be high-lighted. The instructor is Jacquie Sutton. It costs $60/month and will be held Wednesdays from 5:00-6:00pm.

ACTING CLASS (Ages 13 and up)
In this acting class, students will discover their characters through rigorous training. Using the intense exercises created by Uta Hagen, Emily will train her students to approach their characters in a way that goes beyond the character description provided in the script. Students will apply substitution when researching their characters, thus discovering themselves within their roles. The instructor is Emily Falvey. It costs $60/month and will be held Wednesdays from 6:00-7:00pm.

CREATIVE DRAMATICS (AGES 3-5)
This wonderful introduction to theater is perfect for the budding actor or the shy wallflower looking to come out of their shell! Working with your child's already active imagination, we'll introduce the theatrical concepts of movement, vocalization, and character development. Through a variety of theater games and activities, students will become comfortable letting their wildest ideas come to life! This class is not performance based, but we will share our favorite games with parents on the last day. The instructor is Victoria Schmidt. It costs $40/month and will be held Tuesdays from 4:30-5:00pm.

INTRODUCTION TO THEATER (AGES 5-8)
For the child ready to let out their inner performer, this class will show you how! We will be exploring the theatrical concepts of movement, vocalization, and character development. In addition, students will also learn more about the theater space and a little theater terminology. With theater games and activities, students will develop the skills and work together to create their own mini production to be shared. The instructor is Victoria Schmidt. It costs $60/month and will be held Tuesdays from 5:00-6:00pm.

THEATER ESSENTIALS (AGES 8-12)
Calling all young thespians! Here's the opportunity to develop your skills and learn some new ones. Through games, group activities and scene study, we will delve deeper into bringing a story and a character to life on the stage. Students will also increase their knowledge of the theater at-large (the rehearsal process, etiquette, terminology, etc.), and begin to explore the areas of comedy, drama and musical performance. A showcase of work will be presented. The instructor is Victoria Schmidt. It costs $60/month and will be held Tuesdays from 6:00-7:00pm.

YOUTH ART CLASS
In weekly classes, students, ages 4-14, work in a variety of media, including charcoal, pastel, graphite, watercolor, and acrylics. They learn the use of proper shape and proportion along with compositional skills and are encouraged to explore color, style, and individual expression. As students advance, they learn how to compose and begin a painting, mix colors, use brushes and discover the creative and technical versatility of acrylic painting. They experiment with acrylic techniques as well as composition, color mixing and layering, color harmony, design and brush technique.

Our program encourages individual expression while teaching new skills, ideas and techniques. Materials, concepts, and techniques are carefully selected according to the student's age and ability. The instructors are New Freedom Art Instructors. It costs $45/month and will be held Mondays from 5:30-6:30pm and 6:30-7:30pm.