R.Evolucion to Host 8th Annual Children's Performing Arts Camp

Broadway and NYC performing artists once again will donate their time and talents as teaching artists at the 8th Annual Dare to Go Beyond (D2GB) Children's Performing Arts Camp, hosted by R.Evolución Latina (RL).

Over 250 children of all cultural backgrounds will take part in the week-long educational program that will run from August 10th through August 14th, at Pearl Studios in Manhattan. It is the only free and bilingual Broadway summer camp in New York.

The camp will align with the organization's 2015 focus of "Tell Your Story", empowering campers and teaching artists alike to share their stories. With the belief that every individual has their own unique story that can inspire others. Founder Director Luis Salgado says, "More and more we realize the need to be heard that our society has. Our kids more than anyone else need an ear to listen and show them they matter and that their stories are of importance to our world and to their direct society. This is why we focus in giving them the space to voice their hearts and minds by telling their stories under a safe artistic environment."

This year Matthew Steffens associate choreographer of Zhivago and Queen of the Night will take the helm of the camp as RL artistic director Luis Salgado travels to Puerto Rico to direct Jala-La-Pala the new Spanish version of David Mamet's Speed the Plow.

"I can't tell you how excited I am to start the D2GB Children's Performing Arts Camp for the 8th YEAR! 8 YEARS! It is seldom that you can touch so many kids from such varied ages and backgrounds in the inspiring way this volunteer staff and group of teachers will in just one week. Some of the staff have been with us for all 8 years and some are joining us for the first time, but we all share the common goal of DARING TO GO BEYOND! " Matthew Steffens

Founded in 2008, the D2GB Children's Performing Arts Camp provides free-of-charge classes in dance, voice, acting and other performance disciplines to children ages 7 to 17 from multiple schools and community organizations from across the city. The curriculum focuses on the arts to develop skills in leadership, collaboration, respect, and self-awareness, while promoting health, fitness, environmental awareness, and civic engagement. The teaching artists are noted Broadway and international performers.

Teaching artists in the past have included Anika Larsen (Beautiful), Rickey Tripp (Motown), Andy Karl (On the Twentieth Century) Stephanie Klemons (Hamilton). Teaching artists in 2015 include Becca Green (Ave Q), Blanca Camacho (In The Heights), Greer Gisy (In The Heights), Jose-Luis Lopez (In The Heights), Martin Sola (On Your Feet), Matthew Steffens (Zhivago, Queen of the Night), Mayte Natalio (The Big Show), Morgan Marcel (Hamilton), Okieriete Onaodowan (Hamilton), Seth Stewart (Hamilton), Jerome Harmann (Dirty Dancing, the musical), Tom Feeney (Flash Dance), (ROCKY) members of Gotham City Cheerleaders and Bomba-YO. More names will be announced in the following days.

Participating campers were registered in partnership with community organizations and social service agencies from the city of New York, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. This year the camp received close to 400 applications. 2015 registration is currently closed.

"I gained lots of confidence in myself through the power of the arts. I learned from this program that no matter who you are, everyone is special. No matter what race you are, anything you set your mind to is possible. Even if I decide not to use performing arts as a future career, I will still carry every lesson from this program for the rest of my life. I love performing arts and sharing my talents with others. If not, I would not be the person I am today." 2015 Camper Applicant, 15 years old

The program is possible through the generosity of the Herman Goldman Foundation. Additional support is provided by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and Pearl Studios.