Dawa Theatre Group's School of Dramatic Arts enrolling for 2009 summer session

Pre-registration is underway for The Dawa Theatre Group 2009 Annual Summer Session, running Jun. 15 thru Jul. 30 from 9 am - 2 pm at The ArtSpace - Art Hotel Gallery, located at 1112 S. Akard St., Dallas, Texas.

The program is open to high school and college students, adults and seniors. Only 35 students will be accepted per session. Lunch is provided.

Founder and Artistic Director, Jus Dawa-Colibri, was educated at San Francisco State University and the Playwrights Horizon Theatre School in New York City. As a playwright, actor and director, he produced his first commissioned works with the "Robeson Players" and "The Circle Theatre" in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In later years, Jus worked as both actor and assistant with the Gbakanda Tiata Group and Professor Yulisa Amadu Maddy, Author/Playwright of "Give Us Free" - The Amistad Revolt at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia.

In 2001, the acclaimed Dawa Theatre Group was founded in the West End of Atlanta, Georgia. Original productions of Bitter Reflections Do Not Flatter and Masters of the Dew, with Dawa-Colibri at the helm as both Playwright and Director, were received by only positive reviews and new friendships.

By 2007, a partnership between the Ayoluwa African Dance Theatre and The Dawa Theatre Group was formed, producing cultural benefits in Aiken, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia. Particularly known for full stage productions with casts of up to 30 onstage players, Dawa has taken their productions out of Georgia with a traveling troupe, dramatic arts courses and lectures.

Today, the Dawa School of Dramatic Arts has conducted courses and workshops in Aiken, SC, Atlanta, GA, and Dallas, TX, culminated by sold out performance graduations.

At the Dawa School of Dramatic Arts, members of Dawa Theatre Group and other guest lecturers educate, train and inspire students of theatre in a conservatory setting that is rigorous, disciplined, culturally diverse and strives for the highest level of professional skill and artistry.

Dawa students are engaged in Literature and Theatre Traditions, African Philosophy, Dramatic Style and Purpose, Acting Methods and the Working Theatre throughout their training. Upon graduation from their 6 week course, Dawa students produce a full stage graduation performance, as well as receive an audition for the upcoming season's traveling troupe of the Dawa Theatre Group.

The curriculum includes:

THEORY

• The Meaning of Nommo and Kuntu - African Concept of the "Word" & The Function of Art
• The Author, the Play and The Audience
• The Importance of People's Theatre
• Epic Theatre vs. Dramatic Theatre
• Theatre of Situations - Virtues & Vices of Tragedy
• Actor or Player? A case study of Kean, England's Greatest Tragic Actor
• Lessons from Bertolt Brecht - German Playwright & Theatre Theorist

PRAXIS

• The Comic Actor
• Theatre and Cinema Acting
• Elements of Method Acting - An introduction to Constantin Sergeyevich Stanislavsky, The Man & His Work
• Writing a Play - Fundamental Questions a Writer must ask
• Critique & Analyses of Student's Plays
• From Writing a Play to Production
• Performance Graduation

Tuition is $750 for the full session or $150 per week. A $50 pre-registration deposit is required. Those interested can apply in person by calling 214-296-7284 or go online at www.dawatheatre.com. 

All applications for payment plans and scholarships must be made in person or by phone. Contact Jus Dawa-Colibri, Founder/Artistic Director at jus@dawatheatre.com or Jasmine Dawa-Colibri, Executive Director at jas.dawacolibri@gmail.com. 

For more info: Call 214-296-7284 or email jus@dawatheatre.com.

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