Usdan to Host Final Open House of 2015, 5/17

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts (www.usdan.com), the nationally acclaimed summer arts day camp whose alumni include Natalie Portman, Mariah Carey, Jane Monheit, Jackie Hoffman, Olivia Thirlby, Taylor Dane and many others, will hold its final Open House for the 2015, 48th season on Sunday May 17 from 11 AM to 2 PM. The Center will feature new program options that will add breadth to Usdan's renowned offerings, while new calendar options will accommodate more family summer plans.

In addition, Usdan will now offer Aftercare, from 3:05 to 6 PM each camp day, at no extra charge, for busy and working parents. The Open House will be at the Center's 200-acre woodland campus, at 185 Colonial Springs Road, Wheatley Heights (Huntington), New York 11798. For information and reservations, call (631) 643-7900, write to info@usdan.com, or visit www.usdan.com.

New Dance programs include Hip hop (for grades 4-12, intermediate level), Beginning Combination Dance (grades 4-12, incorporating jazz, lyrical, theater and modern dance styles), and Lyrical Dance (grades 4-12, combining ballet and jazz). The Art Department will offer classes in Sewing and Fashion Design, beginner and advanced, where students can both design and create their clothes, Architecture Design (grades 7-12, building design principles, drawing and model-making), and Lego Design (grades 2-12), a program that uses Legos to create works of art and building design.

In Recreation, new courses include Yoga, Archery and Quidditch (the non-Wizard version), all for grades 2-12. In addition, for students age 15 and up there will be a course in Lifeguarding, one leading to American Red Cross certification (proof of advanced swimming ability is required, plus a supplemental fee).

A second session of Usdan's special and successful 3-week season will launch in 2015. The new session will begin as Usdan's season opens on June 29, while the second 3-week session will begin on July 27. These options are in addition to Usdan's traditional 7-week and 4-week sessions.

In addition to the Center's frequent Open House dates, Usdan offers individual weekend guided tours available by appointment. Weekday self-guided walks are also available. For directions to the Center, visit www.usdan.com. For an appointment, call 631-643-7900 (Visitors must be 21 years of age or accompanied by a parent). Families who cannot attend an Open House may make individual appointments for visits on weekends or weekdays throughout the spring.

Usdan Center offers more than 40 programs in music, dance, theater, visual arts, creative writing, nature and ecology and chess, annually hosting more than 1,600 students from towns throughout the Tri-State New York area. No audition is needed for most courses, and transportation is provided in air- conditioned buses that depart from most New York-area neighborhoods. One- third of Usdan's students receive scholarship assistance based on family need. Video from many of Usdan's programs and special events, may now be viewed on the Center's website, http://www.usdan.com as well as on YouTube. Also, families can check out Usdan's Facebook site, where additional information and late-breaking news is featured. One recent special event has been free art exhibits at the lobby gallery of 430 Park Avenue in Manhattan, showcasing the work of almost two dozen Usdan students. Their work will then be shown in May at Manhattan's UJA on East 59th Street.

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts is open to all young people from age 6 to 18. Although the mission of the Center is for every child to establish a relationship with the arts, the unique stimulation of the Center has caused many to go on to arts careers. Alumni include members of Broadway shows and major music, theater, and dance ensembles such as the Boston Pops and the New York City Ballet. In addition to its regular programs, Usdan offers special opportunities for advanced high school- age performing and visual artists. These include Music Staff Internships and a Musical Rep Theatre Ensemble. Usdan Center is an agency of the UJA-Federation of New York.