Usdan to Host School Break Open House, 2/18

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, announces The New Usdan with many new courses for 2015. The Center begins its 48tth season with new program options that will add breadth to Usdan¹s 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 next, free Open House for the new season is on Wednesday February 18 from 11 AM to 2 PM at the Center¹s 200-acre woodland campus, at 185 Colonial Springs Road, Wheatley Heights (Huntington), New York 11798. For information and reservations, call (631) 643-7900, write toinfo@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 Usdan¹s special and successful 3-week season will launch in 2015. The new session will begin as Usdan¹s season opens on June 29, while the second 3-week session will begin on July 27. These options are in addition to Usdan¹s traditional 7-week and 4-week sessions.

In addition to the Center¹s 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 Fall and Winter.

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 Usdan¹s students receive scholarship assistance based on family need. Video from many of Usdan¹s programs and special events, may now be viewed on the Center¹s website, http://www.usdan.com as well as on YouTube. Also, families can check out Usdan¹s Facebook site, where additional information and late-breaking news is featured.

Future Open Houses during 2014-15 will be on Sundays, March 15, April 19, and May 17, all from 11 AM to 2 PM.