NJPAC Performing Arts School to Host Free Open House This Month

For the first time, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center hosts a free, three-day Open House as part of its Young Artist Institute for students ages 10 to 18. Young people of all proficiency levels - from those who dream of a Broadway stage career to promising jazz musicians - are invited to explore their creativity in classes held from Sept. 20-22 in the Center for Arts Education.

Scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m., the classes include hip-hop, musical theater, dance, jazz, band and film, all taught by NJPAC faculty members - many of whom are professional artists. The Open House offers an introduction to the after-school and Saturday programs of NJPAC's Young Artist Institute, which nurtures the talents of aspiring performers and showcases their accomplishments in an end-of-semester performance project.

Advance registration is recommended for Open House, although walk-ins are welcome. Registration forms are available by clicking to njpac.org/openhouse, by calling (973) 353-7058, or by emailing artseducation@njpac.org. All activities take place in the Center for Arts Education, 24 Rector St., around the corner from NJPAC's main building.

During Open House, hip-hop, band and jazz are offered on Tuesday, Sept. 20 and Thursday, Sept. 22; musical theater and dance on Wednesday, Sept. 21; and film on Tuesday, Sept. 20. A full schedule is available at njpac.org/openhouse.

Generous support for NJPAC's Performing Arts Training programs is provided, in part, by: Merck Foundation; ADP; Atlantic, Tomorrow's Office; Women's Association of NJPAC; NJM Insurance Group; Prudential Foundation; Wells Fargo; and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

NJPAC's Arts Education offerings reach more than 75,000 students, families and educators through live performances, in-school residency programs and arts training classes. These programs bring the joy of dance, music, theater, and poetry directly to the classroom. Through innovative residencies, Teaching Artists create stimulating performing arts experiences that engage students' imaginations and build self-confidence through positive self-expression. Residencies help students learn to work together and develop their creative independence.

In addition to NJPAC's In-School Programs, the Arts Center's comprehensive Arts Education Department offers an Arts Training Program that helps students at every level learn the artistic and technical skills they need to study acting, dance, instrumental music, vocal music, and musical theater. NJPAC also presents a SchoolTime Performance Series, which introduces students and their families to a world of entertainment and culture. NJPAC's Arts Education programs feature professional artists from a wide variety of traditions and performances of music, dance, storytelling, puppetry, and more.

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center is the State's largest arts education provider for young artists and is one of the top arts education providers in the country.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States and is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey - where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state's and the world's best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted more than 10 million visitors (including over 1.5 million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. Visit njpac.org or call 1-888-GO-NJPAC for more information.

Photo Credit: Norman DeShong

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