ABOUT US
Welcome to PROJECT PERFORMING ARTS in Harlem
where children and teens explore, discover, and experience the magic of the performing arts. Located in Catholic Charities' Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Community Center, known to generations of Harlem families, PPA classes are taught in a non-traditional setting, and in non-traditional spaces.
At Project Performing Arts, Dance, and Theater Arts classes along with West African, and Bucket Drumming are available to children and youth in a robust schedule of Saturday classes. In addition, IMANI Dance, a Pre-professional dance program provides a 2 and a 1/2-hour workshop class on Friday with accompanying Saturday technique/style classes.
PPA provides a year long school program that consist of one, fall/winter 17-week semester and a winter/spring 17- week semester. The fall/winter and winter/spring sessions offer classes where children/teens are exposed to and enriched by participation in performing arts classes. The PPA program of dance, theater arts and drumming classes are age appropriate and offers a skill developmental curriculum and instruction .
The fall/winter session culminates with a Parent/Family Open House at the end of January while the winter/spring session of the PPA year culminates in June with OnSTAGE! The Recital.
HISTORY
PROJECT PERFORMING ARTS began its first day of DANCE, THEATER ARTS and DRUMMING, West African and Bucket classes on Saturday, September 14, 2013.
PPA instructors are arts educators, and performing and teaching artists from diverse professional backgrounds. With over 50 years combined teaching experience, in addition to 7 to 24 years working together as a creative team, PPA instructors strive to provide children and teens quality performing arts experiences, and training.
Many Project Performing Arts classes and instructors are supported in class by the assistance of students from our Pre-professional program: IMANI Dance. It is the understanding that these young Pre-professional students are role models. They are the reflection of commitment, and display the discipline and responsibility of young professionals in the arts.
PPA is also supported by the presence of alumni who have established careers in the arts as educators, choreographers, directors, actors, dancers and musicians. These alumni return as instructors, master teachers, choreographers, and accompanists; they continue to be the inspiration for art experiences and art instruction in a child's life.
