Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Ecourageing Your Child to Think Creatively

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Creativity is an impactful and important component of a child’s development. Creativity involves forging new connections, expanding one’s wealth of knowledge, and fostering new creations. Encourage your child to explore the following activities that will help get their creative juices flowing:
Dance
Dancing is an activity that blends together creativity and fitness. Enroll your child in dance lessons to see them build strength, become more flexible, and flourish creatively. Dancing inspires kids to develop different connections and interpret and portray different emotions and ideas. It’s a great lifelong activity that blends creativity and athleticism.


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Theater
To help enrich imaginations and develop creativity, enroll your kids in community theater shows and acting camps. Whether they are putting on plays at Thanksgiving dinner with the cousins or starring in school plays, you child can flourish by playing diverse characters, developing storytelling skills, and imaginatively interpreting ideas. Additionally, your child can hone language proficiency and memorization skills. These skills can help improve your child’s reading, writing, and communication abilities.
Music
The ability to sing, play instruments, and engage in music has long been connected to high academic achievement and high creative ability. Music has the ability to soothe, to inspire, and to help kids’ imaginations soar to great heights. Music also has the ability to help people of all ages empathize with a songwriter’s ideas and a singer’s emotions. Encourage your child to try new instruments and listen to different genres of music to ignite their creative spark!


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Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts can be a general term, but kids of all ages and interests can encourage their own imaginations by visual expression. Whether through paint, clay, or other mediums, children can develop many parts of their brains—and even personalities—by exploring art. Visual art engages many areas of a child’s brain, including parts that dominate decision making, physical movement, memory, and planning. Encourage your child to sketch, paint, and build. Try out activities that include color mixing, block-building, collage making, and more!
No matter your child’s interests, creativity can enhance every aspect and activity that your child encounters. By providing different resources and activities, your child will have the opportunity to explore new experiences.


To encourage your child to flex those creative muscles, encourage them to participate in the Lakeville Area Arts Center. Our theater and artful workshops can be an excellent companion to the upcoming school year. New classes will be starting soon. For more information on our performance opportunities and classes, check out the Lakeville Area Arts Center website today.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Must-See Summer Performances at the Lakeville Area Arts Center


For a fun and memorable summer, art, creativity, and spontaneity should be in abundance! Here are three upcoming theater performances that you must see this summer at the Lakeville Area Arts Center.
Snow White*
Presented by: Prairie Fire Children's Theatre
Camp dates: July 11-16
Performance dates: July 15-16
Why you should see it: A beloved fairy tale, the story of Snow White will be reimagined with the talented and creative minds at the Prairie Fire Children’s Theater. This theater classic depicts the story of Princess Snow White, a young girl cast away by a wicked and devious step-mother. Finding friendship with seven hard-working dwarves and love with a charming and handsome prince, Snow White must make her way home.
Register here.
Arsenic & Lace
Presented by: Expressions Community Theater
When: August 5-7 at 7:30 p.m., August 11-14 at 2 p.m.
Why you should see it: This classic black comedy is centered on Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic who must face his two homicidal spinster aunts, an older brother who believes he is a Teddy Roosevelt-reincarnate, and another murderous, plastic-surgery loving brother who has disfigured his own face to hide past crimes. Mortimer Brewster also has to decide if he wants to marry the woman of his dreams or move on to a life of bachelorhood. It’s hilarious, it’s unconventional, and it’s a must-see show.
Purchase tickets here.
Jack & the Beanstalk*
Presented by: Prairie Fire Children's Theatre
Camp dates: August 15-20
Performance dates: August 19 & 20
Why you should see it: “Fee-fi-fo-fum!” And thus begins the most exciting tale of a giant who lives in a castle in the sky, a towering bean plant, magic beans, and a boy named Jack. This classic English fairy tale will transport you back to an enchanting, charming, and simpler time.
Register here.
*For all camp theater shows, the Prairie Fire Children’s Theater will provide instruction, costumes, music, and sets. Upon completion of registration, all registered children will be invited to perform on stage. Auditions will take place on the first day of camp while rehearsal and performance dates will be announced shortly.


Don’t miss out on these exciting and memorable theater shows! Visit the Lakeville Community Events Calendar for more information on wonderful creative classes for children and adults this summer.