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Our Programs
Blast Off to Health
Join award-winning musician and master storyteller Dino O'Dell for a dose of healthy fun. Dino introduces students to a cowboy, a space alien and five singing carrots in a show that teaches nutrition, healthy activities, the "crash" of eating junk food, and the...
Care-full Stories
Young children learn to care for the people in their daily lives with children’s librarian Marilyn Lane. From Goldilocks who returns to apologize to the Three Bears, to the forest animals who snuggle with the bear to stay warm, students’ visualization skills are...
Character Travel
For children, it’s amazing how fun fabrics, interesting props, music and movement can create a whole new world of characters. Ed Reggi facilitates this discovery as students use theatrical improvisation to try on new languages, customs and cultures. This workshop...
Creating a Storytelling Classroom
Through demonstrations, interactive instructional models and lively discussion, this training seminar will explore the ways in which storytelling and folktales can enliven and inform the character education classroom, thus awakening the “moral imagination.”...
Dance as Joy
In this program, South Indian movement artist Aparna Tara shares her multicultural dance experience to encourage students to create movement practices that work best for them. Students explore styles from around the world, ranging from Indian dance, yoga, West African...
Dance to the Drum, Drum to the Dance
Join Kunama Mtendaji on an exciting journey exploring the rhythmic textures of African percussion through music and dance. This program will focus on either the folklore of the United States, or areas in West Africa, Haiti, and Cuba, and will emphasize the languages,...
Designed to Move
Note: This program can only be delivered virtually. Designed to Move is a 3-5 day virtual professional development residency for classroom teachers led by dance educator and seasoned teaching artist Sarah Council. Program participants will acquire a variety of...
Discovering the World Around Us
Students will hear tales of discovery — woods and streams, creatures large and small, changing seasons, and the mysteries emerging from a variety of ecosystems. Supported by a Missouri Master Naturalist, they will have the opportunity to experience nature in their...
Dramatic Play Through Puppetry
Guided by puppeteer Paul Vandivort, students in this program learn to use puppets to enter imaginary worlds and to act out stories. In small groups, students practice cooperation while playing games that teach math, phonics and public speaking skills. Creating their...
Eat Like a Rabbit, Swim in Peanut Butter and Other Healthy Tricks
Dino, the Nutrition Musician, communicates his message about healthy food and an active lifestyle through interactive music and stories, engaging children with finger plays, movement, fill-in-the-blank lyrics, counting, dramatic expression and humor. The students meet...
Essence of Poetry
Consenses STL's Poetry Box Project explores poetry through a multistage arts immersion experience in which students engage in wordplay and a variety of mixed media to create both individual work, as well as complete a collective presentations that ultimately form an...
Ethnic Percussion
This cross-disciplinary program builds students’ self-esteem, increases their concentration and problem-solving abilities, and fosters their belief in both the importance of their work as an individual and their role in the community. In this way, it correlates very...
FIRE DOG Roll
FIRE DOG engages students in an entertaining and interactive performance that shares songs and stories in creative ways. Students take a rock and roll journey where they meet Missouri’s endangered “Hellbender” Salamander, take an airplane to the Amazon, walk with the...
Haitian Market Dance
Join award winning musician Rodney Lindor on a voyage to Haiti. Students will experience Rabordy, Djoumba and Contradance all set to the rhythms of the Haitian Drums. With an afternoon at a lively marketplace as the backdrop, students will explore the culture of Haiti...
Heart of the Story
Students learn the many ways a story can be told in this innovative program taught by storyteller and puppeteer Daniel Romano. Each week they will be engaged in a folktale through storytelling, read-alouds, role plays, and/or puppet shows, comparing and contrasting...
I am a Storyteller
Bring out the natural storyteller in your students in this performance/literacy program! Students are immersed in folktales, written and oral, from Anansi trickster tales to tall tales of John Henry and Paul Bunyan. They then select, adapt, and learn a story to...
Improv Theater!
Improv Theater! is a unique theater class that combines theater games, acting techniques, and improvisation in a mix of adventure and creative exploration. Students create impromptu scenes and characters in a fun and supportive environment. Additionally, this class...
Instant Improv
Using students’ suggestions, school themes or curriculum connections, Ed Reggi and two ensemble members of Paper Slip Theatre create a play for your students. In addition to watching the play unfold before their eyes, audience members participate by portraying...
Interstellar Counting Systems for Space Aliens (and Kids)
Students are engaged through interactive stories and songs that incorporate finger plays, movement, fill-in-the-blank lyrics, counting, and dramatic expression. During this musical journey, Dino and the students discover monsters under the bed, help a space alien fix...
Joia Passport: Rhythms Around the World
This fifty-minute interactive concert will take students on a journey around the world through rhythm! Students stamp their passports, get on an airplane, and away they go to Brazil, Africa, Cuba, The Caribbean, and Japan. They also learn hand-clapping rhythms so they...
Juggling Jeff’s Diabetes Show
R.E. Porter visits Dr. Dave and learns about the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, what insulin is, as well as diabetes management and prevention. Lots of audience interaction and several demonstrations with audience volunteers! Audience: Grades K-8...
Juggling Jeff’s Jester History
A healer? Dietitian? Social equality leader? Entertainer? That's right - we are talking about the medieval jester! A 45 min. presentation on the historical medieval jester. Includes audience interaction, volunteers, juggling, comedy and more. Audience: Grades K-8...
Juggling To Read
Reading is everything! It allows us to communicate with each other, learn new things, pass on history, be entertained, explore the world and pass notes to each other! It also helps us to drive! Everything you see in the show can be learned in a book! What will you...
Language of Creative Movement
Bring the concepts and stories of your curriculum to life through the kinesthetic intelligence with a veteran dancer and primary grades educator. In this program, the elements of creative movement are the vehicle for exploring curricular content which is chosen by...
Making it Happen!
What do you want to be? Jeff wanted to be an entertainer but he didn’t know how. He took a trip to the library, checked out some books and started learning. With effort, focus, perseverance and a good mentor – Jeff practiced and learned how to entertain. He didn’t...
Messages in the Media
Ed Reggi leads a variety of theater games, hands-on projects and video presentations where students analyze the effects of media messages on their community’s attitudes and sharpen their own media literacy skills. Each student creates a mini-commercial in the form of...
Mindful Movement
Mindful Movement introduces students to awareness of self, space and community using creative movement and dance. The program will lead students through a series of activities that will reduce stress and anxiety, enhance focus, and explore empathy and emotions in a...
Mindful Movements for the Soul
Mindful Movements for the Soul will introduce students to mindfulness through yoga. Students will engage in breathing exercises and intentional movement to learn to listen to their bodies and minds. Students will always choose and feel empowered to take their yoga...
Mission Improvable
Discover the creative world of improvisational dramatics. While constructing a short play based on a classroom theme, children experience the improvisation arts of pantomime, storytelling and spontaneous character. Ed Reggi chooses from more than 50 improvisation...
Money Magic
Jeff wants a puppy. He wants a puppy more than anything so he asks his mom if he can get one. She says, “If you’re grown up enough to earn the money, then you’re grown up enough to take care of a puppy.” With the help of a zany cast of characters, Jeff learns to WORK...
Moral of the Story
Research tells us that the BEST way for young children to learn how to treat others is through stories that help them develop empathy and understanding. These fun-filled stories do just that without a single moment of preaching or didactic-ism! Also available for...
Motivation, Interaction and Space Aliens: How to Trick Earthlings into Learning
Professional Development for K-2 classroom teachers and Elementary School Music Teachers Earthlings learn best when they are engaged. And they are engaged best when they are interactive. Dino O'Dell's workshops focus on engaging intrinsic motivators in three areas:...
Move, Create and Collaborate
Note: This program can only be delivered virtually. Move, Create and Collaborate is a 3-5 day arts-integrated, virtual creative dance residency that engages students in an exploration of classroom curriculum through movement and dance-making. Working together over...
Musical Traditions from the Middle East
Featuring a wide array of exotic instruments, this performance focuses on the rich musical heritage of the Jews, Arabs and Persians. Through ancient stories and song, two of St. Louis’ most talented multi-instrumentalists, Farshid Soltanshahi, a native of Iran, and...
On Your Toes: Exploring Story Through Ballet
This program introduces students to the art of classical ballet. In the first half of the residency, they focus on the discipline and technique of ballet, learning proper posture and numerous ballet steps, the French words for the steps and their meaning in English....
Play by Play Shakespeare
Students participate in interactive exercises designed to introduce them to Shakespeare’s poetry. They physically respond to lines of dialogue, perform scenes and play with the bard’s words; exploring word order, rhythm and emphasis. Throughout the workshop, they...
Rhythms, Rhymes & Raps: Poetry, Prose & Rap Stories
Kids discover the music of poetry through a rollicking multi-cultural tour of raps and traditional verse. Bobby turns traditional tales, such as “Little Red Riding Hood” or “The Three Billy’s Goat’s Gruff,” into finger-snapping, toe-tapping verse. He transforms...
Samba Blast!
A hands-on, team-building rocket blast to Brazil! With authentic instruments, students will build a satisfying musical ensemble in only fifty minutes. This workshop is fast-paced, powerful, and a joy for students. Great for International days or a one-time amazing...
Smiling at Diversity: Billboard Project
During this socially-minded studio arts program students will design a community billboard proposal. Lessons in drawing, color theory, painting, bookmaking and collage will prepare students with visual and conceptual tactics that can be used in all categories of...
Songs Can Change the World
During this sing-along for little folks, young children build community and experience joy as they keep the tradition of American folk music alive. This residency includes singing and movement and emphasizes themes of family and friendship, diversity, the environment,...
Stories of Cooperation and Connection
Ms. Madonna weaves together storytelling, music, and role play as students travel around the world through story. Students hear and act out stories that broaden their understanding of themselves and foster peaceful relationships with one another and the larger...
Stories of West Afrika
This ensemble is eager to take students on a fun-filled excursion that is bound to leave a lasting impression on their hearts and minds. Learn about the customs and art of Mali and Guinea in West Africa through engaging drumming, song, and dance. Students will earn...
Stories with Drums
Kunama drums, sings, dances and tells stories with a vibrant energy, bringing together students of all ages. The tales, rich in African-American folklore, come to life through audience participation in music and dance from the United States, Africa, Brazil and the...
Storytelling Classroom: Applications Across the Curriculum
This workshops provides a hands-on introduction to the art and its magical ability to engage students in learning. By its nature, storytelling is experiential, engaging, and involving. More classroom teachers are discovering what storytellers have always known: that...
Storytelling Express: A Musical Journey Around the World!
Conductor and Engineer Bobby Norfolk will magically transport you on their from express train across vast continents where you will meet mysterious characters whose adventures will entertain and enlighten you. You’ll be amazed as Bobby brings to life diverse cultures...
Storytelling: A Powerful Tool for Brain-Based Education
Through demonstrations, interactive instructional models and lively discussion, this training seminar will explore the ways in which storytelling and folktales can provide a meaningful matrix for learning which positively affects test scores and competencies....
Tales Worth Telling: Stories of Character Education
Bobby puts a new spin on the age-old practice of using stories to impart universal values, such as cooperation, self-esteem, honesty, responsibility and respect in this series of tales that focus on enhancing Character Education. Available for after school and virtual...
Teaching Kids to Tell Stories
Teachers will learn effective methods for teaching students of all ages how to learn-and-re-tell or create-and-tell stories, thus improving both written and oral communication skills as well as impacting critical thinking skills, increasing poise and enhancing...
Team Building Through World Percussion
This residency is a hands-on percussion experience. Students use authentic percussion instruments to learn to build community and teams during a rhythmic journey around the world. The rhythms of Brazil, Africa, the Caribbean, Cuba, and Japan are designed to explore...
Twice Upon A Time
Students join this storyteller and jazz musician for a blend of trickster, pourquoi, and heroic tales. Students become more engaged and analytical listeners as they are actively engaged in stories rich in humor, wise lessons, and memorable patterns. As they retell the...
Using Storytelling to Motivate Student Research
Storytelling evokes curiosity; curiosity provokes learning. Teaching students to do research is often hampered by the fact that students don’t WANT to do research. It simply doesn’t seem relevant or interesting to them. BUT…these Pre K-high school storytelling...
We Are the World
Students travel each week to a different country with storyteller Linda Kram. Students learn the differences and similarities between cultures as they greet each other and learn to count in another country’s language, explore its artifacts, and participate in music...
West African Drum Orchestra and Culture
Students in this program learn how to play West African drums and other percussion instruments. As they sit in a drum circle each week, where the focus is on their fellow students’ work, they learn to listen. Lessons about rhythm and improvisation are interspersed...
What I Said! – Writing the Story and Telling It
In this original monologue writing class for kids, student authors/performers engage in verbal and physical activities designed to liberate and excavate the imagination. Led by award-winning actor and playwright Branislav Tomich, this residency provides...
Wiley and The Hairy Man
This play, set deep within a southern swamp, centers around a young girl, her mother, her faithful dog, and the Hairy Man who haunts Wiley's days and dreams. Dance, drama and music bring to life the adventures of this plucky heroine. In an exciting duel of wits, Wiley...
Words from the Drum
Kunama drums, sings, dances and tells stories with a vibrant energy, bringing together students of all ages. The tales, rich in African-American folklore, come to life through audience participation in music and dance from the United States, Africa, Brazil and the...
Wright Rhythms for Small Hands
While scraping, shaking and striking a wide variety of instruments, the enthusiasm of Glen “Papa” Wright energizes the classroom as he leads students through a creative musical adventure. Instruments are amusingly introduced to demonstrate basic rhythms, sound effects...
Young Voices
Students experiment with visualization, drama skills and storytelling techniques to act and “tell” their way through the process of writing a story. The classroom teacher selects a theme; Sherry then tells a story based on that theme and dissects its structure for...