Dancing, Acting, Singing, Laughing and Having Fun. What better way is there for kids to spend the summer?
By Dee Jae Cox
It’s a fact that youth who are involved in the Arts do better academically and become more engaged in the world around them. In a national study using a federal database of over 25,000 middle and high school students, researchers from the University of California, Los Angles (UCLA) found students with high arts involvement, performed better on standardized achievement tests than students with low arts involvement. The high arts involved students also watched fewer hours of TV, participated in more community service and reported less boredom in school.
Dance, drama and the visual arts engage children in ways that not only enhance learning, but also build self-esteem and confidence. Most kids who were fortunate enough to attend a Summer Camp when they were young, remember it (and benefit from it,) for a lifetime. A summer camp program provides a safe environment for children to develop social skills, decision-making skills, be creative and develop a sense of independence. Positive socialization during childhood is vital for growth and development. And the results have life-long benefits.
Combine the magic of Summer Camp with the imagination and creativity of theatre and you have an experience for youth that will make this summer not only memorable, but life changing.
Palm Canyon Theatre (PCT), located in the historic Frances S. Stevens School in Palm Springs, is presenting its 26th annual Summer Kids Camp, June 13-July 23. More than a dozen theatre professionals will mentor kids in performing and stagecraft. The camp includes instruction in Acting, Singing, Dancing, Makeup, Set Design, Props, Costuming, Stage Combat, Improv and more. Campers will learn skills that will help them prepare for auditions and improve their self-esteem for school presentations.
PCT offers its Summer Kids Camp for young artists, ages 6-17-years-old, for six weeks, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Each week has a special theme, including Western, Halloween, Princess and Super Heroes, and more. Participants will be divided into age-specific groups to learn different components of theatre. The camp holds weekly showcases, with a final performance the last two nights of the session. Campers can participate in the full camp experience or on a weekly basis.
The Palm Canyon Theatre is located at 538 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, Ca
For more information or to register for Summer Kids Camp, call the Palm Canyon Theatre Box Office at 760-323-5123 or download the registration information online at: PalmCanyonTheatre.org.
Green Room Theatre, located at Create Center for the Arts in Palm Desert, is offering a 6-week Summer Conservatory June 8, Through July 23. The Green Room offers fun and intensive training for artists ages 8-12 and 13-18. Presenting classes at different levels. Acting, Voice, Dance, Theatre Production and Technical Theatre with more than 160 hours of instruction.
Kids ages 8 to 12 will train mornings, and teens will train weekday afternoons in June and then in July the whole company comes together for two weeks of intensive rehearsals at Shadow Hills High School. Every student will perform in the Broadway classic, Damn Yankees, on July 15, 16, 22 and 23.
The Green Room Theatre- Create Arts Center, 73600 Alessandro Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260
For Conservatory Registration please visit: grtcpd.org
Phone: 760-696-2546
Desert Theatreworks, located at the Indio Performing Arts Center in Indio CA, will hold a KidsWork Summer Camp, Rockin’ America. This new musical-revue showcases the history of rock and roll music in America. Featuring show-stopping dance and vocal medleys, this stage spectacle will take you on a unforgettable musical journey over the last 50 years. With songs from the Beatles, The Beach Boys, Queen and many more.
50 kids will be accepted for a tuition free camp, but must first submit a video clip audition. KidsWork Camp will be held June 13-24 from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM Mon- Fri. The kids cannot miss any days.
Performances will be held
June 24- 6:30 PM & 8:00 PM (dinner, pizza & drinks provided for kids)
June 25- 2:30 PM & 4:00 PM (closing party after show, cupcakes and drinks)
Desert Theatreworks is located at the Indio Performing Arts Center, 45175 Fargo St., Indio CA, 92201
For more information visit their website- dtworks.org
Phone: 760-980-1455
Whether your child has theatrical aspirations or simply wants a fun and creative summer experience, theatre camps and conservatories are the way to go. The tragedy of the pandemic forced so much isolation, but now the doors are open and there’s amazing opportunities for young children and teens to participate in fun, social and educational activities that will help them make new friends, discover new talents and express their imaginations in inspiring and creative ways, that will truly impact them for a lifetime.
Dancing, acting, singing, laughing and having fun. What better way is there for kids to spend the summer?
Dee Jae Cox, is a playwright, director and producer. She is the Cofounder and Artistic Director of The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Project
www.losangeleswomenstheatreproject.org
And Co-Creator of the Palm Springs Theatre Go-To Guide,
