Youth Education

JGPG Education Outreach Program

The Joe Goode Performance Group education program begins with the certainty that people of all ages have important and illuminating things to say, questions to ask and ways to creatively contribute. JGPG offers its young community the opportunity to train with company members and create original dance theatre works using JGPG’s innovative creative methodologies. We offer techniques that tune, align, and entrain the body to itself and its surroundings with the understanding that community building, empathy promotion, social awareness and engagement all start within ourselves in our immediate physical experience of being embodied. Students will then be guided in JGPG’s signature integration of text, voice, and dynamic movement to collaboratively create performances that reflect the company’s values of empathy, community, and the belief that theatre can create transformational experiences. The JGPG youth programming is created to facilitate a vibrant, age appropriate learning experience guided by the following goals:

• To build community, promote empathy and social awareness through creative expression and collaboration.
• To offer the opportunity for young people to give voice and expression to their unique experiences, struggles, and hopes.
• To support and encourage artistic excellence and innovation in the field of dance and performance.

Current Programs

Youth Classes at Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco – Mission Clubhouse

In the summer of 2012 JGPG initiated a partnership with our neighborhood Boys and Girls Club offering a weekly dance and performance class at their facility on Alabama St in the Mission District. Taught by JGPG teaching artists, these classes guide a vibrant group of 8-12 year olds in an accessible creative process. Interweaving body and mind and activating the physical imagination, students are given instruction in the fundamentals of JGPG dance technique and encouraged in the creation of their own unique movements. Students learn basic elements of choreography with an emphasis on collaborative construction. The classes include voice, song, and word play to inspire and expand the creative possibilities. The explorations culminate in an informal performance piece to share.

SFArtsEd Summer Camp: INSPIRED BODIES

Ages: 8-12

July 22-26, 2013

After a smashing success last summer, JGPG offers an accessible, age appropriate intensive called Inspired Bodies. Campers will dance, sing and create. They will surprise themselves with their own imaginations. Maybe they’ll grow a tail or discover their superpowers, find their voice or color in their own stories. Guided and taught by company members and teaching artists, this workshop interweaves body and mind and activates the physical imagination. Students will be encouraged in the creation of their own unique movement vocabulary as well as collaborative construction of dances. Classes will include voice, song and word play to engage and enrich the creative process, and the explorations culminate in an informal performance at the end of the session. See below for a video of last years showing! More info and registration at www.sfartsed.org.

Past Programs

Joe Goode Performance Group joined forces with SFArtsEd this past July to host a week long summer intensive for ages 8-12 . The week culminated in a fantastic performance that included text, song, movement, a site-specific performance, and interactive sharing with family and friends. Watch the video clip below to see scenes from the performance.