Free Reign Theatre Company works with both students and adults with disabilities. Free Reign Theatre Company works in close relationship with Garinger High, a Title I school in Charlotte, to create fight choreography and safely instruct student actor-combatants in their theatre productions. As students with physical, mental, and behavioral disabilities are identified by school staff, Free Reign Theatre adheres to the accommodations denoted in students’ IEP and 504 plans, as conveyed by school staff. Free Reign Theatre Company also works with adults with disabilities, such as dyslexia, ADD, physical handicaps, and cognitive impairments. Free Reign Theatre Company believe that disabilities should not be a barrier to theatre. Whether working with students or adults with disabilities, their priorities are safety, empathy, and inclusion. They want everyone, regardless of their abilities, to be able to express themselves without harm and to participate equitably in the theatrical process. There is a place for everyone in this universal art form.
Columbia, SC artist doni jordan creates fiber art, art installations, mixed media assemblages, and collages. She received a BFA in studio art from the University of South Carolina (USC). In 2010, she was inducted into the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA) in New York City. Jordan’s love of nature, travel, design and typography is reflected in the art she creates. Her current work is nature inspired which includes botanical installations, eco printing and dyeing with indigo.Columbia, SC artist doni jordan creates fiber art, art installations, mixed media assemblages, and collages. She received a BFA in studio art from the University of South Carolina (USC). In 2010, she was inducted into the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA) in New York City. Jordan’s love of nature, travel, design and typography is reflected in the art she creates. Her current work is nature inspired which includes botanical installations, eco printing and dyeing with indigo.
Alicia Leeke, a native South Carolinian, produces abstract works of art inspired by nature’s ever-changing scenery. More recently, she is inspired by photographers Susan Kae Grant of Texas and John E. Powell of Columbia, SC to produce a body of work combining conceptual art, photography and digital mixed media. She has taught Artistic Furniture Makeover Classes at the Columbia Museum of Art and Beginner and Advanced Concepts in Abstract Painting at City Art in Columbia, South Carolina. Leeke was awarded a grant by the Charleston Scientific and Cultural Education Fund to produce a traveling exhibition entitled: View from Under the Microscope: Science-based Learning Through Art. The exhibition educates the non-scientific community about the importance Phytoplankton play in our life and why we need to be good stewards of our water bodies. This body of work is currently traveling. She is a 2017 recipient of the South Carolina Arts Commission’s Artists’ Ventures Initiatives Grant and a grant recipient from the Joan Mitchell Foundation located in New York City.
Darelle D. Dove, aka Mr. Dove, grew up in Philadelphia, PA and eventually moved to the south around the time he started college. He always knew he was called to work with the youth in some way. That may be because he was told that sometimes, he can be a kid at heart. At least this means he can still relate to them. Theater teacher — 2013 – present he has worked as a freelance theater teacher in quite a few spaces. Between summer programs with camp, an elementary school or after school programs, he has taught different techniques from his experiences with theater. Techniques were the basics from stage presence, to stage vocals, to character development and a lot more. The ages ranged from 3rd grade, up to high schoolers. While this is his first year as teaching artist, he has experience working with students, and incorporating learning with arts with them. During his years of working in the elementary schools, after school programs or camps, he has had the ability to write songs collaborating curriculum and school with music. Songs include color theory, fractions, holidays and plenty more. He has collaborated with quite a few teachers with this method. The kids seem to enjoy it, and are able to learn as well.
Located in the heart of Hilton Head Island, the award winning regional Arts Center of Coastal Carolina is a remarkable showcase for professional performing and visual arts, as well as cultural festivals and educational outreach. It is a year-round Equity theatre that produces musicals, comedies and dramas. In addition they also present visiting performers, musicians, vocalists, artists, dance companies, humorists and more. The venue consists of a 349-seat main stage house as well as a smaller block box studio, art gallery, and education spaces.
Annex Dance Company is committed to promoting dance in its home location of Charleston, SC, as well as around the globe. Through performance, collaboration, outreach/education, Annex Dance Company continues to evolve with each project. Under the artistic direction of Kristin Alexander, the company strives to be an internationally recognized classical modern dance company with an edge. Annex Dance Company is committed to arts advocacy. The company promotes the arts through collaborative projects with artists of different mediums and provides opportunities for dancers of all levels, students through professionals.
Sapient Soul’s voice offers a power carried through poetry, conversation, written word, and spoken word. Readings, performances, and workshops are complete with Q&A as well as fun interaction!
Leslie has been involved in musical theatre in the Upstate since 2004, both on and off stage. She teaches musical theatre classes for the Spartanburg Youth Theatre, and has choreographed shows for Spartanburg Little Theatre, Limestone College Theatre Department, Spartanburg Youth Theatre, and Cannons Elementary School.
A graduate of the Savannah College of Art & Design (BFA – Graphic Design) and the University of Georgia (MFA – Drawing & Painting), Troy Wingard has dedicated much of his career to creating art and sharing what he has personally discovered about its development and promotion. His work addresses questions on identity, culture, and individualism within a modern context. Troy’s portraits, sidewalk drawings, and sculptural works have been featured in numerous venues throughout the United States, as well as solo exhibitions in over 14 academic institutions such as Duke University, Grambling State University, the University of South Carolina-Aiken, The University of Mobil, and Coastal Carolina University, among others. His works have been exhibited internationally, including invitational and solo exhibitions in Havana, Cuba; Budapest, Hungary; Camagüey, Cuba, and Tel Aviv, Israel. Troy was also the featured artist in the nationally syndicated magazine, The Pastel Journal, and his work has been nationally showcased in multiple editions of New American Paintings. Troy has taught a variety of art and seminar courses as an instructor with the University of Georgia and Southeastern Louisiana University, as well as serving as the program coordinator for the School of Design at the Art Institute of Washington-Dulles.
Trumpeter, composer, arranger, didgeridoo player, recording and touring artist Mark Rapp has performed for audiences around the world. Mark has released 8 diverse recordings and appears as a sideman on a myriad of projects including Disney’s “Everybody Wants to be a Cat” alongside the likes of Roy Hargrove, Dave Brubeck, Esperanza Spalding, The Bad Plus, and Joshua Redman. Mark also composed and produced a jazz ballet “Woven: Life in Notes and Steps”. Mark is the founder of ColaJazz through which he launched an annual jazz festival, a jazz camp serving all ages and all levels, and actively supports and grows the jazz scene in and around Columbia, SC. Rapp is a prominent figurehead, performer, and jazz activist in SC and in February 2018 was named an Ambassador of Jazz for the State of South Carolina by the SC House of Representatives.
The Carolina Dance Collaborative is a mobile dance outreach company committed to providing quality dance education in the Upstate of South Carolina. The team of dance educators at CDC works with all ages and abilities across the Upstate delivering dance curriculum. Current programs include elementary, middle and high school residencies, one day workshops, after-school programming and recreational programming. All curriculum is custom designed to fit the needs of the students and enhance their learning experience. Students explore ballet, modern, jazz, african, hip hop, creative movement or choreography depending on the context of the class and who it is for. In the school setting these identifiable styles of dance are combined with current academic standards and character building to provide a student centered curriculum.
Janette Marvin, a muralist and painter, grew up in northeast Brazil and has a love for the coast. She has many years of experience working for decorators, designers, home owners, hospitals, schools, and galleries. Most of her murals are very large and were painted under strict time constraints, but her work also includes paintings of all sizes on canvas and many other surfaces. She understands both budgetary constraints and the need for projects to be completed in a timely manner. For murals, she does several small painted sketches to be approved or changed before starting on the actual mural. She has many years of experience painting many different subjects but beach scenes are her favorite.
Lynne is a performing, creating and teaching musician. She has over 20 years experience working with children through music in group and private settings. Her BA in music therapy from Loyola University New Orleans provides a background in working with students with a wide range abilities. Some of the many instruments she uses in her teaching and performances include banjo, guitar, piano, ukulele, voice and washboard.
Kelly Davis is proud to be on the SmartARTS and Warehouse Theatre’s Teaching Artist staff this year in Greenville, SC. She holds a BFA in Acting with a minor in Musical Theatre as well as an E-RYT Yoga Instructor Certificate and NASM Personal Trainer’s Certificate. Kelly is happy to offer a blend of drama, music, movement, yoga and breathing in most of the classes she teaches. Originally from NYC, Kelly has lived in Upstate SC since 2016 and is enjoying being a part of the arts and theatre community, performing with several local theatres throughout the year. Kelly is a proud wife and cat mama.
A native of Bogota, Colombia, who now makes her home in Greenville, Diana Farfán is an award-winning ceramic sculptor and instructor, cultural agent and art coach advancing Latino artists in South Carolina. Recognized statewide, Diana is an instrumental leader and key player in this sector who works to make these artists’ voices louder and stronger in South Carolina by mentoring young Latino artists and serving as member of the Board of Directors for Palmetto Luna Arts. Also an advocator for animal welfare and the natural environment, Diana supports local organizations by increasing awareness of Humane Education (HE) “A process that encourages an understanding of the need for compassion and respect for people, animals and the environment and recognizes the interdependence of all living things”, with emphasis on sensitizing the youth through the arts. Diana holds a B.A. in Graphic Design, a B.F.A. in Ceramic and Printmaking from Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and a M.F.A. in Ceramic Sculpture from University of South Carolina. She is a member of the Liberty Fellowship and the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Jimmie Lynn is a landscape architect that sees design and math in EVERYTHING! She has studied welding, silversmithing, enameling, printmaking, bookmaking and most recently, painting. She learns best by DOING and is so excited to be a teaching artist that helps students learn through DOING!
We are all creatives; it is a unique gift that makes us human. While Kristin enjoys creating her own works of art in the performance and fine arts realm, she is passionate about to helping others reach their own creative potential and experience the arts for themselves. She has been a dance professional for over 13 years, performing across the south and mid-west along with teaching in Lexington and Columbia at the Center for Dance Education, then directing and developing a dance program for the YMCA of Greenville’s 3 locations in the Upstate of South Carolina. Kristin specializes in ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern and tap techniques. In addition to dance, she has also been working in the area of fine craft for the last 6 years. She opened a studio in 2015 in Travelers Rest South Carolina, the TR Makers Co, where students of all ages can be inspired by and also learn the techniques of various fine crafts. She specializes in sewing, block carving and printmaking, pattern making, set and costume design.
Leasharn is a multi-disciplinary artist willing to develop, create, and nurture your students’ artistic needs. She has the ability to create a classroom project that integrates traditional teaching methods with literary, media, or performance arts to demonstrate to students how the arts can be an interactive and an exciting part of educating on any subject. Leasharn can design workable projects associated with literary arts (playwright and screenwriting) and have your students bring their scripts to life either through performance or film, and has the capability to work with students in acting and is a skilled director in stage and film.
David Novak is an award-winning storyteller and teaching artist, telling stories to enhance learning, engage emotion, and find common ground. David’s 30+ years of experience as a performing and teaching artist includes being Master Storyteller for The Disney Company, The Lincoln Center Institute, L.A. Music Center, and the nation’s top storytelling festivals. He is an internationally touring storyteller and performance artist, and recipient of the Circle of Excellence for storytelling, and the Aurand Harris Memorial Playwrighting Award for excellence in professional theatre for children. His school programs receive the highest ratings for entertainment, curriculum relevance, and student engagement. An A+ Fellow for the North Carolina Arts Council, David lives in Asheville, NC. Smithsonian Magazine describes him as “a gifted teller who enhances his stories with a bag of tricks.”
University of South Carolina Bachelor of Fine Arts General Studio concentration in sculpture; minor in painting. Graduated 2007; John C. Campbell Folk School – Traditional Joinery Class (Clay Spencer Instructor) – 2010; John Boyd Smith Organic Forging Class – 2012. Experience – Back Street Studios, LLC (Owner/Artist – Bob Doster) artist assistant – 2001; Carolina Association of Sculpture Students (Founded 2004 / president 2004-2006 / advisor 2007); The Philip Simmons Artist Blacksmith Guild of South Carolina; Demonstrator, Instructor – 2009 – present; John C. Campbell SC Scholarship Recipient 2010 Active member since 2005 ; Web admin- 2014- present; Ironmans Shop / Carolina Powder Coaters, LLC. – Vice-President- 2010-2013; Journeyman- 2013-present. Roster Artist – Bringing blacksmithing to SC public schools teaching/demonstrations from honors level to special needs development Grades K-12. Demonstrations include traditional blacksmithing tools and equipment, hand-crank coal forge, anvil, hammers, tongs, and safety equipment. Blacksmithing history is discussed and simple goods (hooks, spikes, and chain) are produced without electricity. Artist’s work demonstrations include forged steel leaves and flowers using techniques created by the artist. 2-D steel designs are hammered out to create 3-D forms over the anvil. Herndon Asphalt Engineering and Consulting, Media/Communications/Art Director-2009- present. Currently Exhibiting: South Carolina State Museum 30th Anniversary Juried Exhibition.
Maurice Middleton has spent more than two decades delighting choirs, congregations, singers and audiences with inspiring music and performances. This extraordinary musician was born in Orangeburg, SC, and was educated in the Orangeburg County public schools. As life progressed Maurice began his matriculation at South Carolina State University to pursue a degree in Music Education. Maurice Middleton has been an educator in the Public Schools of South Carolina and is passionate about training, mentoring and inspiring the next generation of vocalists, instrumentalists, directors, and music educators. He is a member of the following professional organizations: South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA), American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), National Association for Music Education (NAFME).
Johnny Thomas Fowler, mountain-heritage storyteller, award winning musician and best-selling author is from the Upcountry of South Carolina. He is a member of the South Carolina Institute for Community Scholars, and in 2011-12 he served as the project scholar for the S.C. Humanities Council. Johnny is one of seventeen national storytellers featured in the book Southern Appalachian Storytellers. He was awarded the prestigious Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award, the highest award given to folk artists in S.C. He has been a featured teller at Stone Soup Storytelling Festival, the International Storytelling Festival, and host-teller at the Hagood Mill Storytelling Festival. He is currently the best-selling author with Kennedy Free Press, and in 2017 released his first children’s book. He produces a weekly storytelling segment on N.C. Public Radio. Johnny has been an active residency and performing artist for over 30 years teaching and sharing his love of storytelling, folklore and music. Looking for great storytelling and music for Arts Day, Literacy Night or South Carolina Day? Need a best-selling author or a special folk music presentation for music classes? His social studies residencies/performances about South Carolina are very popular. He specializes in active storytelling residencies for all ages.
Theresa is an Author, an Artist-in-Resident, a Gullah storyteller, a certified Tour Guide, a Lecturer, and local Historian. She is also a Docent at the Old Slave Mart Museum. She is fluent in the Gullah language and grew up on Edisto Island with her grandmother whose only language was Gullah. Theresa speaks in the Gullah language and explains how it began and shares all about the food, the stories, the medicines, their spiritualities, songs, and the customs. She incorporates, for students, a show and tell segment centered around items she grew up with before modern conveniences of today. She has spoken at museums, Schools, Festivals, private functions and many other venues. She was featured in National Geographic Video Magazine and the Charleston Magazine. She is available for your presentations at assemblies, workshops, residences, and many other functions for Black History Month and any other occasions. She is the author of Mama Doonk’s Gullah Recipes, a cookbook featuring Gullah foods.
As Dinah Johnson, she is the author of several picture books published by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. She loves sharing literature, written and spoken, with people of all ages, as they experience joy and confidence in expressing themselves and exploring their worlds through language. It is important beyond measure for students to see, in the flesh, a person who wrote the words in a book that might be in their own school libraries. She often hears, “You wrote this book?”–both a question and an exclamation. As Dr. Dianne Johnson-Feelings, she is a professor of English at the University of South Carolina. She enjoys working with teachers as well as with parent and community groups in their efforts to support young people in becoming literate, enthusiastic citizens, through their engagement with literature and the humanities. She can tailor her workshops, as a children’s book author or as a scholar of children’s literature, for any age group and for groups of any size. She offers single session visits as well as multi-day workshops, sometimes culminating in performances of student work. Her most cherished “fan letter” is from a little girl who wrote to her, “You had made my heart sing.”
Porkchop Productions is a professional theatre company specializing in unique interactive performances of original fractured adaptations of classic fairy tales, folk tales, and fables. Delighting audiences with humor and universal lessons learned since 1991, Porkchop Productions strives to aide students, families, and communities in developing a life-long appreciation for the performing arts. All shows are appropriate for Pre-K through 5th grade.
Bright Star has been delighting and educating young audiences with their fun 45-minute two-person shows since 2003. Every year they travel the country with more than 20 tours, each with three shows. Subjects include Anti-Bullying, Holidays, Black History, Literary, STEM and more. In addition to their acclaimed shows, they also offer residencies, camps, workshops and Operation Friendship, their whole school anti-bullying program. They look forward to working with you this year!
Based in Orlando, Florida, the Atlantic Coast Theatre (A.C.T.) For Youth tours throughout the United States bringing imaginative professional theatre to schools, museums, libraries, theatres, and performing arts centers.
2016- present board of South Carolina Artisan Center; 1977-Present Sculptor, Owner Bob Doster’s Backstreet Studio ltd.; visiting teaching artist with SC Arts Commission. Has worked with over 150,000 students k-12; first residency 1975; 1977 MFA Clemson University 1975 BFA University of South Carolina 1969-1973 owner Doster’s Grocery 1967 Lancaster High. Awards – South Carolina Arts Commission Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Award Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award Cultural & Heritage Commission of York County “Keeper of the Culture” Award First Steps of South Carolina “Hero of the Child” Award SC Main Street Inspiration Award. Public Art Commissions – Anderson SC, Cheraw SC, Columbia SC, Chesterfield SC, Chester SC, Clinton SC, Laurens SC, Lancaster SC, Pageland SC, Florence SC, Greenville SC, Spartanburg SC, Orangeburg,SC Gaffney SC, Walterboro SC, Lenior NC, Cary NC, Chapel Hill NC, Albemarle NC, Charlotte NC, Marvin NC, Raleigh NC, Rocky Mount NC, Atlanta Ga. This list doesn’t include the 100’s of sculptures created as legacy gifts for schools in North and South Carolina.
Mike Fowle is a contemporary sculptor working in multiple media. He is an approved artist for the South Carolina Arts Commission and maintains a working studio where he creates art for public and private collections. Mike shares a studio with artist Patz Fowle where they collaborate and create large Public Art Sculptures. Mike has been a visiting International Artists-In-Residence at the American School in Japan in Tokyo, Japan, and co-teaches with Patz Fowle at the SCAD Educator Forum, at Savannah College of Art & Design.
Tracie has been teaching Origami for 20 years in WNC and SC. She has taught well over 100 residences and continues to make this art fun and exciting for all involved. knowShe is known as the Origami Lady. She lives in NC with her husband and three children. She taught origami to herself using books and mostly practice to perfect techniques. She teaches students the basic folds using diagrams and visually folding models along with them. She includes Japanese culture as well. It is a very fun and engaging week that leaves students with a new passion for an ancient art form.
Southeastern Professional School of the Arts (SPSA) is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that provides a professional and disciplined study of high-quality dance to low- to moderate-income families and at-risk youth in the State of South Carolina. Established in 2009, SPSA works in partnership with the Southeastern School of Ballet to offer after-school introduction programs, multiple levels and styles of dance training, workshops, seminars and annual performances. All programs are structured around 6 fundamental goals: 1) Develop an appreciation of the Arts; 2) Develop self-expression; 3) Improve self-esteem and self-respect; 4) Establish work ethic; 5) Develop awareness of physical well–being; and 6) Develop sensitivity and empathy. SPSA services are offered FREE to all participants through corporate and individual funding.
For 25 years Mimi has been the Artistic Director for Ann Brodie’s Carolina Ballet and the Director of Faculty at AB Center For Dance Education in Columbia, SC. They are a civic pre professional classical ballet company and school where students are introduced to and taught daily classes while having performance opportunities to further and enrich their journey in the Arts to become young performing artists and broaden the base of arts supports for the future. Before retiring she had the opportunity to perform as a professional classical ballet dancer through the Southeast and Canada with SCBT and Ballet Michigan for 15 years. Bringing experience and passion to daily classes, rehearsals and performances each season integrates dance as educational outreach through out our community and ensures current involvement in the world of dance today. She is a certified teacher in the American Ballet Theatre Teachers Curriculum and is proud to be a working artist in South Carolina.
The Sumter Civic Dance Company provides Dance education through residencies, demonstrations, and performances. All performances are age appropriate and some pieces tell a moral story. Their residencies are grade specific teaching dance corresponding to what the students are learning in school. For instance: 3rd graders are studying SC History. Therefore, they teach The Charleston and the Shag, the SC official state dance.
Reggie Harris is a musician, storyteller and educator who has been a vibrant force in musical, educational and historical circles for over 35 years. Steeped in the tradition of African American spirituals, folk, gospel, rock and the music of civil and human rights, Reggie’s writing, research, field work and recordings have amassed an amazing repertoire of African American music, blending spirituals and freedom songs, the old with the new. A songwriter of great depth and passion, Reggie’s songs reveal thoughts about life and love and some of the deep aspects of the human experience and cover topics from his own personal journey to world issues and history. Reggie Harris has been affiliated with the John F Kennedy Center’s Partners in Education program for over two decades, offering both multimedia performances for students and communities as well as an in-depth workshop for educators at all grade levels. As a founding artist in the John F. Kennedy Center’s Changing Education Through the Arts program, Reggie is a committed teacher and advocate for lifelong learning.
Rhythm…funk…innovation…excitement: that’s the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble (NCYTE). One of the best youth tap ensembles in the world, NCYTE features 40 dancers, ages 8 to 18, who hail from throughout North Carolina. Don’t let the word “youth” fool you. These dancers tear up the floor with poise, passion and professionalism. NCYTE honors the traditions of this unique American form while infusing it with youthful energy, contemporary music, and innovative dances from some of the world’s most talented choreographers. Their educational concerts and demos teach percussive dance styles from around the world and throughout history. Founded by JUBA award winning artistic director Gene Medler in 1983, NCYTE entertains audiences with cutting-edge contemporary choreography along with traditional rhythm tap. NCYTE has toured throughout the U.S. and the world, with performances in Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Germany and Mexico. The company has toured or collaborated with the Greensboro Symphony, Michelle Dorrance, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Mallarme Chamber Players, and the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra, among others.
Zak Morgan’s wit has been compared to Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss. Zak has performed more than 2,500 concerts for children since 1999. Zak’s unique brand of music delivers songs and poems with wit and charm that inspire and tickle the funny bones. His performance is filled with musical stories, laughter and warmth as he encourages children to learn through reading, imagination, and believing in themselves. Parents and children will use their voices, creativity and body movements to join in the fun. After earning a B.A. in English from Kenyon College, Morgan worked as Director of Rights Acquisitions for Recorded Books, Inc. and was immersed in the rich offerings of children’s literature. His first CD, “Bloom”, was met with awards and many “Best of” listings and was followed by “When Bullfrogs Croak”. This CD was nominated for a GRAMMY, unusual for an independent release. In 2007 Zak released the DVD “ZakLand” with Hollywood director and producer Jay Silverman. 2011 brought “The Candy Machine”, an album about temptation and the golden rule. In February 2012, Morgan signed with myKaZoo Music/ Universal Music Enterprises and released “The Barber of the Beasts”.
Scott Ainslie is a traditional acoustic Blues singer, guitarist, historian, storyteller, and songwriter. Ainslie graduated Phi Beta Kappa with honors from Washington & Lee University but his greatest love was studying with elder musicians on both sides of the color line – in the Old-Time Southern Appalachian fiddle and banjo traditions, as well as black Gospel and Blues musicians. Ainslie transcribed the original recordings and published a book on Delta Blues legend Robert Johnson, Robert Johnson/At The Crossroads (Hal Leonard, 1992), and recorded an instructional DVD on Johnson’s guitar work, Robert Johnson’s Guitar Techniques (Hal Leonard, 1997). Ainslie has six solo CDs to his name and maintains an active recording, performing and teaching schedule that carries him around the country, to Canada, and to Europe. His sixth album, The Last Shot Got Him, has been called “a must for fans of old-school Blues”. Ainslie has received numerous awards and grants for his work documenting and presenting traditional music. These include grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Slide Guitar Festivals’ Living Heritage Award among others.
Darion McCloud is the cofounder and creative director of the NiA Company. The creator and Captain of Story Squad. A Riley Institute Diversity Fellow and a Leo Twiggs Scholar, a former President of the Friends of African American Art and Culture affiliate Columbia Museum of Art. Darion is a Indie Grits Fellow and a teaching artist as well as a performer and consultant working with students and all age adults. As a professional storyteller he has performed in venues as varied as prisons and Governor’s Mansions though he may be most fond of being the favorite of many school children. Darion’s directing credits include The Whipping Man, Intimate Apparel, Our Lady of 121st Street, Br’er Rabbit, Fat Pig, What’chamacallit!, Knock Me A Kiss. Some favorite roles include Macduff in MacBeth, Othello in Othello, Levee in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Bernard in Boys in the Band, Actor 5 in Transparency of Val, Other in The White Problem among others.
Fodé Moussa Camara, master drummer, percussionist, folklorist, choreographer, exemplifies the new generation in the preservation of West African traditions and the influence of these traditions on the world. Born into an artistic family in Conakry, Guinea, West Africa, Camara honors his family and heritage through his expression of Guinea’s musical traditions and culture. His musical talent was discovered at the age of five, when he began his formal training with the djembe, dunun, sangban, and kenkeni orchestra. He was called a prodigy by his teachers, claimed leading roles, and attained featured-artist status in a myriad of productions. Camara has worked for VSA South Carolina, an organization that provides quality art experiences for children, youth, and adults with disabilities. He also worked for the South Carolina Arts Commission. In high demand, Camara tours extensively in Africa, Europe, North America, South America, and Australia as an instructor, choreographer, and guest artist.
Put POETRY BANG in your classroom with a POETRY SLAM, haiku battle, or tableau poem. Be amazed at the rich narratives, strong imagery, and figurative language that your students produce, using Kimberly’s unique Poetic Language Generator! Or stomp, clap, and snap your student’s attention as they have a blast bringing POETRY ALIVE! Assemblies available too! Help students improve their vocabulary across a variety of core subjects! Every child can write! Kimberly is a certified SC teacher, a published poet, a poetry slam champion, and the 2016 Teaching Artist of the Year for Greenville County. Kimberly offers the following: Research-based creative writing; Offering vocabulary building activities to create a context for Social Studies and Science; The Writing Process as explained by a published author; Figurative language and imagery scaffolding for every level of writer; Writing for inclusion and special education classes, as well as ESOL students; Brain breaks and tableau theater activities to help students focus, explore their creativity, as well as how to access prior knowledge and make inferences.
The Power Company Collaborative (aka PoCoCo) is a group of dance artists committed to creative engagement and exchanges with all people. Choreographer, Martha Brim founded The Power Company in 2000 to “embrace the idea of power for all people” using dance as a means in practice and performance. Under Brim’s leadership PoCoCo has received numerous honors, awards and grants to assist in creation recognizing the importance of the work for the past 18 years. PoCoCo’s teaching is deeply informed by somatic practices, believing that all bodies dance. Drawing from expertise in movement studies emphasizing physical perception and experience, PoCoCo teaches a broad-spectrum population, from students of all ages, artists across disciplines, incarcerated youth, teachers, to senior adults. Every class is guided by the purpose of cultivating each individual’s power. Audiences appreciate and expect PoCoCo’s non-traditional approach to dance making and performance. Transforming public spaces such as art galleries, abandoned shops, gardens, parks, and bridges into performances spaces, we challenge conventional aesthetics. PoCoCo’s large-scale performance installations collaborating with artists and organizations include: “The Home Project” (2016) Artfields commission; Occupation/Reconstruction” (2015) Historic Columbia Foundation and OneColumbia commission; “My Walk with Kanye” (2013) featured installation in Charleston; and “Pieceworks” (2008) commissioned by 701CCA.
Terri McCord is a visual artist and a poet/writer. The South Carolina Arts Commission awarded her the literary fellowship in poetry for 2001-2002. She has won first place out of 600 entries in the South Carolina Poetry Initiative/The State Newspaper Single Poem Contest. Other awards include finalist standing in the Press 53 Open Awards, Pocataligo Poetry Prize from Yemassee Review, and the Southeast Review. She won the 2007 Don Russ Poetry Prize from Kennesaw Review, and has won awards from the Poetry Society of South Carolina. She has read for the Sundown Poetry Series at the Spoleto Festival and has conducted workshops in the upstate as well as teaching at the college level. McCord received a Pushcart Nomination in 2017. Terri McCord has a degree in English and a second major concentration in art. She also has an M.F.A. in creative writing. She has won several art awards and worked in arts administration. Residencies have included elementary through high school and often utilize self-portrait work in pencil, paint, mixed media/collage, and often combine aspects of visual art with literary arts. Her emphasis is on the myriad facets of communication and critical thinking skills.
Cecilia Ho of Greenville, SC, was born into a family of designers in Hong Kong. She is a self-taught fiber artist who has been experimenting & creating all kinds of 2D & 3D felt creations with Wool. During her last residence in Nova Scotia, Canada (2006), the local sheep farms influenced her passion and direction into felting and fiber arts. Since her 2013 relocation to the Upstate SC, Cecilia has been teaching private & group felting workshops to all age group in multiple local, regional and national organizations & schools. She has held felting demonstrations at museum, gallery & festival ie Artisphere, across the US and Canada. Cecilia has taken part in multiple juried art exhibitions ie Spartanburg Art Museum “Unnatural History” Dec 2017 – Mar 2018, Flat Out Under Pressure with MAC Committed Award in Jun 2018, & fashion shows like CONTEXTILE in 2016 & Couture for a Cause Recycled Runway charity events in 2017 & 2018. Since 2018, Cecilia has concentrated to offer fiber arts integration workshops at schools through SmartARTS as a teaching-artist. Cecilia also runs STEAM projects & presentations with art communities where both students & teachers have an opportunity to explore Felting Fiber Art while learning academic subjects related to Science, Social Studies, Mathematics & Language Arts. Through SmartARTS, Cecilia has run Arts classes up to 300 elementary students (k4-5th) or 200 middle students (6th – 8th & adaptive) at each unit. All units are based on the SC standards : Color, shapes & Line (K4) ; Wassily Kandinsky Circles (K5 & Adaptive) ;Animal Finger puppet (1st) ; Tall Tale Character & Felt Factory (2nd) ; Civil War Underground Railroad Quilt (3rd) ; Landscape (Westward Expansion & Grant Wood) (4th) ; World War 2 Badge & Georgia O’Keeffe Flower Abstract (5th) ; Heather Brown (6th) ; Vincent Van Gogh (7th) ; & Pablo Picasso cubism portrait (8th). Cecilia always opens to new ideas & creates new project plans based on the teacher’s teaching plan & subjects. Other collaboration like art event at school & art club, Cecilia designs and prepares creative felting hands-on activities based on time, age group, budget, individual or community projects. Demonstration & presentations covering fiber arts integration to teachers & parents are also conducted through SCAEA conference & Greenville Center for Creative Arts.Cecilia loves WOOL because she can “Felt lt. Love lt. Treasure lt.” FELTasticFashion is the business created in 2011 which Cecilia designs & packages all-inclusive felting Do-it-yourself kits for beginners. Cecilia runs private & group felting workshops weekly at various art centers & communities throughout SC, NC & GA. Cecilia also creates customized teaching plan & prepares workshop materials supplies based on the designed project. www.FELTasticFashion.com
Shane Bryant has been a potter since 1993.He was the founder of the William Felton School of Crafts in 2004.He has taught classes through Furman University’s continuing education department, as well as the Spartanburg Museum of Art, where he was the pottery studio manager.Shane served asboard member for Upstate Visual Arts, and Greenville’s First Fridays.Shane has been listed with the SC Arts Commission’sArtist Roster since 2000, and has been an artist in residence for many schools over the years.He has been a teaching artist for MAC’s Smart Arts program since 2004, and was awarded the Smart Arts Teaching Artist of the Year award for 2017.
Spartanburg School District 7 Theater Odyssey Program from 1987-1991(various roles+SC State Theater Competition Champions), 1990 Mr. Black Spartanburg Pageant Winner: Talent-Original Monologue, 1990 USC-Upstate Shoestring Player for Colored Museum (various roles), 1991 Spartanburg Little Theater-Best Performance nomination for roles in Colored Museum, Converse College Summer Theater Camp Superior Performance Award for monologue 1990, 1991 Clemson University 4-H Second Place Performance Award for monologue, Inspirational Players Community Theater Group 1991 (Brother Boxer in “The Amen Corner” by James Baldwin), Spartanburg Methodist College Theater Group 1992 (various roles in “MacBeth Did It”), Second place winner in the University of South Carolina-Upstate Talent Show-February 1998 and 1999; Winner of the Coffee Beanery Freestyle Contest in Greenville, S.C- June 15, 2001; Spartanburg Poetry Slam Winner- January 10, 2004; Member of the Upstate Poetry Slam Team 2004-present and Slam Coach from 2006-present; Featured poet for Band-Aids (AIDS Awareness Program) in Spartanburg, S.C.; Performed at several elementary, junior and senior high schools, universities, and colleges. Regular host at several poetry venues in the upstate; Poem published in Still Home(Book of Spartanburg Poets); 2009 Poetry Slam Instructor for USC-Upstate’s Upward Bound Program; Competed in The Southern Fried Poetry Slam Competitions 2004-present; Competed in PSI’s National Poetry Slam 2004-2018; Special Guest performer at the 27th Annual Evening of Talent Expressions at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium; Featured artist at the Travelers Rest Arts Commission annual Arts Festival October 6, 2007 in Traveler Rest, S.C./ featured poet for the North Charleston Arts Festival May 2008, Stone Soup Story Telling Festival in Woodruff, S.C. in 2009 and 2010/ Featured poet for the Annual Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C., The Peace Day Festival in Charleston, S.C., featured poet for the annual Chautaugua Festival since 2008, one of the artists that opened up for Trey Songz at The Carolina First Center in Greenville, S.C. and opened up for Lyfe Jennings at Epiq in Greenville SC, and at The 3rd Annual Millican Festival in Sumter, S.C. Moody was one of the presenters at the 2011 & 2018 TedX Greenville SC Event, and the 2011 Pecha Kucha Greenville SC. In addition, Moody Black is the Coffee Underground Grand Poetry Slam Champion of 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. 2012 Poetry finalist in the 1st Ignite the Mic Talent Show at TD Convention Center, and Champion of the 2nd and 4th Annual Slam Madness Poetry Slam Competition, 2012 and 2018 Grind Flu Magazine Spoken Word Artist of the year, and tied for first place in the Southern Fried Poetry Slam Slam Master’s Slam (2012 Tampa FL and 2013 New Orleans, LA), and co-host and co-organizer of the 22nd Annual Southern Fried Poetry Slam, 2015 National Poetry Awards Host of the Year and Open Mic Venue of the Year. Greetings, and 2017 All Def Poet, 2018 “Endyfire” Radio Legend Award, and Metropolitan Arts Council of Greenville Smart Arts Teaching Artist since 2016 at various schools in the upstate of SC, and Teaching Artist for Chapman Culture Center of Spartanburg, SC since 2018.
Tim Davis has worked as a professional illustrator and published author for thirty years. With over 500 Hidden Pictures to his credit, Tim teaches workshops for Highlights to train other illustrators in the art of Hidden Picture creation. These lessons are incorporated into an age-group-appropriate curriculum for the classroom.He has written and illustrated eight children’s books: the Mice of the Herringbone series and the Tales of Dust River Gulch series. His latest book, The Island Rule was published in May 2019. It emphasizes the importance of music and cross-cultural acceptance. He regularly teaches writing and illustration at Greenville Tech and Greenville Center for Creative Arts.
By using murals as a vehicle to enrich student learning across the full spectrum of standards, you give students an opportunity to not only surpass what is required from them academically but also the chance to beautify their home school, connect with fellow classmates at a deeper level and learn a whole host of skill sets around a different profession.
Hobey Ford is internationally renowned in the puppetry field; an award-winning performer, and a Kennedy Center Partner in Education teaching artist. Ford has received the highest awards for his brilliant and priceless contributions to the world of puppetry: two-time winner of puppetry’s highest honor, the UNIMA Citation of Excellence, recipient of three Jim Henson Foundation grants, and The Hermitage Fellowship, Hobey Ford is renowned for excellence in his craft. Chosen as a Kennedy Center Partner to teach teachers (and other artists) how to use the performing arts in the classroom curriculum, Hobey not only performs his original works all over the world but also offers workshops to teachers and students alike.
Eugene has been an Artist-in-Resident for over 30 years, instructing students from Richland to Beaufort Counties, at all grade levels.Communication skills is one of his teaching applications.He combines the teaching of Creative Writing and Public Speaking. This format teaches students much needed – and often feared skills that are necessary for advancement in life.Drama Appreciation – he teaches students the rudiments of drama, and the students actually write and produce stage plays. Drama is a mirror of life – the good, bad, and ugly.
With rave reviews in New York City (Cabaret Scenes Magazine) and hailed as “one of the most celebrated teams” in the Lowcountry (Lowcountry Today), Charleston, SC sisters Gracie & Lacy captivate audiences with their “smooth-as-butter harmonies” (Viera Voice), power-house vocals, intricate tap dancing, and drop-dead-gorgeous costumes!They are best known for their preservation of The Great American Songbook and United States history of the 1920s-1960s.Gracie & Lacy’s unique backstory inspires students that no matter their age or their resources, they can pursue their passion.At the ages of eight and ten, Gracie & Lacy strung a bed sheet curtain on a garden hose across their garage, and thus, “Broadway On The Driveway” was born.Soon off the driveway, the company grew to include a full orchestra, technical team, and casts of up to 90 performers.The annual productions reached thousands of patrons each year, packing the house at local performing arts centers in St. Louis, MO.Gracie & Lacy expanded Broadway on the Driveway’s reach to include performing arts classes in theatre, vocal performance, and dance, serving hundreds of students over the course of 15 years.In addition, their programs have been featured in both public and private schools, universities, libraries, and museums.They host the annual “Great American Songbook Star Search” each year during Piccolo Spoleto Festival to recognize outstanding youth.With infectious humor and wit, Gracie & Lacy relate well to students of all ages and abilities.They emphasize the importance of character and teamwork, and connect students with areas where they can shine, building confidence and leadership skills.They make learning music, public speaking, dance, and history fun, through interactive games, stories, songs, and a trunk full of costumes, props, and more!Gracie & Lacy work with teachers to enhance objectives set forth by the South Carolina Teaching Standards in History / Social Studies, Music, and Theatre, and Dance.They specialize in the history of World War II, Prohibition Era, Charleston, SC History, Songwriting, Choreography, Dance and Music of The Great American Songbook.
Richard Williamson (b. 1962) is Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities, and Coordinator of Music Theory at Anderson University in Anderson, SC, where he also teaches theory, composition, and conducting.He is a graduate of the University of Illinois, Eastman School of Music, and Furman University.Dr. Williamson’s primary artistic contributions have been as a composer and conductor.He has published educational and sacred works with various firms, and he has been commissioned by schools, churches, and community ensembles.In 2013–2014 Williamson served as a Fulbright Scholar at the National University of Music in Lima, Peru, returning in 2015 on an Aid to US Citizens Grant.During his time in Peru, he composed and conducted original works for several choirs.One of these pieces, “Alleluia,” received a commendation in the 2018 Cornwall International Male Choir Festival Composers Competition.Dr. Williamson has composed for ensembles of several South Carolina schools and has served as a conductor and clinician across the state.He is currently an artist-in-residence for Southwood Academy of the Arts in Anderson and is an approved artist of the South Carolina Arts Commission.
Kristy Bishop is a fiber artist specializing in weaving and natural dyes in Charleston.She has been involved in education ever since she was the North Charleston Artist in Residence in the 2012-2013 school year. By using techniques and topics of fiber art her curriculum augments what students are currently learning in math, science, and social studies.Using natural dyes, classes explore the scientific theory, critical thinking, all while creating hand dyed artwork.Students will utilize multiplication, fractions, and concrete math concepts through weaving.For social studies, courses discuss indigo’s impact on South Carolina, its importance to the world, and the lowcountry’s connection to West Africa.Through this dye, students create batik resists using African Adire symbols that they choose to represent themselves or families.This is a reflective project that also connects to another culture.All of these topics can be tailored to any grade level so that every student can experience an art form that has been used by humans throughout our history.
Gail Glover Faust is a 40 plus year veteran of the dance arts and education. She owned her own dance studio in NJ and SC teaching ages 2 – 65, for 25 years. As an arts commission artist since 2005 she has worked statewide and has taught dance nationally and internationally. She teaches a variety of dance including African dance, Harlem Renaissance, Motown, Ballet, Tap, and many other techniques. Gail shares with students the cultural, economic, social and historical value of dance and how dance was integrated and was a catalyst for change during the time period. She loves to share her passion and expertise through dance education with all ages. Her interactive professional development workshops serve to stimulate teachers imagination and encourage them to use movement in the classroom. Gail continues to seek out and present a curriculum that engages and educates.
Jugnu Verma grew up in BIHAR, the STATE of the Madhubani region in northern India.The state, part of Mithila, carries a rich pastel of cultural legacy in art and literature.Artistic interests led Jugnu to seek out practitioners of the art from local artists and learn directly from them. Now she practices, popularizesand teaching the art in the U.S.A.Teaching various Indian FOLK art Form such as Madhubani painting, Lippan art, Warli Art, Rangoli, Mixed Media at Columbia Art center.Henna Tattoo at Columbia Museum of Art.Worked at South Carolina State Museum as an EDUCATOR and was on the team of ‘Beyond Bollywood’ Exhibition.
Thad is an entertainer, musician, teaching artist and songwriter.He enjoys giving energetic performances and workshops, sharing his humorous songs and historical ballads, demonstrating how to play a variety of instruments, and writing songs.He is inspired by musical styles ranging from traditional, folk, mountain ballads, old-time and country blues to the roaring 20’s.He plays ukulele, harmonica, guitar, washboard, bucket bass, jaw harp, limber jack and homemade folk instruments for audiences of all ages!His career and involvement as a teaching artist has focused on music and songwriting.He presents over 300 curriculum-related programs a year with individual classrooms for preschool through high school, integrating music with language arts, writing, science, geography and history.These short single classroom arts infusion sessions, provide participatory and engaging arts experiences for the general classroom, as well as music and science classrooms, with a variety of themed programs that he has developed, such as The Pumpkin Life Cycle, The Amazing Monarch Migration, Down in the Swamp, The Science of Sound, Riding the Rails, All Aboard Harmonica workshops, The Frog Life Cycle, The Little Red Reading Wagon, Exploring the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, Longitude and Latitude with a Geo-Musical Attitude, and Ukulele Fun.Residencies explore a variety of topics including science, social studies, history and language arts. Since 1988, he has conducted over 300 week-long songwriting residencies mostly in South Carolina, North Carolina, Kansas, and Nebraska. The workshops provide progressive skill development with core groups for an in-depth understanding of the creative process. His interdisciplinary program combines language arts, lyric writing, composition, and performance.Students collaborate, brainstorm, research, write and revise as they create songs about local history, heritage and culture. Residencies have yielded songs, performances, publications, artwork and audio/video recordings. Successive residencies in the same school/community yield collections of work, sometimes exploring a single topic over a period of time, such as the dust bowl years or exploring the many facets of the culture of a community through its history, employment and significant events.He is also involved in making and playing homemade instruments and facilitating classroom “Bucket Bands” to explore music, performance and songwriting. The students and he often create end-of-residency skits, sets and performances to showcase and document what they’ve created.He continues to seek professional development opportunities through extensive teaching artist training with The Kennedy Center through KU Lied Center Art.teach and Nebraska Lied Center at Lincoln, Wichita Arts Partners, WolfTrap Early Learning Institute, Accessible Arts and is currently involved with several local arts organizations focusing on artist business development.He has also worked with many arts organizations statewide and local in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, North Carolina and South Carolina, WolfTrap Early Learning, Wichita Arts Partners, Kennedy Center, KU Lied Center Art.teach and Salina Arts Infusion a program of Salina Arts and Humanities.Sharing his love of music and the creative process with students and teachers during artist in education sessions has been one of the highlights of his career.
Building on a foundation of five years’ classroom experience (High School /Middle School ELA and Drama, 5th/6th Grade ELA) and drawing on a love for show business Storyteller Tim Lowry has been an independent teaching artist for 19 years. Using the dramatic arts as a vehicle for creative teaching and student exploration Tim integrates education standards from the Performing Arts, English Language Arts, and Social Studies strands. Education units run the gamut from shadow puppetry incorporating Native American star stories and scientific facts about the constellations to dramatic radio plays encompassing facts about World War II and showcasing student writing to coaching sessions with high school drama students studying physical and vocal characterization techniques. No matter the subject matter, there is always an emphasis on literacy. Creative writing, problem solving, team work, and independent study are also integral parts of the units that Tim creates for the classroom. When collaborating with classroom teachers Tim’s ultimate goal is to leave the classroom teacher with a unit theme, lesson plans, and all necessary resources to duplicate the creative experience again and again independent of the artist/specialist.
Zuri Raushannah Wilson-Seymore is poet, yogi, and an actress. In October 2017, she became the Poetry Out Loud Coordinator for the SC Arts Commission. She booked her first major voice over June 2017 with G.E.M. Studios. In 2017-2018 she worked with her editor Al Black on her first poetry book. Her mission is to encourage others to be the life force energy and create unity through diversity for the community by exuding love with poetry, music and movement. The vision of Zuri’s Parallel Worlds and Zuriality is to heal and produce through poetic expression, therapeutic music, and laughter with an embodiment of like-minded spirits, and souls to create life. She is a 2016 honorary graduate of Southern New Hampshire University with a master’s degree in Creative Writing emphasis poetry. She has also led poetry workshops under the sponsorship of the City of Columbia and for C.A. Johnson High School in Columbia, SC, as well as, Poetry Meets Screenwriting Workshops for the University of SC in 2015 and 2016. She was inducted in two honorary societies in 2015: The National Leadership & Success Organization and the society of Sigma Tau Delta. For booking or additional information please visit her website http://www.zuriality.com.
Vera Gómez is a firm believer in the power of words. She is a workshop facilitator, performance poet, and a teaching poet. She has been a teaching artist with Greenville’s SmartArt’s program for more than 15 years. Vera uses creative writing and poetry to team with teachers to make curriculum exciting in the classroom. Subject areas of focus include Science, Social Studies, Art, History, Spanish and English.Vera has a poetry collection, Barrio Voices, and her work has appeared in ARCHIVE; State of the Heart: Carolina Writers on the Places They Love, Volume II; Ties that Bind; Quintet; Kakalak and Emrys Journal. She supports collaborative work and hosted a Chautauqua Greenville talk on Caesar Chavez (May 2017); Improv Poetry at Read Up, Greenville (October 2017); lead a panel, Voces Nuevas: Raising Latinx Voices in South Carolina, at the Deckle Edge Festival (March 2019) and Visible Voices with the Greenville County Museum of Art (August 2019).
Stacy is the managing partner of Art & Soul of Aiken, a gallery by artists for artists in Aiken, South Carolina. She is the owner and an artist of O’Sulllyside Studio located southside Aiken, South Carolina, and an instructor and independent professional glass artist with over 40 years of industry experience.
Spirithawk is a Silversmith/Metalsmith producing her pieces the old way.Using a stump and anvil she designs, hand cuts, files, stamps, polishes each piece by hand.She teaches Silversmithing classes in her studio and at the School Of Mountain Arts in Pickens, SC.She is the Metalsmith at Hagood Mill in Pickens, SC and presents show and tell classes for students.
Belton Area Museum Association had her as one of their Heritage Days Traditional Artisans to demo Silversmithing to 1671 students, a very powerful interaction for the kids and her.
Well known for their trademark whimsical approach to storytelling and exquisite puppet design, Grey Seal Puppets offers a variety of puppet performances sure to tickle your fancy.Their repertoire includes a variety of productions from familiar fairy tales (The Emperor’s New Clothes) to original stories (Bathtub Pirates).The company’s thirty-year history includes such honors as three Citations of Excellence from UNIMA-USA (International puppetry organization), the President’s Award from the Puppeteers of America, and the Award for Leadership in Theatre from the NC Theatre Conference.
For 11 years, James Cannon has provided residencies throughout South Carolina that are student-centered, hands-on, percussion-driven experiences that focus on West African drumming. A typical residency lasts 5 days and culminates with a student led performance on the final day. James Cannon studied West African drumming with Mohamed DaCosta and Dr. B. Michael Williams at Winthrop University. James Cannon lives in Charleston, SC, where he works with the band programs in Berkeley County, providing high-quality percussion instruction on concert percussion, drum set, and world music. He is an active musician, playing jazz drum set throughout the Lowcountry.
Becky started Becky’s Box of Puppets in 1980.From 1980-82 she performed at the Charleston Museum.Shortly after that she auditioned for the South Carolina Arts Commission Artist Roster and was approved.She has performed in schools, festivals, libraries and television.As an approved artist she has conducted residencies mainly with elementary grades.Kindergarten is her love!Although primarily self-taught, as a member of Puppeteers of America, she has traveled to many out of state festivals to learn more about her craft.She participated in a 3 week course at Washington State University and has studied with a famous director ofan acclaimed puppet company from, what was then, Czechoslovakia.She loves bringing her hand-crafted puppets into schools to create a magical experience with studentsthat is enriching while reinforcing lessons of the day.She feels very blessed to share her passion with the children of South Carolina.
Band Bio
Willie Wells – Vocals, Mandolin, Rhythm Guitar, Tenor Harmony
Continuing the family tradition, his father Bill founded, Willie Wells heads up this current version of the Blue Ridge Mountain Grass.Singing lead and tenor, playing Mandolin and Guitar.Willie is excited about the talents of his individual bandmates.They bring many years of performing experience with them to the stage.
Tyler Chasteen –Vocal, Guitar – newest member of the band.He brings his unique talent to the band with
as a lead guitar and vocals.
David Prosser – Vocals, Banjo – David and Don Ashley came to the band as a duo from the well-known Carolina Rebels band, founded by David’s dad Hank.David’s straight-ahead Scruggs style banjo is lightning fast and metronome perfect.He sings lead and harmony.
Don Ashley -Vocals, Fiddle – Don’s hard-driven double stop fiddle style and bass voice is an integral part of the band’s sound.
Tommy Thomas – Bass – Keeping the band’s beat steady and true is bassist Tommy Thomas.He can also walk up and down the neck when called on.
Patrick Russell – Vocals, Mandolin, Guitar and Fiddle – Writing some excellent original material, both melodic and lyrical, plays mandolin, guitar, and fiddle.Band Bio
Willie Wells – Vocals, Mandolin, Rhythm Guitar, Tenor Harmony
Continuing the family tradition, his father Bill founded, Willie Wells heads up this current version of the Blue Ridge Mountain Grass.Singing lead and tenor, playing Mandolin and Guitar.Willie is excited about the talents of his individual bandmates.They bring many years of performing experience with them to the stage.
Tyler Chasteen –Vocal, Guitar – newest member of the band.He brings his unique talent to the band with
as a lead guitar and vocals.
David Prosser – Vocals, Banjo – David and Don Ashley came to the band as a duo from the well-known Carolina Rebels band, founded by David’s dad Hank.David’s straight-ahead Scruggs style banjo is lightning fast and metronome perfect.He sings lead and harmony.
Don Ashley -Vocals, Fiddle – Don’s hard-driven double stop fiddle style and bass voice is an integral part of the band’s sound.
Tommy Thomas – Bass – Keeping the band’s beat steady and true is bassist Tommy Thomas.He can also walk up and down the neck when called on.
Patrick Russell – Vocals, Mandolin, Guitar and Fiddle – Writing some excellent original material, both melodic and lyrical, plays mandolin, guitar, and fiddle.
Clarence is a master artist working in the ARTS ACCESS SOUTH CAROLINA programs serving people with disabilities.He has been active on the South Carolina Arts Commissions Artist Roster since 1981.His residencies have included gifted, general population and talented students as well as special needs.He is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators. Richard C. Owen publishes his children’s books.He also has nonfiction, and books of satire available on Amazon.com . His poetry has been published in numerous publications and anthologies.He won the International Golden poet award and has been listed in About the Author.His painting and/or other art works have been featured in national magazines and on Public Television.
EDUCATION
Schiller College, Strasbourg, (set design and direction) France 1978
University of South Carolina, Columbia, B. A. in Art 1977
Fine Art or illustration for NASA, Panasonic, U.S. Army Corps. Of Engineers, War Veterans Home(Percent for the Arts), Anderson, S.C., C & S Bank, Dictaphone, Federal Landbank, NCR, Southern Bank Corp., Westinghouse, Numerous Private Collections
G’day! Didgeridoo Down Under is one of the most popular K-12 enrichment programs in South Carolina. We specialize in weaving Australia-themed cultural arts, core curriculum, character building, motivational speaking and audience participation into high-energy shows, workshops and residencies. Since 2004, we’ve presented more than 7,000 programs at elementary / middle / high schools, colleges, theaters, festivals and other venues nationwide.The Didgeridoo Down Under Show is a unique fusion of Australian music, culture, art, science, literacy development, comedy, character building, anti-bullying and audience movement / participation. The didgeridoo has been played by Aboriginal Australians for at least 1,500 years, and is known for its otherworldly sound. But DDU is much more than music. It’s interactive, educational, motivational and super fun for all ages! During the show, we play a variety of exotic didgeridoos. We also use a multitude of props – including a vocabulary list, a globe, motivational signs, artifacts, artwork and puppets – to deliver educational lessons and empowering messages. We adjust our programs according to age levels and learning objectives. A study guide is provided for pre- and post-performance lesson plans.We also offer didgeridoo workshops, immersive residencies (2-5 days) and world-class concerts. Visit www.didgedownunder.com for more info.
Brien Engel is an explorer of unusual sounds coaxed out of everyday objects. His main passion is the glass harp, an instrument comprised of 50 wine glasses, which he plays by rubbing his wet fingers on their rims. This enchanting art form dates back to the 18th century, and Brien is one of very few modern practitioners. His repertoire includes pieces by Mozart, Bach, and Haydn, as well as popular standards, movie tunes, ice cream truck songs, and the occasional heavy metal request! In addition to lots of music, Brien incorporates the physics of the glass harp, and science of sound principles in his presentations. He also plays musical saw, bottles, singing bowls, and introduces Ben Franklin’s invention (and the first American musical instrument), the glass armonica. Brien’s show is full of audience involvement as well.This unique presentation has earned acclaim all over the country by countless students, teachers and parents.
Tiffany is considered a tenacious self-starter who brings strategic conceptual thinking forward!She is passionate about creating new things using traditional or digital media.Tiffany holds a Bachelors’ degree in Animation and has a total work experience of 11 years as a freelancer.She is well versed in different areas of design and has successfully designed solutions for print media, children’s books, and websites. Overall Tiffany is a color-obsessed Artist, Educator, and photographer.
Dave McDonald has built a career as a comics creator and teaching artist based on an award-winning background in television, theme park entertainment and puppetry.He served as head writer for the Scooby-Doo brand of live entertainment for Paramount Parks’ 5 North American theme parks and continues to provide writing services to U.S. & International theme park clients, museums and corporations.He is currently an accredited teaching artist and offers education-based programming to schools, museums and libraries through several state and local arts councils in North & South Carolina.McDonald presents to over 5,000 kids a year in schools with his “Kids Make Comics!” assembly programs and weeklong artist in residencies.He is also a featured kids cartooning instructor through his online “Kids Make Comics!” video series, which can be seen on the classroom reading and learning app, Epic! www.getepic.comand Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/DaveMcDonald
For over 25 years, Billy Jonas, performer, singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator, has perfected the art of original songs performed with a generous dose of audience participation. Jonas performs using voice, guitar, and industrial re-percussion – homemade creations of buckets and barrels, keys and cans, bells and body percussion. Each concert is a soul-spelunking, heart healing, joy-filled journey of spirited music that is accessible to anyone and everyone, regardless of age or cultural background.
Roger Day writes and performs award-winning children’s music that tickles the imagination with infectious tunes and rhythms and inspiring characters. Day has been writing and performing his smart, interactive music for families for over 15 years and is an approved Dove Family Foundation artist and multiple Parents’ Choice Gold Award winner.Roger Day’s concerts are action-filled adventures that exercise both mind AND muscle; both body AND brain. Day keeps his young audiences involved and captivated. These fun concerts inspire each child to discover his and her own talents, give flight to the imagination: to DREAM BIG! and GET YOUR BRAIN IN GEAR! and now in his newest concert, to be INVINCIBLE!
Angela Gallo, Professor of Dance -Coker College, Artistic Director of Sapphire Moon Dance Company. Performance highlights: White Wave Dance Festival, Dancenow Downtown Festival, Dance Theatre Workshop in NYC, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, the Fringe Festival of Independent Dance Artists in Canada, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Alabama Dance Festival, Charlotte Dance Festival, Dimensions Dance Festival, and others. She danced with AmDAT: Dance Art Technology (NY), Eisenhower Dance Ensemble (MI), the Power Company (SC) and worked with Ballet Preljocaj (France) and Anou Skan (France). Guest choreographer for Columbia Classical Ballet, Vibrations Dance Company, Power Company.
Angela is often a sought-after guest artist. Instructor at Joffrey Ballet Summer Program, Peridance Center, Hartford Ballet School and guest instructor at Spelman College.
Angela was awarded the SC Dance Associations Advocacy and Honor Awards, grants from the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties, South Arts, Kyle Foundation, Black Creek Arts Council and was runner up for the SC Arts Commission’s Fellowship in Dance in 2007.
Angela received MFA in Dance from University of Michigan and BFA from Central Connecticut State University.
Angela is interested in the intersection of life and art- how can we bring cultural change and awareness through our artistic vision.
As an artist, Gina derives so much joy from various forms of sculpture, and any work that provokes thought and imagination.She works primarily with lightweight materials, such as paper in all its forms, and recycled materials whenever possible.She loves creating odd characters and creepy creatures, anything with personality.Puppetry opens up a world of fascinating options.
In her classes, students take inspiration from world culture puppetry arts, and create original characters. They make connections to academic content, tell their own stories, and perform with much less inhibition as they can choose to hide behind the puppets and scenery. In her classes “weird” is okay, original thought is celebrated, and “messing up” artistically is not a fear.Process is emphasized over product.Students learn technique, build skills, retain content.
Each workshop is tailored for each group of teachers and students. Teachers provide the academic focus – standards, content, and objectives, and these inform the puppet and theater styles that are integrated. A workshop may include design, creation of age-appropriate characters, theater games, story-telling, or performance on any scale, from classroom skits in small groups, to school wide productions, through individual and team work. Please see examples on her website.
25 + years working as a theatre artist-in-residence with schools in SC, NC, FL and LA for the past 12 years, 65-75 schools per year. Also 28 years working in SC schools as a classroom teacher (10 years as a high school English and Drama teacher and 18 years as an elementary and high school principal).Yes, I’m getting on up there. LOL
BA, Wofford College (English)
MEd., University of South Carolina (Ed Admin)
MA, University of South Carolina (Theatre with an emphasis in directing)
My five-day residencies culminate in a full-scale production (Shakespearean or Musical).All production costs: sets, costumes, royalties, music… are included in the residency fee.
I usually work in conjunction with my wife, Dorothy Martin, who is also on the roster.
A professional touring theatre company in continuous operation since 1981.
The company provides sets costumes, scripts and music in conjunction with professional consultation in theatre and musical theatre productions.
Trent Arterberry’s unique brand of physical theatre combines mime, storytelling, puppetry and audience participation. “A proven crowd-pleaser” (The Boston Globe), Arterberry has performed everywhere from New York’s Radio City Music Hall to the QE2 luxury liner. He has given thousands of performances at schools across the US and Canada, and currently offers three different educational programs for elementary, middle and secondary school audiences.
Also an active artist-in-residence, Arterberry has directed performances with upper elementary, middle and high-school students, including plays by Shakespeare, Dickens as well as contemporary and original works.
“Arterberry grabs children from his first entrance with an arsenal of body movements and self-generated sound effects … In short episodes as a racing-car driver, a pilot, a robot, a digital dude, and a puppet named Mr. Bigg, he fascinates his young audience and involves them in trying some of his moves.” —NOW Magazine, Toronto
“Arterberry’s genius is two-fold — storytelling that doesn’t patronize and the agility to make it vastly entertaining.” —Monday Magazine, Victoria
Jef is a mime and variety artist currently performing at fairs and festivals, libraries and schools as The InterACTive Theater of Jef.He has performed at such places as Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston, The Strawberry Festival in Fort Mill, the Saluda County and Newberry County Libraries, and Pontiac Elementary in Elgin.He is also a teaching artist, sharing workshops and residencies in mime, mask, physical dynamics, Commedia dell’arte, melodrama and circus arts.
Jef studied Mime with C.W. Metcalf, Tony Montanaro & Jacques Lecoq.He also studied Period Dance & Style with William Burdick, Clowning with Peter Hoff and John Towsen, Acting with Bill Hickey at the H.B. Studio, and Commedia dell’arte with Joan Schirle and Donald Forrest at the Dell’Arte School.
He began his professional career with the TOUCH Mime Theater, performing for folks of all ages throughout the United States.He then created and performed as the mascot Wool E. Bull for the Durham Bulls Baseball Club in Durham, NC.He began his variety arts work as one half of the duo, Ken & Jef.He now performs his wacky brand of theater for children and families as a soloist: combining mime, juggling, clowning and variety arts.
Mahoganee, a South Carolina Native & East Coast based artist blends a Style of Southern Soul, Funk, Jazz, Blues & Hip-Hop (deemed Funky Organik Soul) is a renowned vocalist, recording artist, songwriter and youth educator-mentor with national credits to her name. With over 20 years of experience in her field, she evolves as a consummate personality. Mahoganee is sought to perform at numerous and reputable corporate, private, civic and community events with audiences of dignitaries and 21st century iCons. She has amassed a growing fan base and continually earns respect from her “age-peers” and her “age-seasoned ” audiences. Both groups of supporters appreciate the sultry, earthy, authentic, vocal range spanning more than four octaves, and her commanding acapella stage presence. She has performed for audiences of 20,000 + with music heard in over 24 countries. Her music can be heard on numerous local and national FM/AM radio and internet radio stations.
Pantasia is one of the Southeast’s longest-running professional steel bands with performances spanning Ohio to Florida, Barbados, St. Lucia and Hong Kong. For 25 years, Pantasia has been a part of the “steel band movement,” assisting schools with grant writing and instrument acquisition, providing professional development training for teachers, as well as serving as artist-in-residence through educational school assemblies and residencies for more than 350 schools- both in the U.S. and abroad. Its director Kimberly M. Roberts began as a certified teacher in Lexington Two and is now an internationally-recognized steel drum education specialist. Mrs. Roberts is the consultant for steel drum manufacturer Panyard, Inc., is co-designer of the Jumbie Jam steel drum, and author/composer of the instrument’s instruction manual. In 2016, Pantasia furthered the steel band movement by traveling to Hong Kong to establish their county’s first steel band. Teaching at the prestigious Kellett British International School, Mrs. Roberts set up steel bands for students in elementary, middle, and high school. She has also presented at SCMEA and music conventions throughout the United States.Mrs. Roberts is the author of Trinidad’s Musical Journey, Jammin’ Geography- Caribbean Cruise, and the Beginning Guide to the Jumbie Jam.
Kimberly M. Roberts began her career as a certified teacher in Lexington School District Two and pursued her passion for both teaching and the arts as an artist-in-residence in the area of literary arts and music. She has taught in more than 350 schools, as well as dozens of libraries, child development centers, festivals, and Arts camps throughout the United States and internationally.
Mrs. Roberts presents programs on topics including: steel drums, ukulele, “STOMP” percussion, rhythm composition/performance, poetry, creative writing, arts integration, and additional topics which can be found on her website www.SCTeachingArtist.com.
Mrs. Roberts has taught students across the entire age spectrum and has successfully worked with every type of learner including the academically gifted, behaviorally at-risk, and children/adults with severe to profound developmental and physical limitations.
She is the director the Pantasia Steel Band- one of the Southeast’s longest-running professional steel bands and is an internationally-recognized steel drum education specialist through her work with the NAMM Award-winning Jumbie Jam steel drum.
Mrs. Roberts has presented at SCMEA, the SC Book Festival, and music conventions throughout the United States and is the author of Trinidad’s Musical Journey, Jammin’ Geography- Caribbean Cruise, and the Beginning Guide to the Jumbie Jam.
Shannon Ivey, MFA, AEA, is an actress, director, activist, educator, StorySlam maven and Tedx Presenter. She holds an MFA in Acting from UNC Greensboro and a BA in Theatre from Mississippi University for Women.Ms. Ivey has over 20 years of experience teaching theatre, facilitating workshops, directing and devising plays and musicals, as well as creating performative experiences for audiences of all ages.Ms. Ivey facilitates Story Slams, Theatre of the Oppressed workshops, and participatory/ collaborative events to encourage the use theatre and storytelling for social change.Ms. Ivey is the proud founder of the #whatshesaidproject, which uses first person storytelling to empower women of all ages.
FMI: www.whatshesaidproject.com