AURORA April-May 2018 CArtsR & HistoryE AWorthT DiscoveringES AURORA’S KIDS ROCK spotlight MESSAGEfrom the Editors Readers of Aurora Creates know that the city’s Cultural Services Division, schools and other organizations AURORA DANCE create tremendous opportunities for our youngest residents to participate in the arts. This issue of Aurora ARTS RECITALS Creates celebrates the work of four are More Than a Performance special programs doing a great job serving our kids—Aurora Dance One of the most cherished American on physical, mental and emotional Arts, Little Foxes Summer Theatre, rites of passage for many girls (and challenges simultaneously while Downtown Aurora Visual Arts and we hope one day for boys, too) is the pursuing a goal. Dancers take pride in Visions Performing Arts’ “Rock da annual dance recital. Since dance is conquering new steps, and knowing Mic” program. a performing art, recitals are often that their artistry will be on display for considered to be the highlight of a friends and family gives them the added Everyone who works with children Odancer’s experience each year. Though encouragement to work hard. knows how important the arts are to the thought of rehearsals, costumes and their development. Educators say dancing for a large audience may seem Recitals create lifelong memories. the arts nurture the development of overwhelming at first, participation Recital performances provide dancers fine motor skills, neural development in an annual recital is an incredible with the opportunity to share what they and problem-solving abilities and opportunity that harvests a variety of have learned with their friends and can be used effectively to teach and benefits for both the dancers and their families. Costumes become treasured understand other subjects such as families. keepsakes, and recital pictures become reading, writing, math and science. the highlights of photo albums and Therapists tell us the arts are Recitals boost confidence. Taking part scrapbooks. For families, recital is a time valuable because they are frequently in a recital or performance helps dancers to celebrate their dancers’ achievements, the only activities children engage overcome shyness, fear, anxiety and and for dancers, the recital instills stage fright. Stepping onto a stage, a passion for the art of dancing and in where they are encouraged to be performing for an audience and hearing performing. creative and are not penalized—but the applause, creates a self-confidence actually commended— for making that dancers carry with them and apply Aurora Dance Arts, a program of mistakes. Kids describe the arts in all aspects of school and later life. the city’s Cultural Services Division, as fun. Parents tell us the arts are is thrilled to be able to provide valuable because creativity doesn’t Recitals promote teamwork. One of opportunities for our city’s youth to discriminate on the basis of age or the most desired qualities employers experience these benefits with two gender, so participating in the arts are looking for is the ability to work sets of recitals this year. The youngest is a great way for families to do effectively with others in different students will perform “Celebrate the something together. circumstances. By working with their Seasons” at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday, fellow dancers on a group performance, May 19. The older students will perform We’ve never heard of a family that dancers learn and practice working “Icons of Music” at 7 p.m. Friday, June didn’t recognize the value of the arts as a team in a variety of challenging 1, and at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 2. All for its youngest members (singing situations. performances will take place at Hinkley to babies) and its oldest (visual arts, High School. Tickets, which go on sale music, theater, and dance are all very Recitals provide goals. Employers also May 1, are $8 per person (family four- popular senior activities). So why like employees who can rise to the packs are available at a discount). For do so many of the rest of us turn challenge. The key is being able to work more information call the Dance Office away from the arts in the in-between hard and keep moving forward when at 303.326.8308 or visit AuroraGov.org/ years? You know kids benefit from you encounter obstacles. Preparing for Dance. the arts. Start looking now for a recital teaches students how to take summer arts programs for your kids. Check out the profile of Aurora Dance Arts graduating seniors on page 6. 1 |AURORA CREATES SPOTLIGHT ON World-Renowned Pianist Ammiel Bushakevitz International pianist Ammiel Bushakevitz music is needed and if I can make a AB: The arts are an essential part of a will perform a free recital in Aurora difference in the world through it. I have general education, and children should while in Colorado after teaching a good friend who often volunteers to have access to art and music lessons, master classes for the American Music help those suffering in Third World regardless of their economic background. Teachers National Association in countries while I am performing in a I do not believe that classical music is Greeley. Bushakevitz was born in Israel tailcoat to a (often) privileged audience. more valid than other forms of music, Iand raised in South Africa, studied That makes me think whether what I but I do think that the ability to read at the Mendelssohn Hochschule für do as a concert pianist really makes a music and to have the technical skills that Musik in Leipzig, Germany, and at the difference. I do know that music can classical music grants is greatly beneficial Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique bring great healing, comfort and joy, to everyone. The sign of a successful in Paris. He is an Edison Fellow of the regardless of one’s social status or civilization is how much leisure time British Library in London and an award- domestic circumstance. What keeps me their citizens have; thus I believe that winning musician who has performed going is when I see that my performance governmental support of the arts is at notable venues around the world. In can take an audience to a world away essential to the cultural and intellectual Aurora, Bushakevitz will perform a free from the mundane and the prosaic. development of a nation. piano concert featuring music by Franz Shubert and Franz Liszt at 7 p.m. Friday, AC: What would you say is your core AC: Why is education so important June 8, at the Aurora Central Library, repertoire? to you and what’s your ultimate goal 14949 E. Alameda Parkway. Since when you do those workshops and AB: There is always wonderful music seating is limited, registration is required benefit concerts? to discover, and I have a broad range at AuroraLibrary.org or 303.739.6630. that interests me. My musical interests AB: The educational aspect of music is AC: You are still young but have been span from Eastern European folk music vital and is really fun for children and playing since age 4. After all this time through to avant-garde jazz, but I adolescents. It’s also something from playing, what inspires you to continue suppose that my greatest love is for the which I personally glean a huge amount taking your music to every corner of classical core repertoire: the so-called of pleasure. In 2018, I am honored the world? First Viennese School of Haydn, Mozart, to be teaching workshops on five Beethoven and Schubert. continents, from post-graduate level at AB: This is a question that reaches to my top universities to children in developing core and which is essentially a question AC: What’s your take on making countries who have never before seen a about the meaning and purpose of life. the arts, in your case music, more grand piano. The question is about how much classical accessible to all peoples? TWO CULTURAL Art in Public Places Commission and staff Services Division Programs Honored Congratulations to two city of Aurora Cultural Services Division programs for their recent recognitions! The city’s Art in Public Places Program, in partnership with the Regional Transportation District, received the Business for the Arts Award by the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts for the public art along the R Line. And the Aurora History Museum received the Business for the Arts Award by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. Aurora History Museum staff C April - May 2018 | 2 april Opening Reception: “Rock da Mic” – 05 “Inside Us” 28 Youth Showcase 4 – 7:30 p.m. 6 p.m. $ DAVA Presented by Visions 1405 Florence St. Performing Arts People’s Building Aurora Dance Arts 07 Performance Family Friendly Art Class: 4 – 7 p.m. (open house) 29 Happy Anniversary Aurora Meadowood Recreation Center 3 –5 p.m. $ 3054 S. Laredo St. Aurora History Museum Aurora Dance Arts Opening Night: Performance 13 “Passing Strange” 3 – 4:30 p.m. (various times) 7:30 p.m. $ Aurora Town Center Aurora Fox Arts Center 14200 E Alameda Parkway 9900 E. Colfax Ave. Sip and Paint: Colors of Colfax 7 – 9 p.m $ Aurora History Museum Aurora Dance Arts recital 15051 E. Alameda Parkway City of Aurora Cultural Program City of Aurora Cultural Program Opening Night: “Bullets Over Broadway” 7:30 p.m. $ Vintage Theatre Productions 1468 Dayton St. Little Foxes Auditions for 14- Alice in Wonderland Sat., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sun., 5:30 – 8 p.m. 15 Aurora Fox Arts Center “Dust Storm” at Theatre Esprit Asia Lecture: The History a musical journey a musical journey 18 of Buckley Noon $ Aurora History Museum City of Aurora Cultural Program A little history on the Fox Originally built inPolynesian 1946, the Aurora Fox Arts and Arts Center was Aurora’s only “movie 21palace” serving theCulture needs of a growingPrograms The Aurora Fox population and military personnel stationed at Fitzsimmons Army11:30 Hospital a.m.