Twice annually, in our "live" exchange program, we bring talented international youngsters to meet with, perform for, and give workshops to children and students in our area. The performances feature the youngsters sharing their culture through music, song and/or dance.
Besides being entertained, our young audiences also get a feel for the personal lives of the performers. Each show leads off with a video which takes the audience “back home” to see the schools, homes, and rehearsals of the performers.
An important component of our tour is the interaction between the performers and their American peers. The group gives “hands-on” and “feet-on” workshops, visit classrooms, share meals, and stays in the homes of local families.
Tour Dates:
Our two tours are in the Fall (Oct-Nov) and Spring (Apr-May).
Previous Tours Have Come From:
Since 1999, we have hosted young performers from Russia, China, India, Uganda, Colombia, Ireland, and Cambodia.
Click below to view details of our upcoming tours and booking info,
"Children of Khmer" Dance Troupe from Cambodia, May 2011
To view details about a typical full and half day IYPT visit,
Click Here
If you are an international group wanting to participate in a IYPT tour,
Click Here
Read testimonials from recent tours
Meeting CT and NY State Educational Standards
For Dance Troupe Visit:
Connecticut
The performance and workshops address Connecticut's Arts K-12 Goals and Standards.
Specifically the following dance content standards:
3. Understand how dances creates and communicates meaning
5. Demonstrate understanding of dance in various cultures and historical periods
The full text of these standards can be found at:
http://www.state.ct.us/sde/dtl/curriculum/ artccl/cclasrt_dance.pdf
New York
This performance also addresses New York State Learning Standards for the Arts#4 as stipulated by the State Department of Education.
(For a more detailed description of the standards, contact the Department in Albany, NY.)
Understanding the Cultural Dimensions and Contributions of the Arts: Students will develop an understanding of the personal and cultural forces that shape artistic communication and how the arts in turn shape the diverse cultures of the past and present society. Elementary and Intermediate Levels, Dance Standard-Students will know dances from many cultures and times and recognize their relationship to various cultural, social, and historic contexts. Students will recognize that dance is performed in many different cultural settings and serves many functions in diverse societies.
IYPT Goals
For every IYPT group, It goes without saying that by touring in foreign countries such as the United States, the visiting dancers, singers, and/or musicians hope to share their cultural heritage through performance. Also centrally important, however, is their (and our) goal of providing an opportunity for the performers and audience members to make connections to each other. For many American students, the performers who come from across the world and speak a different language may seem far removed from their own lives; personal interaction allows them to realize that the performers are kids also, similar to themselves in many ways. We at Creative Connections embrace these goals. We want each member of our audiences to come away from a performance or workshop with a new awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the visitor’s culture. We also want them to feel connected in some way to the young performers’ themselves. It is such a connection which will help ready them to be true world citizens.
Details about a typical full and half day IYPT visit
We invite you to host this troupe at your school.
A typical full day's visit will include:
- A 45-minute all-school performance
- Each performance will also include a short video, shot in the visitor’s native country, in which two dancers will take audiences right into their schools, homes, and rehearsals.
- 45-minute long mini-workshops where the visiting teachers and children will teach your students their traditions, sports, arts
- One period where the International children can visit your classrooms to have a two-way Q&A session
- Opportunities for the International children to visit and participate in your classes (we recommend classes where their limited English language skills will not be a problem i.e. gym, music, art, or "active" academic classes)
- Lunch with your students (we appreciate your school providing this)
A typical half day's visit will include:
- A 45-minute all-school performance
- Each performance will also include a short video, shot in the visitor’s native country, in which two dancers will take audiences right into their schools, homes, and rehearsals.
- Choice of a, b or c
- 45-minute long mini-workshops where the visiting teachers and children will teach your students their traditions, sports, arts
- One period where the International children can visit your classrooms to have a two-way Q&A session
- Opportunities for the International children to visit and participate in your classes (we recommend classes where their limited English language skills will not be a problem i.e. gym, music, art, or "active" academic classes)
- Lunch with your students (we appreciate your school providing this, if you book a morning session)
To learn more about the International Young performer’s Tour contact:
Alan Steckler, Executive Director
(203) 803 4376
Mathews Park, 303 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850
asteckler@creativeconnections.org
If you are an international group wanting to participate in our future Young Performers Tour.
We give you, the visitor an opportunity to share the richness of your dance, music and culture with thousands of elementary, middle, and high schools students and teachers in the New York, Connecticut area. You will give public performances, many school performances and workshops including classroom visits at schools and art centers.
We will arrange for your performers and typically two adult chaperones to live with local families in their homes here in Fairfield County, Connecticut. We will cover all air and land expenses, including medical insurance, for each member of the group.
Your troupe will be wonderful ambassadors for your country. You will be helping further our mission to connect young people in the US with their peers around the world, in order to foster greater awareness, understanding and appreciation of each others' cultures.
Your students will learn skills other than sharing their talent in dance and music
Your students will learn to:
- be introspective about their culture and their place in it
- communicate key aspects of their culture using both their art and the workshops
- dialogue with their host schools the realities that exist in their native land
- explore the values that underlie the surface aspects of culture
- become global citizens by developing cultural literacy
If you wish to be considered for a future tour please submit:
- A brief description of the performance – the dance and music, it’s cultural heritage.
- Information about the group: number of performers (with age and gender), name of leader and contact information.
- Photographs during performance (in typical costume)
- Video of performance
- A write up saying why your group would be a good ambassador of your country.
- A letter of recommendation
- Press release if any that document the experience and quality of the performers in your home country.
- Prior International experience if any
Please mail your package to:
Creative Connections - Mathews Park, 303 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850 USA
Criteria For selection:
Quality of the performance – caliber of talent
A good mix of music, folk dance, story telling, etc.
Stage impact - costume, props, traditional instruments, etc.
Number, age and gender mix of the group. In the past we have brought troupes of about 12-18 youngsters, 10-18 years old, with an equal number of girls and boys.
Communication skills of the youth. Articulate youngsters who can address issues relating to their cultural heritage.
A group who is willing to interact, relate, learn from and promote cultural understanding.
Other criteria that meet our business development goals.
We will carefully review the materials you send us and will let you know whether we are able to invite your group to be part of the future IYPT tour.
For further clarification please contact:
Alan Steckler, Executive Director
(203) 803 4376
asteckler@creativeconnections.org
