childrens' courses - over 5

LIVE FAST DIE YOUNG : ART TO CHILL WITH

Wednesday's 4pm to 6pm, Ages 11 to 16.

As serious as you want to be. A class where you can explore the arts at your own pace and learn to express yourself with a variety of mediums.
Teen angst in a visual format!

Price: £6.50 members, £7.00 non-members. (price per class, payable termly)

ART CLUB

Monday 4pm to 6pm.
Saturday 10am to 12pm. Ages 5 to 10

This exciting course covers different mediums and creative outcomes using well known artists and art history as an inspiration. Additional teaching from visiting artists will also add value to the programme.


Price: £6.50 members, £7 non-members (price per class, payable termly)

THE ARTS AWARD

Tuesdays 4pm to 6pm. Ages 11 to 18

The Arts Award is an Arts Council initiative and is a recognised qualification in the arts. It has been described as the 'Duke of Edinburgh Award' for Art. This class has a visual arts focus but will cover every medium.

Price: £7 members, £7.50 non-members (price per session, payable termly)
Plus £4.25 for course materials payable on the first session

www.artsaward.org.uk

STREET DANCE BY FUSION DANCE AND DRAMA

Tuesdays 6.30pm to 7.15pm. Age 11+

Street Dance is any basic movement mixed with a bit of basic hip hop and body poppin - from easy static movements to floor movements. Music used: hip hop & R&B. Every day wear and trainers essential.
For more information call 01462 731074

Price: £3.50 per class

www.michellegordinedance.com

HELEN O'GRADY DRAMA ACADEMY

Saturdays 10am to 11am. Ages 5 to 7
Saturdays 11am to 12pm. Ages 8 to 12
Saturday 11.00am to 12.00pm ages 12 to 15

Development Through Drama. This acclaimed self-development drama programme helps to develop children's confidence, self-esteem and communication skills. Classes include speech, movement, creative improvised drama and mini scripts.
For more information call 01223 208731

Price: £6 members, £6.50 non-members (price per session, payable termly)

www.helenogrady.co.uk

STAGE DOOR DRAMA

Classes for 8 - 12 Will be learning about mime, improvisation and creating characters, using stories and puppets for a really special end of term show.

Classes for 12+ Will be developing drama skills in mime, improvisation and script work. Using masks and music, culminating in an original and exciting end of term show.

Stage Door has been in Letchworth for three years. It is run by Charlotte McDermott; qualified and experienced teacher, performer and Youth Theatre director. The aim of the classes is to make drama accessible to all children from those who want to become more confident and have fun - to those who love performing and want to develop their talent further. We explore stories and themes, allowing children to use their imagination and creativity. They learn how to perform in front of an audience and in the process begin to co-operate in small and large groups. Learning to negotiate and make decisions, and use the techniques for creating theatre they have learnt.

Tuesdays from 5pm to 6pm for 8 to 12 year olds and 7.15pm to 8.30pm for the over 12s.
The courses cost £5 and £6 respectively per session.  

ROCKSKOOL

Wednesday 4pm to 4.55pm or 5pm to 5.55pm. Ages 11 to 16

An exciting course designed for young artists to get together in a band environment. Insruments provided, vocals accepted! Maximum six participants per hour to play drums, bass, guitar x2, keyboards and singer. Some initial level of ability is required. Please state instrument or vocals when booking.

Price: £10 members, £10.50 non-members (price per session, payable monthly in advance)

GUITAR GODS

Monday 5pm to 5.55pm (beginners)
Monday 6pm to 6.55pm (intermediate).
Saturday 12.30pm to 1.25pm (beginners)
Saturday 1.30pm to 2.25pm (intermediate).
Age 8+

A contemporary guitar course for complete beginners to intermediate/ advanced. Styles of music taught range from Rock to Pop and Indie. A hands-on approach which gives confidence and keeps interest. Guitars and amps will be provided. Maximum six students per tutor.

Price: £10 members, £10.50 non-members (price per session, payable monthly in advance)

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COURSES MUST BE PRE-BOOKED AND WILL BE SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION IF NUMBERS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.

50'S FILM PROJECT

You've never had it so good.

Calling all you Daniel Ratcliffes and Emma Watsons out there !

We hear a lot about teenage binge drinkers and street hooligans, but are teenagers today so different from those of fifty years ago. Or have young people changed little or at all over the years ? To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the celebrated We are the Lambeth Boys the Letchworth Arts Centre is making a modern day version of the film and is calling on all those who were aged 15 in Letchworth and its neighbourhood in 1958, together with those who are currently aged 15, to become involved.

Maria Iredale, head of the Arts Centre, has received £25,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to make You've Never had It So Good, a documentary of around 53 minutes using a professional cameraman/director with a glitzy premier at the Broadway cinema booked for Autumn. There will be opportunities for some 15 year olds to dress up in 1950s garb and act, but a lot of the work will be behind the scenes. The script, for instance, will be drafted by present-day teenagers and a good deal of historical research must be done.

Teenagers today certainly appear to have it better. Back in 1958, as Maria points out, the Lambeth boys experienced some form of rationing, left school at 14 and had conscription looming over them. For girls there was little chance of a career and their future revolved around marriage and motherhood. Have different circumstances made present day teenagers different from those of fifty years ago, or are they basically the same ? The project may not come up with a definitive answer to these questions, but Maria feels something of interest is bound to emerge along the way.

Young Roots Project 2008 Press Release

All those interested in taking part are invited to contact Maria at the Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade ( 01462 670788 ) between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday to Saturday to be registered.