On Monday November 19, 2007 from 4:00-5:00 You are invited to attend this group as a volunteer of Project Jericho (you helped organize or run a PJ event… i.e. Witt Students from YouthVOICE) to discuss your experience with PJ and ideas on what should happen in the future. The group will be held in the Hall of honor… Pizza will be provided!!!! Then from 5:00-6:00 Project Jericho parents are invited to attend a group to discuss their views on the program!

 Last week, 13+ youth attended a 4 day long residency that ended with one of the most spectacular performances so far this year! The residency was lead by the VERY talented Soul Street Dance Company’s Javier, Rock, Kirk, and Armondo (Mondo). All traveled from the great state of Texas to teach our youth how to perform a choreographed and free-flow (Hip-hop, Break) dance piece, and also teach qualities of leadership, responsibilty, teamwork, and how to feel good about themselves as they perform for an audience.

The week began with basic warm-up techniques and lots of complaining about how hard the moves were. Many kids were encouraged to put forth greater effort and stick with the program. After the first hour or so of practice and just watching the young men show off their moves the youth really began to dig the stuff that Soul Street was presenting to them. It was no longer a chore to be at the workshop, it became a fun one-of-a-kind experience that none of the teens could have imagined.

Bonds were made between dancers and youth as the youth’s talent spilled into every movement that they made. As the days went on more and more of the youth were eager to begin practice so they could see what things (”tricks”) each other could do next. Every move was unpredictable- if you’d have never seen these kids before they would have fooled you into believing they were professionals already! Everyone learned that it’s amazing what things people can do with their bodies when they just put their mind into it.

By the end of the week the teens looked up to Javier, Rock, Kirk, and Mondo as if they were family, almost melted together in this strange way by the force of dance. The encouragement these men put forth into the youth really raised self esteem and gave the youth a since of pride. These men are some of the most talented in the US and the Project Jericho teens are not far behind!

The residency culminated in a performance Friday night November 9th, the Performing Arts Center Community Rooms were PACKED with eager friends and family members. The youths nerves were at their end but none of them backed out. The performance began with a GREAT performance by Soul Street done to a classical tune showing the wonderful art aspect of what exactly these TALENTED young men do. Then the moment we had all been waiting for… the moment the whole week led up to, the youth performance: as the youth lined up in the rooms they all bobbed their heads in unison and danced their hearts out… blowing away EVERYONE within the audience including the professionals! No one expected the whole show to go off without at least one slip but it DID! It was amazing to see how confident these kids were in their skill! When the show ended many in the crowd were teary eyed and speechless… these kids were so passionate in their performance, which ended with a wonderful standing ovation!  So… keep your eyes open we might just eventually have our own group of professional  emerging into the dance scene!

Pictures of the residency will be up soon- Keep your eyes and ears open for more info!

Thanks again to all the Youth who made this a GREAT success and to the VERY talented Soul Street for giving us their time to help these kids open their eyes to the world of Dance.

Article By: Lindsay Baker

Bucket band will be meeting every week on Tuesdays through December 11, 2007 from 5-7 bucket band A meets at 5 and bucket band B meets at 6! 11-6, 11-20, 11-27, 12-4, 12-11 will be held in the community rooms above the turner studio enter the doors across from the YMCA

All parents and community members are invited to attend a high energy performance by the Soul Street Dance Co. and local youth who have spent a week creating a mind blowing performance it starts at 6 and ends at 7 in the community rooms on the second floor of the Performing arts center enter doors across from the YMCA

In the coming week of Nov. 6- Friday Nov. 9th there will be an energizing exciting dance residency in the community rooms of Clark State’s Turner Studio side of the Performing Arts Center. The talented artists refer to themselves as Soul Street Dance a professional group who has members many of us may remember from Fly dance company. These talented artist will be leading the youth into an intense almost week long workshop ending with an explosive performance by the youth and Soul Street for family and other community members to attend. Youth dancers must arrive ON TIME everyday and wear comfortable clothing that they can easily move in.