Last Day at CASA

Dance Theatre Etcetera Teaching Artists Julia Rosenfeld and Greg Manley reluctantly parted ways with the awesome students at P.S. 27's Creative After-School Adventures program (run by Good Shepherd Services).
Three months of fun and games, field trips and performances, and don't forget about the giant drum!
See you around Red Hook!

Trip to the New Vic

Julia, Katya, and the awesome students from DTE and Good Shepherd Services Creative After-School Adventures Program at P.S. 27 journeyed to midtown for the New Vic's Past-Half Remembered.
We laughed, we cried, we tried to avoid getting spit on by the actors.A great time was had by all! And the coolest part - CASA students and teachers asked many thought-provoking questions at the talkback!

TheaterWorks Performance

Sometimes life itself is unfair. There are many reasons why people feel depressed, but there are also many ways to express those feelings. Deciding what you want is the first step to getting what you want out of life.On Thursday, May 22, 2008, students from DTE’s TheaterWorks at South Brooklyn Community High School shared their devised piece about peer pressure, friendship, loneliness, ignorance and innocence. These students are addressing these issues, finding solutions and overcoming them through their performance. This is their voice. They are spreading a message that the whole world needs to know.Students from the Performing Arts Program at BIHS filled the audience and shared in the passion and excitement.

- Nebajoth Jean, DTE Intern, BIHS

Puppets, Puppets, Everywhere

The Croatations performed for P.S. 27 Creative After-School Adventure students (a program of DTE and Good Shepherd Services).
Some intense puppet making took place after the show.

Amayo Performs at CASA

Students had a blast last Friday at Good Shepherd Services Creative After-School Adventures Program at P.S. 27 when Amayo's Fu-Arkist-Ra performed.Amayo worked with the young people after the performance to create original beats and movement.
Assistant facilitators from DTE and South Brooklyn Community High School kept an eye on things.Check out Amayo at the Red Hook Fest this June!

Loud Applause at BIHS International Festival

The 11th Annual BIHS International Festival surpassed every expectation with the amount of energy, emotion and passion for art onstage.


Students showcased pieces of dance, drama and music that they have spent the year preparing.

Special thanks to everyone who helped out backstage! Pictured below: Stage Managing Dream Team Ying Sha and Jenni.

The BIHS Principal Says...

"The International Festival provides an opportunity for our students to share and celebrate their native cultures with family, peers, school staff, and other friends of BIHS.

It is another way that we recognize the importance of building a strong sense of community within our BIHS home."

- Pamela Taranto, Principal at the Brooklyn International High School

Hollywood to Bollywood

Martha and the BIHS Performing Arts Club rehearse some Bollywood dance moves for the upcoming International Festival.

Budget Cuts Hit DTE

by Martha Bowers, Executive Director

Spring. A time to feel renewed and hopeful.

This spring is different.

It's not news that the economy is crumbling. With Wall Street's troubles, government agencies are trimming back, but the non-profit sectors and school art programs are being decimated. The New York Times reported on February 1, 2008, that the Education Department will cut $180 million in this fiscal year, with an additional $324 million disappearing next year. Effective immediately, school budgets have been cut by 1.75 percent. As stated in the article:

Principals said they were particularly upset because the cuts come in the middle of the year, when they have already hired teachers, planned their schools’ schedules, and promised their students and parents certain perks, like after-school programs.

DTE has successful programs at three Brooklyn public schools. Our arts education programs are not “perks.” They provide services that use the arts to address important issues such as tolerance, conflict resolution and offer alienated youth a much needed community. School principals are faced with difficult choices, and no matter how much they may value our services, these programs will be the first to go.

Around 30% of DTE's income comes from arts education programs. These programs are funded by the Department of Education as well as private foundations, the New York State Council on the Arts and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. All of these organizations are also facing budget reductions.

Combined, the proposed cuts will severely limit DTE’s ability to operate and serve our community. DTE, like many non-profits, already stretches every dollar. Nothing can be cut without reducing services and laying off vital staff.

Short term, the City and State may balance their budgets, but at what cost? More teen crime, fewer students graduating and higher unemployment are just a few of the problems that will increase government costs in the future.

Constituents must contact their local city council member as well as their state and federal representatives to let them know culture and education are not perks. Ask them to consider carefully where they look to trim the budgets and demand that they restore funding to the New York City Board of Education, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York Council on the Arts.

ACT NOW -- the deadline for the State budget is April 1.

Help Dance Theatre Etcetera continue our programs: DONATE NOW

TheaterWorks Working Hard

Bob and TheaterWorks spent Friday working hard at DTE.

They took a moment to pose with Martha and the dog.

A Day with Akil Dasan

On Friday March 14th, teens from DTE's TheaterWorks program at SBCHS went to P.S. 27 to watch Akil Dasan perform for elementary and junior high students. He performed songs that he had written and produced.

One thing I liked about his performance was his beat boxing skills. He would beat box a famous song and all the children in the auditorium would start to sing the song. It was a nice sight to see. After the beat boxing, he rapped things he had written while playing the guitar. The only problem was that the kids started to lose attention during the more serious songs.

After performing, he took questions from the kids in the audience. All of his answers had a positive message. One of the kids asked him how he learned to break dance. He said he learned it from youtube, and at first it was hard, but if you keep trying you can do anything. I appreciated how he was trying to encourage kids to follow their dreams and never give up.

When the questions were over, the audience left and a group of kids stayed for a workshop. The purpose of the workshop was for the students to learn some of the skills Akil uses when he performs. TheaterWorks was asked to participate to act as role models. At first, many of the kids didn’t want to participate, but once we stepped up many of the kids did as well. After Akil shared his skills, we put on a little show which we only had fifteen minutes to put together. We were split into three groups: music, dance, and vocal. The performance was very powerful and we all had a great time.

- by Daesan Lassiter, photos by David Etienne

Ready to Audition?

Martha and BIHS Teachers and Staff prepare for the International Festival Auditions.

Creative After School Adventures

DTE is teaming up with Good Shepherd Services and the Department of Youth and Community Services Creative After School Adventure Program (CASA) for an exciting second year! DTE Teaching Artists Julia and Greg are working with fifth, sixth and seventh grade students to use dramatic activities and creative movement as ways of personal expression.

Dancing Up a Storm

Martha and BIHS students diligently working on a new piece.



Check out their debut at the BIHS International Festival!

Student Thoughts - BIHS Drama Club

I’ve been a student at the Brooklyn International High School for two years. When I first came to the United States of America, I really wanted to find a place to express my thoughts and feelings. America was a place where I hoped to develop my talents. I also realized that America can be a stressful country, depending on the community that you belong to.

As I am an individual who is introspective and thoughtful, I really wanted to be a part of Drama Club. On my first day, it was really hard for me to understand what was said, although I really wanted to share my thoughts. I didn’t even know how to introduce myself. It was going to be a very horrible experience for me to continue because I always had an internal conflict between what I wanted to realize and the difficulties of going through the activities. At one time I was thinking that would be a waste of time, but I kept on going and I have never been discouraged.

Three months later, I found out that Drama Club was an accepting place. I found my spot here. It’s the only place where I have a chance to relax. I have also had a chance to write my own poem and rap based on how Drama Club has turned me into a different person.

Drama Club has done for me what a psychologist cannot do. Drama Club has taken away all the stress that I had. As an immigrant communicating with others, Drama Club has helped me to improve my English and learn about other cultures. Drama Club is my best experience I have ever had in my whole life.

- Nebajoth Jean, Junior at BIHS and DTE Intern

Pictures of DTE Youth Performances!

Take a look at the beautiful pictures of DTE's Performing Arts Program at BIHS (aka Drama Club) and SBCHS and Bailey's Cafe taken by Ally!

Student Thoughts - TheaterWorks

This fall, I was in a program called TheaterWorks with several other students at South Brooklyn Community High School. The purpose of the program was to teach students ways to improve their acting and other theater skills.

When I first started theater works, I was nervous because I’ve always had a bit of stage fright. As the program went on, I became more comfortable performing in front of people. We were all so afraid at our first show. We thought that we were going to mess up. We did, but the audience didn’t notice, so we just kept going.

We did a lot of acting exercises in rehearsal. We also talked a lot about the war in Iraq. Our discussions made my opinion even stronger. The war has become just a waste of time. I don’t understand why the U.S. is there.

Being in TheaterWorks has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I am an aspiring actor, and this program has helped me to pursue that dream. It has also opened doors to many other opportunities. For example, one day, Martha came to TheaterWorks to watch our rehearsal. To make a long story short, I now work as an intern for DTE.

-Daesean Lassiter, senior at SBCHS and DTE intern

Youth Performances A Hit!

Thank you to all of the performers and audience members!

BIHS Arts Retreat

Students from the Brooklyn International High School, Martha's class at NYU, teaching artists Martha and Julia and BIHS Teacher Sheila spent Saturday rehearsing for DTE's upcoming performance.

DTE Youth Performances

Don't miss out on DTE's Youth Performances! Monday, December 17 @ 4:00pm at BIHS. Featuring work by: DTE's Performing Arts Workshop at the Brooklyn International High School, Bailey's Cafe Theatre Troupe, and DTE's Performing Arts Workshop at the South Brooklyn Community High School.

DTE First Benefit Astounding Success

After a day of hanging lights, tasting food, painting walls and hanging up overalls, the DTE Housewarming party and first ever benefit was underway! Thank you to everyone who helped to make it such a huge success! Hundreds of friends of DTE filled our new office space as we honored community leaders:

• Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez (New York 12th District)
• Greg O'Connell (Developer, Harbor View Associates)
• Millie Henriquez-McArdle (Division Director, South Brooklyn Community High School/Good Shepherd Services)
  
• Independence Community Foundation

We munched on delicious food from local restaurants, listened to the lovely accordion ensemble from Angels & Accordions led by Bob Goldberg, and jammed with musicians Akil Dasan and Navigante.

Students from DTE's Performing Arts Workshops at the Brooklyn International High School and South Brooklyn Community High School blew away the audience with previews of their upcoming performance pieces.
The night capped off with DJ Sinton spinning some great music for a rocking dance party!

Don't forget about the Greg O'Connell Overall Art Project - thanks to all the artists who donated time and creativity to help out our organization!

(DTE Staff After the Event)

Arts Retreat @ DTE!

South Brooklyn Community High School's theater program spends a day rehearsing at DTE with teaching artists Kymbali, Pat and Elin.

BIHS Drama Club Working Hard

Dancing with Martha at the Brooklyn International High School's Performing Arts Program.



NYU students participate in the program through Martha's class in Gallatin.



Photos: Ally Milligan