The Darien Arts Center offers educational programs in Dance, Visual Arts, Music & Theatre, as well as special events and community theatre produced by DAC Stage.
For more information, to sign up for email newsletters, or to register for classes, visit darienarts.org or call (203) 655-8683. The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Town Hall.
Pictured are Arissa Fritz, Charlotte Callahan, Norah Fritz, Natalie Treacy, James Morris, Evelyn Tie, and Quinn Morris enjoying Beginning Acting, a Kids’ Theatre class at Darien Arts Center. (Photo credit: Heather Kahlert)
Kids’ Theater
Creative Dramatics — ages 3-5, Section 1: Tues 2:45-3:30pm, Sept. 20 – Dec. 6, Section 2: Fri 2:00-2:45pm, Sept 23-Dec 16, Section 3: Fri 3:00-3:45pm, Sept 23-Dec 16. Introduces young children to theatre by focusing on their natural sense of play. Children learn to use their bodies, voices & imagination with games, rhymes, costumes, puppets and more to discover the magic of performing. $190.
Beginning Acting — Grades K-2, Tues 3:50-4:50pm, Sept 20-Dec 6. A more structured class where play and story are joined and the beginning of stage sense begins. An increasing awareness of self and of working with a group is developed in a non-stressful, encouraging atmosphere. $210.
Actor’s Toolbox — Grades 3-5, Sept 22-Dec 15, Thurs. 3:50-4:50pm. This class gets the young actor up and doing. Short skits, stage movement, use of props and costumes, and developing inner life for actions. $210
New! Scenework — Grades 5-8, Thurs 5:00-6:30pm, Section 1: Sept 22-Oct 27, Section 2: Nov 3-Dec 15. For older elementary & middle school students, a fun, fast paced, performance based class using short skits and improv. Each session will have different themes and scenes. $170
Dance
Fall classes Sept 6-Jan 21, see catalog at darienarts.org for tuition, dates and times.
Classes for ages 3 & up include Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Teen Lyrical, Teen Contemporary, Modern, Broadway Dance, Tap, and Pointe. Martial Arts for all ages 4 & up, the art of karate, focusing on self-discipline, self-control, self-defense and fun.
For Adults, 10-class card for $160 — Ballet, Hip Hop, Tap, or Martial Arts
Music
New! DAC Select Performance Group, for elementary through high school students, Mon-Fri., 1-hour rehearsal. Students will create more advanced music. Any combination can be explored: duo piano, voice with piano accompaniment, string ensembles, and small rock groups. $45 per student per class.
Vocal Divas — ages 7-12, Tues 4:30-5:30pm, Session 1: Sept 6-Oct 18, Session 2: Nov 1-Dec 13. All things related to singing – proper warm-up & breathing techniques, voice projection, how to sing basic harmony with another singer, & get performances tips. Incorporates contemporary music of various genres. $280.
Private Instruction in Piano, Guitar, Violin, Cello, Flute, Percussion, Voice – 30 min for $50, 45 min for $75 or 1 hour lessons for $99, Aug 29-Dec 22.
Visual Arts
New projects accommodate new and returning students.
New: Scribble Scrabble — ages 3-5, Fri 1:10-1:55pm, Sept 30-Dec 16. Young learners develop fine motor skills while using imagination to create drawings, paintings, collages & prints. $200.
Cartooning — ages 7-12, Mon 3:40-4:40pm, Sept 26-Jan 23. Students design their own characters & use them in one-panel cartoons and three-panel comic strips. Study facial expressions & body language as it relates to cartooning & the human figure. TV story-boards & caricature included. $280.
Elementary Art Studio — ages 7–12, Wed 3:40–4:40pm, Sept 28-Jan 25. Developmentally appropriate projects will originate from art principles such as line, color, texture & form. A variety of media includes pastels, watercolors, acrylics & ink. Develop techniques & originality. $280.
Drawing and Painting — ages 10-15, Wed 4:45–6:15pm, Oct 5-Dec 21, Jan 4-Mar 15. All levels welcome. Use traditional & experimental materials to draw figures, landscapes, portraits, still life as well as images from imagination. Technical drawing skills developed while encouraging individual creativity. $300.
Click! Digital Photography — ages 9-12, Fri, 4:40-5:40pm, Sept 30-Jan 27, Feb 10-June 2. Learn to use a digital camera or iPod Touch to take great photos with the rule of thirds, filling the frame, negative space, color, texture and scales. $280.
Make-A-Monster Workshop — ages 8-12, Sat 2:00-4:00pm, Oct 22 and Oct 29. Create a cuddly monster from imagination – draw a sweet, scary or funny monster and use that to design a pattern & use new sewing skills to bring it to life. Learn to cut a pattern, & sew a backstitch. $80.
For Adults
Watercolor Painting — Mon 9:30am–12:30pm, Oct 10–Dec 12. Basic to advanced watercolor techniques will be demonstrated with all steps toward a finished work: drawing, color theory, painting techniques & composition. Work on class projects or on your own painting at your own pace. All levels welcome. $385.
New! Critique Workshop for the Advanced Artist — Fri 9:30-11:30am, Oct 21 & Oct 28, with Joe Fucigna. To help artists better understand the conceptual underpinnings of their art making process & develop a more personal style of expression. For the intermediate & advanced artist looking for an honest assessment & dialogue about their work in a small group environment. $75.
DAC Stage
Beatles Night — Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 at 8 p.m. A family-friendly evening that is all about the Fab Four. Audience members will be transported back to the Beatles frenzy of 1964 at this fun-filled event featuring a live band performing the band’s popular favorites.
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Founded in 1975, the Darien Arts Center (DAC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing visual and performing arts programs and events for the community.
The DAC offers educational programs in Dance, Visual Arts, Music & Theatre, & special events & live theatre performances by DAC Stage.
Private donations, grants, tuition fees & ticket sales fund the DAC, which is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Town Hall. For further information, call (203) 655-8683 or visit darienarts.org.