Green Street Blog

“Mr. Christopher, you know that I am coming to the Summer program.”

“Yes, Persaphanie, I know you will.”

“Mr. Christopher, you know that I am going to come here every year.”

“Yes, Persaphanie, we are here for you.”

“Mr. Christopher, you know that I am going to work here someday.”

“Yes, Persaphanie, we want you to.”

This was the gist of just one conversation, one of many, which I have had with Persaphanie, the precocious first grader, a few weeks ago. I believe each one of you reading this right now has had the good fortune to meet a youngster like Persaphanie; if you bought a raffle ticket at our Feast for the Senses auction benefit, you will know who she is.  A young person who, like the Persephone of Greek myth, brings with her and plants vibrant pulses of goodness wherever she trods.

Our good fortune blew in on a calm and cool breeze last July when Persaphanie walked from her morning summer program at Macdonough school.  Regardless of the heat outside, she had a smile on her face. Actually, almost every student walked in with a smile on their face, but it was the smile that they carried home that mattered the most to their families and us.  It was probably that smile that Persaphanie used to convince her older brother and her two cousins to attend our After School program this past Fall.

Now, remember if you have not met one of these Persaphanies lately in your own life, please take some time out of your busy day to come down to our Summer Academy in July and you will meet at least one by name and many others with that lively smile.  I hope that you will also catch a glimpse of students engaging their creative energies while making ice cream, solving problems with partners, designing artwork, dancing and singing, or walking back from the North End Farmer’s Market with sacks of fruits and vegetables.  Many years from now, Persaphanie may write her own blog entry about her own students greening Middletown in some way I cannot even imagine today.  I can only hope.

Submitted by Christopher Aceto, Youth Programs Education Supervisor

Summer Youth Programs

Summer Arts & Science Academy Registration
Register by June 15^th
Students entering grades 1-6
July 5th to August 4th, 12:45pm to 3:00pm

Young Women’s Leadership Institute Registration
Register by June 15th
Students entering grades 5-7
July 5th to August 4th, 3:00pm to 5:15pm

Join the vibrant community of arts and science students at Green Street for our special 5-week summer programs. Students can sign up for one program or both! Summer Academy classes include Exciting Science Experiments, Music and Sound Exploration with African Drums, Movement and Motion, Community Science Field Trips, and the Science of Visual Art. The Young Women’s Leadership Institute is designed to explore creativity and present young women with the opportunities to meet and learn from local female scientists, artists, business leaders, and professionals.

Scholarships up to 90% off of tuition are available for families on free/reduced lunch. For more information call Sarah-Jane at 860-685-7860 or click here.

Tags: After School Student, Collaboration, Community, Green Street, Green Street Staff, North End, North End Farmer's Market, Summer Arts & Science Academy, Summer Youth Programs, Young Women's Leadership Institute

Green Street’s Caribbean-themed A Feast for the Senses benefit auction held on Friday, April 8th was both sensational and successful.  Middletown community members, Wesleyan faculty, staff, and students, Green Street staff and volunteers, and many more filled the building on Friday night to bid on auction items and support students in Green Street’s Summer Arts and Science Academy and, the Young Women’s Leadership Institute.

Upon entering 51 Green Street, guests were met with the sweet sounds of steel pans from musical duo Mimosa. Melodies from Mento drifted from the second floor to accompany the anticipation in the tropically-colored rooms.  The event buzzed with excitement as attendees sampled delicious hors d’houvres, perused the auction, and excitedly bid on their favorite items. While the online auction had already garnered $7,000 for Green Street’s Summer Youth Programs, guests still sought out spectacular items such as a Nintendo Wii with various games, wine baskets, Mets tickets, hand-crafted jewelry and scarves that handsomely adorned the tables.

During the program Managing Director Jessica Carso welcomed guests as they gathered in the Performance Studio to listen to heartfelt testimonials by 2011 Young Women’s Leadership Institute Coordinator Shamar Chin ‘13 and 2010 Summer Academy Science Teacher Julie Kastenbaum’09.  Many were especially touched when nine year-old student Kayla talked about “dealing with bad days” and just how Green Street has helped her “reach [her] full potential.” These inspiring speeches and the encouraging words of celebrity host and Master of Ceremonies Ray Hardman from WNPR made the “raise your paddle” portion of the event so successful: we raised $4,700 and ultimately surpassed our goal and raised a total of $43,000 to support the students enrolled in our Summer Youth Programs.

None of this would have been possible without our generous presenting sponsors Mary Beth and Stephen S. Daniel ’82. A special thank you to our additional supporters: Citizens Bank, IT Direct LLC., Shipman & Goodwin LLP, Done On the Run LLC, A.R. Mazzotta Employment Specialists, The Inn at Middletown, Middlesex Hospital, Centerbrook Architects and Planners, The Peach Pit Foundation, Terry Eastman, Barbara-Jan Wilson, Christine Pina, and Marlisa Simonson.

An especially heartfelt thank you to all who attended and made the event such a success: we would be nothing without our dedicated supporters!

If you weren’t able to join us, don’t worry, we are already planning our next big benefit event. Be sure to mark your calendars for the Tierney Sutton Jazz Band Performance, a benefit concert for our After School Arts & Science Program, on Friday, May 20, 2011.

Tags: After School Student, Auction, Benefit Event, Community, Cultural Experience, Green Street, Green Street Staff, Summer Arts & Science Academy, Summer Youth Programs, Wesleyan University, Young Women's Leadership Institute, Youth Programs

Are you trying to figure out what to do as this cold, snowy, New England winter comes to an end? We can’t get snow in April, can we?!  As a volunteer for this year’s Green Street Arts Center benefit, I have just the thing!  Join me in heading to the Caribbean at Green Street for a warm getaway from the winter weather (at least in spirit)!

Buy your tickets for Green Street’s Caribbean-themed benefit evening, A Feast for the Senses, on April 8^th from 6-8:30 p.m. at 51 Green Street. Many interesting and valuable items will be available that night at a live silent auction hosted by Ray Hardman from WNPR’s “Morning Edition.” Plus, we’ll enjoy fantastic food, live bands playing music from Trinidad and Jamaica, and a salsa dancing workshop.   Go to the following link to purchase tickets now:  http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=212786

From my own experiences, I can testify that Green Street is a terrific resource for families in Middletown and the surrounding CT area.  I’ve brought my (almost) four and two-year-old daughters to Green Street’s music classes and I have also attended special events like the Bill Cosby benefit performance. Proceeds from this year’s A Feast for the Senses will help support Green Street’s Summer Arts & Science Academy and also the Young Women’s Leadership Institute.

Check out details about these programs and other details about the event here.

So, come in from the cold to the Caribbean that waits!

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me, Robert Mosca at (rmosca@wesleyan.edu) or Green Street’s Administrative Assistant, Rachel Roccoberton Griffin (rroccoberton@wesleyan.edu).

I look forward to seeing you on April 8^th!

A Feast for the Senses Auction Benefit
Friday, April 8, 2011
5:30pm Preview
6-8:30pm Event
Tickets: $50/person
Call 860-685-7871 for tickets.

Escape Middletown spring and journey straight to the tropics at Green Street’s second annual auction benefit. Join celebrity host and master of ceremonies Ray Hardman from WNPR’s “Morning Edition” at this Caribbean themed event. Guests will enjoy the sounds of live steel drum and Jamaican music performances, multicultural dances, a wide array of items for auction, stimulating conversation, and sumptuous refreshments. Proceeds from this event support Green Street’s tremendously successful Summer Arts & Science Academy as well as a new initiative, the Young Women’s Leadership Institute. Last year’s auction was the talk of the town—this year’s is sure to captivate you!

Just to tempt you, here are a few items that will be up for bidding at 6pm:  Nintendo Wii and games, wine baskets, 4 field level NY Mets tickets, Family Fun Package (including passes to Kidcity, the Beardsley Zoo, Lutz Children’s Museum, Rock Cat tickets, and more), hand-crafted jewelry, Keiji Shinohara block print, 2 Tickets to the Connecticut Forum “Book Club”, AHAVA Skin Care Gift Basket, and so much more!

This event is generously sponsored by Mary Beth and Stephen S. Daniel ’82 with additional support provided by Citizens Bank and IT Direct LLC.

Three years ago, when a childhood friend came out as transgender to Janis Astor del Valle, the New Haven-based, award-winning writer-performer found herself at odds with herself. “Here I was, an out and proud Latina lesbian, whose own coming out process had been marked by sheer angst; yet, when my friend Derek told me he was transgender, I’m ashamed to say, I freaked out. Not outwardly, because I didn’t want to make him feel bad, but inside, I felt devastated.”

“I’d always thought of myself as so liberal, so progressive. I lived in New York City for 20 years, and for part of that time, I was an activist, Vice-President for the LGBT group, PRIDE (Puerto Rican Initiative to Develop Empowerment). I worked and marched alongside many transgendered comrades. But when Derek came out, I really could not comprehend why he wanted to change his body, his gender. We had known each other since second grade. All our lives I knew him as a girl, and we both came out as lesbians in our early 20’s.”

Why was it so difficult for Astor to accept her lifelong friend as transgender? “I couldn’t figure it out at the time, but I’ve since determined much of my initial difficulty had to do with my own ignorance. I think, to some extent – and I know this is going to sound crazy – I felt a sense of betrayal. As adults, we had bonded as lesbians, members of an oppressed group, but now he was going to have a straight man’s identity and privilege.”

The more Astor talked to Derek, the more plagued with guilt she became, until she realized “I had to get over myself – this wasn’t about me, it was about him, he needed my support.” The problem was that she didn’t know how to overcome her fears and prejudices. So, she turned to what she did know: theater. “Writing has always been like therapy for me, helping me to sort out and work through problems or issues. And acting, to me, is about empathizing, learning to step into the shoes of another, in order to truly understand the person.”

Inspired by Derek’s courage and determination, Astor decided to create a Latina lesbian character who transitioned into a man. The first thing she did was talk to Derek. “I explained that I wanted to honor his journey, and respect his privacy; I didn’t want him or anyone to think I was telling his story, or anyone’s specific story. I just wanted to be truthful to the experience of being transgender and create a character with whom audiences could truly empathize, even if they weren’t themselves transgender, or Latino.” Her inspiration intensified, and she began writing a monologue entitled Passing, about the character of Joaquin, a transgender Latino who sheds his female and lesbian identity, yet struggles to gain acceptance from his family and himself. Astor felt herself turning a corner on the road to shedding her own transphobia.

Astor began conducting research, and uncovered alarming statistics pertaining to the transgender community. “Reading all this information was pretty depressing and infuriating, because I believe the numbers are even higher, but, historically, hate crimes have not accurately been reported by the authorities or tracked by the FBI. All in all, it fueled my fire to finish writing the play,” says Astor.

Has the research and writing process helped Astor overcome her transphobia? “Absolutely!” she exclaims. “But, I think, more than that, it’s just been the whole process of talking with Derek, coming to understand that he has felt this way his whole life. And he’s still the same lovable, good-hearted, funny person he’s always been.”

Astor was awarded an Aurand Harris Fellowship from the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America to develop her original monologue into a one-woman play, Becoming Joaquin, in which she portrays the title character, his family members and girlfriend, who are in therapy, struggling to accept his identity as a transgendered Latino.  Integrating various elements of her research, Astor completed the play last month. She aims to tour the piece to schools and other venues, to educate others about the transgender experience and encourage acceptance.

Submitted by Jasmine Eve Diaz

Becoming Joaquin
Friday, April 1
8pm
Tickets $20 Patron (reserved seating)
A: $15   B: $12  C: $10*

Playwright, instructor and performer Janis Astor del Valle has written two plays about being lesbian and Latina, Trans Plantations and Pandora’s (which has been performed Off-Broadway. Becoming Joaquin, written and performed by Astor del Valle, is a one-person play about the experience of being a transgendered Latino.  The performance will be followed by a talk with Astor. Astor believes her play “offers an excellent opportunity to bring together diverse groups to spark meaningful discourse about identity and foster understanding of the transgender experience,” Becoming Joaquin is a don’t-miss event.
Call 860-685-7871 to reserve your seat.

Pop musicians getting involved in politics is nothing new, nor has there ever been a shortage of musicians willing to make clear their personal and artistic connections to LGBT culture and politics.  But in the past year, there seems to have been an upsurge in mainstream pop artists getting involved in gay rights activism in surprising ways.  Attracting probably the most attention has been Lady Gaga’s outspoken advocacy for repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, including appearing at a rally in Maine, and taping a personal appeal to members of the U.S. Senate.

But a larger trend has been the involvement of a number of pop musicians in combating anti-gay bullying.  Although not without precedent (cf. Christina Aguilera “Beautiful”), the range of artists contributing songs (Katy Perry “Firework”), public service announcements (Justin Bieber on Ellen) and entire television shows (Glee) dealing with bullying is quite striking.

Having worked with LGBT youth on these issues since I was one myself, including a number of years participating in the Stonewall Speakers program here in Connecticut, I love to see attention given to the issue in such popular contexts.  But as a scholar of music history, I also want to think more critically about what’s happening, and why.  Because as much as these artists probably care very deeply about these issues, when the financial stakes are as big as there in the case of, say, Justin Bieber, you have to ask what market forces and what marketing strategy, might be involved.

Submitted by Phil Gentry, Wesleyan University Alumnus ’02, University of Delaware Assistant Professor of Music

Join Phil this Sunday to explore the promises and pitfalls of when pop meets politics.

Sunday Salon Discussion Series
The Law of Gaga: Queer Citizenship on the Pop Charts
Sunday, March 27, 2011 | 2pm
Suggested Donation: $5

The issue of gay rights is a hot topic on the pop charts. Be it well-intentioned or well-calculated, artists from Justin Bieber to Katy Perry have embraced the rhetoric of moderate gay activism.

Join us for this series of intriguing conversations with Wesleyan faculty, staff and alumni. Salons are accompanied by coffee and delicious baked goods from O’Rourke’s Diner. This series is co-sponsored by the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies at Wesleyan.

Tags: Community, Guest Author, Queer Arts Series, Wesleyan Alum

I began teaching at Green Street in the After School Art and Science class in January 2010.  My classes have explored renewable resources and local animal habitats, and created portraits, pop-up art, and masks.  I tend to move around with subject matter and materials to keep each project fresh and interesting, and am inspired by close-to-home topics and input by our young artists.  My goal is for the students to not only learn a new creative technique, but also to be exposed to a variety of sources for creativity.  We’ve made sculptures based on Connecticut animals, pop-up cards inspired by castles found all around the world, oil pastel drawings of boats traveling by air instead of fuel, and many other inspired pieces.

During Summer Academy we concentrated on a selection of cultures.  Every culture we targeted began with a brief background of the location, lifestyle, and beliefs of the people.  We then discussed why art could be an important part of their lives and what it represented for them.  Each project we created was based on this historical study.

We journeyed from Egyptian hieroglyphs, to the Celtic Book of Kells, to a Caribbean mosaic, and ended with a Native American recycled totem pole.  Our spin on the totem pole was for each artist to select an animal of interest and sketch out the shape and look of the creature.  We had an enormous selection of recycled materials to sift through, from plastic containers and bottle tops, to tin cans and cardboard boxes (all made possible by community donations).  With these materials the results were fantastic- eagles, seals, pigs, moose, and even a dragon!  To finish off each animal’s look, the students added paint, felt, feathers, and other types of embellishments.  Each class clustered their final creation together to signify their modern-day totem poles.

Not only did we have fun, but each student also experienced putting their creativity to the test as they sketched, constructed, and finalized a mixed media recycled sculpture.

More about Lindsay

My primary mediums are painting and printmaking.  I look for inspiration everywhere, but nature, loved ones, and emotional expression are a few of my overriding themes.  Within these themes I alternate between a loose, painterly quality, to a tighter, more detailed style.  I layer colors, lines, and concepts until it feels as though there is a story illustrated on the canvas or paper.  The story is there as a still-frame, whether it be in abstract, surreal, expressionistic, or realistic form.

Submitted by Lindsay Behrens, Teaching Artist

Your child can take a class with Lindsay and many other dynamic teaching artists in the Summer Arts and Science Academy this year.  Call 860-685-7871 to receive your registration packet in the mail or click here for more information.

Tags: After School, Green Street, Guest Author, Recycled, Summer Arts and Science Academy, Teaching Artist, Visual Arts

"Meditation", Suzanne Farrell Ballet

For the past eleven years, in collaboration with Wesleyan University’s Dance Department, Center for the Arts Director Pamela Tatge has brought contemporary dance to Middletown from around the world.  On February 27th at 2pm community members are invited to join her at Green Street Arts Center’s Sunday Salon Discussion Series where dance becomes more than an experience of rhythmic movement, but also the start of great conversations.

Taking her passion for dance far beyond traditional pre-performance talks and post-show conversations with artists, Tatge’s unmitigated enthusiasm for contemporary dance transformed the Center for the Arts program offerings. Under her leadership, the arts are now reaching directly into classrooms, where visiting artists and faculty members are initiating
interdisciplinary learning methods that span the university curriculum.

"Two-Year Old Gentlemen" choreographed by Ronald K. Brown

This year Tatge and her team have gone above and beyond for their phenomenal spring dance program with dance ranging from modern American to ballet to indigenous works from Brazil and Hawaii. For the highly anticipated  12th annual DanceMasters Weekend, March 5-6, two giants of the dance world, Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, A Dance Company and the Suzanne Farrell Ballet, along with relative newcomer Gallim Dance Company, will be taking the stage.  Andrea Miller, Gallim’s founder and artistic director, is this year’s winner of the CFA’s annual Mariam McGlone Emerging Choreographer Award.

In her Green Street discussion, Tatge will share her experiences and expertise with the companies she was responsible for bringing to the area.  She will look back at the illustrious dance companies that have taken the stage over the past twelve years, including the José Límon, Paul Taylor, Sean Curran, Urban Bush Women
companies, and preview this year’s DanceMasters Weekend.

"Pupil", Galim Dance

Thanks to Tatge, dance is truly being used to unearth connections between artistic practices, modes of academic inquiry, and bonds of community in Middletown.

The Sunday Salon Discussion Series is a monthly series of intriguing conversations with Wesleyan faculty, staff, and alumni, held this month on Sunday, February 27 at 2pm.  Salons are accompanied by treats from O’Rourke’s Diner.  This event is held at Green Street Arts Center located at 51 Green Street in Middletown.  Admission is a suggested donation of $5.  For more information or to register call 860-685-7871 or visit www.greenstreetartscenter.org.  This series is co-sponsored by the Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies at Wesleyan (www.wesleyan.edu/masters).

Submitted by Sydney Lowe, ’13

Tags: A Dance Company, Center for the Arts, Community, Dance, DanceMasters, Evening & Weekend Programs, Gallim Dance Company, Green Street, Guest Author, Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, Sunday Salon, Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Wesleyan Faculty & Staff, Wesleyan University

On January 21st, Harlem Children’s Zone founder and Waiting for Superman contributor Geoffrey Canada came to Middletown to speak at Wesleyan University’s Social Justice Leadership Conference.  A Bronx native and long-time educator, Canada’s defense of the importance of quality education in the inner city comes from personal experience.  Many involved at Green Street were in attendance, and one Wesleyan student was inspired to write about Canada’s words and how they apply to the work she does in Green Street’s After School Arts & Science Program.

Sam’s response:

Geoffrey Canada’s lecture was certainly just as relevant and inspiring as it was a call to action. He asserted that at the moment, America is not living up to its potential in providing equal, first-rate education to every one of its children. Progress is made by going the extra mile, beyond the expected and what is simply required, even if that means working for the cause around the clock and in spite of hardships, frustrations, and setbacks. Canada stressed the importance of all citizens taking accountability for the quality of education in America. We are all responsible for how children learn and are taught, just as we are responsible for the kind of attention they receive. Politicians and reformers with power and influence are definitely making progress as witnessed in a public arena, but Canada said that not everyone can be a “general” in the education reform struggle. “Soldiers”, those who work on the front lines directly with students, out of the spotlight, are also necessary.

Education reform begins with the belief in every child’s academic potential, right to good education, and opportunity for growth. That belief fuels the work we do at Green Street, and our faith in the ability of each child manifests itself in our encouragement and interactions with them. By treating every student as an individual and catering to their interests and concerns, our students understand that they matter and that they are capable of achievement. The people of Green Street are very much the kind of “soldiers” about which Canada spoke. Little by little, differences are made in the lives of the children as they spend a few hours after school at Green Street each day. The extra academic enrichment and care they receive are small steps to making a big difference in not only their extra-curricular learning, but also in their entire academic, social, and developmental lives.

Submitted by Samantha Maldonado, ’13, After School support staff

Tags: After School, Community, Documentary, Education, Geoffrey Canada, Green Street, Green Street Staff, Guest Author, Lecture, North End, Social Justice, Student Worker, Wesleyan Student, Wesleyan University

After the rush of the holidays and the start of the New Year, January settles down to be a nice, quiet month, right?

Not at Green Street!

This month is filled with classes, events, and workshops that are sure to bring you out of hibernation and warm you up.  The bright lights of Green Street will shine into the night beginning January 18^th when the After School Program and Winter Session classes begin.  And then the days and nights are filled with workshops in Flamenco and Social Media, a Salsa Social and Family Fun Day, classes of all kinds, and more.  Check it all out below.

Winter Registration
Ongoing
Register online here or by calling 860-685-7871 for one of our
great winter classes. Here is a sampling of our offerings to tempt you:

Salsa Dance with Cori Presutti
Mondays | 7:30-8:30pm

Figure Drawing Open Studio with Elena Grossman
Tuesdays | 6:30-8:30pm

Writing in Motion with Christine Woodside
Tuesdays | 6:30-7:30pm

So You Got a Digital Camera with Shawn Hill
Wednesdays | 6:30-7:30pm

Yoga with Gia Khalsa
Thursdays | 6:15-7:15pm

Writer’s Out Loud with hosts Cocomo Rock & Al Bower
Thursday, January 20 | 6:30 pm – 8:45 pm
Regular: $5; Member: $3

Prose writers are invited to share works-in-progress, socialize, and seek out constructive comments. Presentations are limited to prose short stories or excerpts under 10 minutes. Sign-up begins at 6:30pm, readings begin at 7pm.

Salsa Social
Saturday, January 22 | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Regular: $8; Member/Student/Senior: $5

Overcome the sub-zero temperatures with one of Green Street’s acclaimed Salsa Socials.  Salsero Jason Pepin hosts an evening of hot music, open floor, and the best dance crowd in Connecticut.  Admission includes refreshments and free instruction from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm.

¡Viva Flamenco! A Demonstration and Workshop with Marta Torres
Friday, January 28 | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Regular: $8; Member/Student/Senior: $5

Marta Torres of Madrid will a demonstrate flamenco dance, and explain its history, concluding with a question and answer session.  The final half hour will allow audience members to try flamenco for themselves – participation encouraged, but not required.

Using Social Media – A Two-Part Workshop
Instructor: Eric Lopkin
Saturday, January 29 | Part 1: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm and Part 2: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Regular: $30 per session; $50 for the day | Member: $25 per session; $40 for the day

Part 1 covers the basics, including the different social media platforms (Facebook, Linked In, Blogs, etc.,) and how to get started with the right settings to protect yourself.  Part 2 explores more advanced functions of all forms of social media, and prepares you to launch or enhance your home business, creative writing or political action.

Family Festival at Green Street – Come in from the Cold!
Saturday, January 29 | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm | FREE

Join us at Green Street for a day of family activities for all!  Activities include Community Music Initiative, Creative Arts Workshop, Storytelling, Early Childhood music for parents with children aged 9 months to 5 years, Hip Hop and Breakdance for kids aged 7-13, and more!  All ages are welcome; children must attend with a parent or caretaker. This event is free, but your donation of $8 per family will help us hold future events.

With all these activities, why stay at home?  Call us at 860-685-7871 for more information or to join one of these events.  We hope to see you soon at Green Street!

Tags: about, Breakdance, Community, Cultural Experience, Dance, Evening & Weekend Programs, Family Fun Day, Flamenco, Green Street, Hip Hop, Music, Painting, Photography, Salsa, Yoga

Green Street has some fantastic gift ideas for the holidays, and what better way to share them with you than to the tune of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”  We hope this gives you some ideas and gets you into the holiday spirit.  After reading this, we hope you’ll check out our Facebook page to view pictures from our Omnidenominational Holiday Celebration on December 3^rd and the Winter Solstice on December 10^th.

Enjoy!

‘Twas the night before the Omnidenominational Holiday Celebration, when all through the Center

Every creature was stirring, even the presenters;

The lights were focused in the Performance Space,

In the hopes that Buru Style would soon take their place.

The children all practiced breakdance and ballet;

While teachers were putting artwork on display.

The staff was all ready for winter to start;

With classes like Tai Chi, Writing, and Acrylic Art.

When suddenly the phone rang with a loud bleat

A staffer picked it up, and said “Green Street!”

“Have you any classes for someone age two?

“Or something after school for kids to do?”

“My co-worker Lisa’s interested in art,”

“And Claudia would like her lesson to restart.”

“I’m happy to assist you,” the staffer replied;

Her voice clearly showing organizational pride.

“We’ve something for Lisa, and Claudia too.

And an After School Program you cannot outdo.

There’s Private Lessons in violin and guitar.

With a Gift Certificate, you can really go far.

Use them for classes, lessons, or events.

They will take care of your holiday presents.”

The caller was intrigued, she asked to hear more.

About the great gifts Green Street had in store.

“There are Memberships!  Class Cards!  Tickets galore!

Treat yourself to a night out, don’t be a bore.”

The customer then smiled to find she was done

With all the holiday shopping that she’d just begun.

The staffer was pleased to have served one and all

And Buru Style took their place in the hall.

The students performed their ballet and breakdance.

And the artwork received a second, or third, glance.

With a look through the Center, the staffer declared

“This is the best time of year!” and that opinion was shared.

Happy Holidays
From Green Street

Submitted by Rachel Roccoberton Griffin

Give the Gift of the Arts this Holiday Season. Whether for yourself, a friend, a loved one, or someone else that will enjoy the experience of active creativity, Green Street makes giving art easy.  Click here to view more information.  To purchase any of these great items call (860) 685-7871 or email gsac@wesleyan.edu.

Tags: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, After School, After School Student, Ballet, Breakdance, Buru Style, Class Cards, Community, Dance, Evening & Weekend Programs, Gifts, Green Street, Green Street Staff, Holiday, Membership, Music, Performance, Private Lesson, Teaching Artist