Testimonials

"Arts For the Schools has the honor of holding a unique and valuable role in the North Lake Tahoe region. For twenty-five years it has maintained a high quality, professional arts education program which fills the cultural and artistic needs of our students and the community. The texture of our community is enriched by the presence of this extraordinary organization!"

Lisa Dobey, Past President
Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation

"One of the most important things we help children discover at school is who they are and what are their unique talents. The Arts help children learn the answers to these questions like nothing else. Arts For the Schools brings the world to our children and broadens their thinking about possibilities."

Kathleen Gauthier, Principal
Glenshire Elementary

"...I left the Truckee High School auditorium last night wondering where would we be without programs like this. Without artists like this and without a school system that supports the artistic development of today's youth where would tomorrow's wonders come from? I also found myself wondering what impact his three days of interaction with students in classrooms had for tomorrow's musical masters? Sports are important for the development of our youth. Education is certainly the keystone to the development of our youth. However, music and art are what provide our society with its soul and wonder. It is imperative that we support these programs if we wish to be able to sit in an auditorium in the future and listen to the likes of Mr. Hong."

Tom Combs
Letter to the Editor, Sierra Sun, following Alpin Hong OnSTAGE Community Performance

"I would like to thank Arts for the Schools for putting on and coordinating West Side Story for the communities of Truckee, North Lake Tahoe, Kings Beach and Incline Village. My daughter was a participant in the play and although she did not have a big part in the play, she learned a lot about theater, which will be invaluable to her as she grows up and potentially does more acting. She was the youngest participant, as she is in the fifth grade. My daughter's exposure to theater and acting has only been through the school plays. This production opened her eyes to what it takes to put on a production. And as a positive sidelight, she got to meet people from the various areas of the Lake. I think this is important, because we are usually in competition with these other areas and don't see them as just people, but competitors. Being put together with these kids gave her a better understanding of this concept. We need to expose our kids more to theater so that they gain a life skill that they will have forever.

"In regard to the performance, I was "blown away" by how much the kids learned and the quality of the show. In just one week, to put on a performance like that is amazing. I realized how much talent we have in our communities and it also reinforced to me, the need for a performing arts center. This type of activity shows the communities we need to provide these types of opportunities for our youth and adults. At this time, there are very few options for kids that want to participate in theater. As we progress with Truckee's new performing arts center, this activity can be used in the publicity to show the need for this center.

"I would also like to comment on your Arts for the Schools staff who helped with this production. Both Raine and Alice were great. They made the kids feel comfortable from the get go. With my daughter being the youngest, this was important in getting her involved. There was not one day during the practices, and the performance, that she did not look forward to attending. You should be proud of your staff as they are great ambassadors for your organization.

"Weather for the tryouts, practices, and the performances was not good, but those that were able to brave the weather, from the kids to the attendees at the performance, gained a lot. I would encourage you to continue this type of activity, and I truly believe that there will be a lot more participants in the future, after the kids and parents that were part of this production tell their friends.

"Thanks a lot from a proud and happy parent."

Steve Randall, General Manager
Truckee Donner Recreation and Parks District

"On behalf of the Board of Directors, myself and our dancers, I would like to extend our sincerest thanks to Arts For the Schools and Raine Howe for the incredible opportunities afforded to InnerRhythms Dance Theatre through the ODC InnerState Grant. Working with Project Bandaloop and KUNST-STOFF were unforgettable experiences. The quality and professionalism of these two world renowned companies provided our young dancers with memories that will last a lifetime. As we struggle in our rural community to promote the Arts, exposure to high quality performing arts is essential. We were grateful and honored to be included in these two performances.

"I commend Raine on her gracious attitude and supportive demeanor given some difficult situations. As we all know, the technical aspects of our existing High School Theaters present enormous challenges, especially to professional performing artists. I look forward to a future where there is a strong arts and culture presence in our community. Arts For the Schools is an essential element to that presence.

"Thank you again for including InnerRhythms Dance Theatre and for helping to promote the performing arts in our region."

Elizabeth A. Archer Artistic Director
InnerRhythms Dance Theatre

"You guys and gal are amazing!!! I just returned home from watching Vagabond Opera at theN. Tahoe High School show where I chaperoned my kindergardener for his field trip. Not knowing what this "little thing" was all about, yet volunteering to drive (the momcat thing to do) I was incredibly surprised!! I will definitely be dragging the family out to the show at Moody's on Saturday and I know they will be as pleasantly surprised as I was. Thank you for the wonderfully cultured show, it made my day!"

Heather Sill-Fraser, Parent

"We just wanted Raine Howe, and everyone else over at Arts for the Schools to know how much we appreciate the programs they bring to the Truckee-Tahoe community.

"Along with other community members, we were fortunate to attend the Cedric Watson performance at Truckee High one Friday evening. What a show! The music moved us to dance and we felt like we were in Louisiana.

"To hear any Cajun-Zydeco music in the mountains is a feat in itself, but, to have a Grammy-nominated artist play four shows at different local schools, and a two-hour Friday evening performance is unheard of around these parts!

"Our hats are off to the Arts for the Schools group. Please keep these performances coming. It helps us to remember there is a whole world out there beyond our little slice of paradise we managed to find."

Chris "Howdy", Jessica, and Townes Fowler, Twin Ridges Charter School
Letter to the Editor, Sierra Sun

Press Releases

August 2010

Arts For the Schools (AftS) is incredibly excited to be the recipient of an ODC InnerState grant, funded by the James Irvine Foundation which will allow us to bring world class dance performances to our area and allow our local children to interact with the performers in master dance classes. We are proud to present Project Bandaloop as the first group to be part of this grant. Directed by Amelia Rudolph, this San Francisco based vertical dance company will perform a site-reactive dance that turns the walls of Squaw Creek Resort into their dance "floor" using technical rigging. Project Bandaloop creates a blend of dance, sport, ritual, and environmental awareness. Inspired by the possibilities of climbing and rappelling, the choreography draws on aerial, vertical, and horizontal movement to craft dances. They are known for dancing 2500' above Yosemite Valley on El Cap, as well as on buildings and historic structures the world over. They will be performing in Squaw Valley on Sunday, August 29th to kick off Arts For the Schools 2010 / 2011 season. We are so fortunate to have them visit our area, please come and experience contemporary dance like you've never seen it before! This event will showcase the level of talent Arts For the Schools (AFtS) has secured for our local students and community.

Project Bandaloop will be working with local dance students from InnerRhythms and Tahoe Youth Ballet on a "ground performance" which will open their aerial performance. This is an incredibly important piece of the grant, as it engages local students interested in dance in master classes with a professional dance company that tours the world. Our local dancers and community are very fortunate to have access to this type of experience.

Through this wonderful partnership we also get to tap into the extensive knowledge of the grant's author, Rob Bailis ODC Theater, who will tour our community and help us tackle the challenges of how to bring professional dance companies to our region. AFtS Executive Director, Raine Howe, reports "Coordinating dance performances and performing art programs in our rural community is a challenging task on good days, so having partnerships such as the InnerState Project is incredibly beneficial".

Project Bandaloop's August 29 program will also serve as a fundraiser for AFtS. Howe says "Although Project Bandaloop's performance serves as a fundraiser, we also want to ensure as many people as possible are exposed to this performance. This is why we set our ticket price at $35.00 for adults, and $15 for children 18 or younger". The show includes appetizers - and while the audience is enjoying a fabulous afternoon they will know they are supporting the vital resource of art education for our local children. As many people know, art education has all but vanished in our public schools; Arts For the Schools bridges this gap by providing professional art instruction and performing arts programs in our local schools. This is made possible through grants, foundations, private contributions and Parent Teacher Organizations who value art education in their schools.

Arts For the Schools was selected as one of a few presenters for the InnerState Project because it fit the requirements of a rural community, and because of its 26 year-long history of overcoming venue challenges and bringing nationally and internationally acclaimed performers to our local schools and community at large. AFtS program line-up for the InnerState Grant will include the talents of Project Bandaloop, Yaelisa Caminos Flamenco and KUNST-STOFF, all of which offer stunning and cultural dance performances - and none of which would be coming to our area without this incredibly generous grant.

Project Bandaloop will be performing at the Resort at Squaw Creek on August 29 from 4 - 6PM. The Resort at Squaw Creek is a major sponsor and host of this event, which was made possible by their agreeing to Project Bandaloop aerial dancing off of their spectacular building, which will serve as a perfect backdrop along with the natural beauty of Squaw Valley. Space is limited so make sure to purchase your tickets early by visiting ArtsForTheSchools.org or by calling (530) 582-8278.

ARTS FOR THE SCHOOLS (AFtS) is a proud partner in the InnerState Project, conceived by ODC Theater in San Francisco and including lead presenters is the cities of San Louis Obispo, Tahoe, Trukee, Ukiah, and Willits. InnerState brings together a lively consortia of presenters and dance artists throughout California committed to tackling obstacles that in recent years have significantly challenged both the aesthetic range and long term viability of regional dance touring.

Over a three year term, InnerState will bring artistic excellence to communities excited by concert dance that traditionally have had limited access. In so doing, we will explore and develop new models that promote shared activity among presenters of diverse capacities, and offer professional/career advancement opportunities to artists practicing within and outside California's major urban centers. This project is being generously funded by The James Irvine Foundation.

Arts For the Schools provides high quality arts learning in our schools, and presents world-class musicians, dancers and other live performances for the community at large. AFtS uses the power of art to promote artistic expression, increase understanding of other cultures and foster a lifelong appreciation of the creative arts for children and families in our community. For more information visit ArtsForTheSchools.org or call (530) 582-8278.