Westlake business uses art to teach social skills

This summer, the city of Westlake will welcome a new company to the community. DramaSmarts is a literacy-based program that teaches social skills and enhances reading, writing and speaking skills through drama. Using a Reader’s Theater model, DramaSmarts works with students in grades K-5 primarily during the afterschool hours to help them learn how to use Reader’s Theater to turn everyday stories into their own works of art on stage.

Founded by teaching artist, international educator, author and speaker Terré Holmes, DramaSmarts derived out of her quest to teach children about theater, while simultaneously teaching them to work together, improve their focus, increase their attention spans and explore the creative aspects of who they are.  

“I want students to know they don’t need to have exceptional acting skills to participate in drama," Holmes said. "Everyone has a role to play. Whether they play a character, the director or help with set design, we all can contribute to the process of creating great theater together."
 
DramaSmarts will serve as a creative outlet for the community. It will offer a four-week Recyclable Art and Theater Camp in July, as well as three one-week cooking camps the weeks of June 17 and 24 and August 5 in the new location at 24960 Center Ridge Road (on the lower level of the back building).  

Additionally, DramaSmarts will host thematic birthday parties for children, teach acting classes, cooking classes and, in the fall, offer professional development for teachers on arts integration in the K-5 classroom, as well as field trips for students to learn teamwork through drama and cooking.

Visit www.dramasmarts.com or call 1-800-342-3174 to get more information.

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Volume 5, Issue 12, Posted 10:43 AM, 06.11.2013