Archive

Youths’ take on Shakespeare in Love product of DAREarts camp

July 21, 2016   ·   0 Comments

This Friday, July 22, 21 Toronto-area youths will present their own short response to Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman’s Shakespeare in Love, the story of Shakespeare as a young writer trying to complete his play, Romeo and Juliet that is currently being presented by The Stratford Festival in Stratford.

The 20-minute show will take place in Bloor Collegiate, 1141 Bloor St. W., (just west of Dufferin), main floor gym, Toronto.

The youths’ showcase is the culmination of 10 days of DAREarts Summer Camp, a program that empowers at-risk youth to be leaders using the arts. During the camp, the youths engaged in visual arts, drama, stage combat, literature, fashion and dance of the times of William Shakespeare who died 400 years ago this year.

Led by DAREarts lead teacher and choreographer, Laura MacKinnon, and artist-educator Jennifer Parr, the team also included artist-educators Cathy Elliott, Brendan McMurtry-Howlett and Jamie Robinson, DAREarts TA, Mackenzy Willis, and DAREarts Coordinator, Lisa Norton.

‘DAREing’ to practise empowerment through Discipline, Action, Responsibility and Excellence, these young teens chose to spend their summer holidays exercising creativity and team work while learning leadership as alternatives to the negativity that is so prevalent around them.

Youth volunteer Dexter, 16, said, “The passion for what we are working on is palpable and it’s really cool to see the kids come into their own when in character.” The youths gained further insights when they attended the Stratford Festival’s professional production on Wednesday.

DAREarts founder Marilyn Field, says, “DAREarts youths use the arts as tools that build their courage and confidence to tackle life challenges. Envisioning a young Shakespeare struggling to deal with his challenge of writer’s block brings Shakespeare alive for these kids and encourages them to overcome their own challenges.”

The full circle of the DAREarts vision is to see these teens, as delegates for their respective communities, returning to their own lives and neighbourhoods empowered by the steps that they have taken to take a leadership role in sharing their experiences and igniting change in their community.

DAREarts is a Canadian not-for-profit organization which stands for ‘Discipline, Action, Responsibility and Excellence’. DAREarts works with 9-19 year olds in high-priority neighbourhoods, empowering them to be leaders. In 20 years, DAREarts has influenced over 200,000 children to ignite positive change in their lives. www.darearts.com.

DAREarts thanks its generous supporters without whom this much-needed program would not be possible, led by Northbridge Insurance, Scotiabank, TD Bank, private family foundations and the Ontario Arts Council (an agency of the Government of Ontario).

Readers Comments (0)