VISUAL ARTS CLASSES
Discover the joy of creating.
Art by Whendy Merryman
420 N. Willett • 626-6730 • artstew.com
Artist Whendy Merryman offers summer art camps, concentrating in clay, ceramics, and painting, for children ages 6 to 12. Her Lil’ Bit Art for ages 2 to 6 and classes for ages 6 to 12 are offered in the fall and spring at her residential studio. Classes explore all media and teach basic art principles.
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
Overton Park, 1934 Poplar Ave. • 544-6200
brooksmuseum.org
Make art happen at the Brooks. Wacky Wednesdays take place June and July. From 10 until noon, parents and kids can create using a variety of materials. Free admission.Creation Station for older elementary students starts in the gallery with reading and a craft. On Brooks’ Family Days, parents and kids enjoy a free morning of activities with hands-on art projects, performances, and gallery walks. Pay-what-you-can Wednesdays. Tours available for school groups and homeschoolers. • Free admission on Wednesdays.
Memphis College of Art Community Education
Overton Park, 1930 Poplar Ave. • 272-5142
mca.edu
Memphis College of Art’s Summer Art Camp offers four sessions of one-week classes in June and July for ages 5 to 16. Summer Art Camp Junior includes weeklong summer art sessions for ages 4 and 5. Sessions also offered at Germantown’s Municipal Park for ages 4 to 6. Saturday School provides programming for kids during the fall and spring semesters. For older teens, MCA holds a Pre-College Summer Art Academy, which gives students the opportunity to study art on the college level and earn college credit. For adults, summer sessions in beginning art and photography held in evenings and on Saturday.
Paint a Piece - Paint Your Own Pottery Studio
Wolfchase Commons, 8075 Giacosa Pl., Suite 102 • 387-3473
9289 Poplar Ave., Suite 105 • 754-0884
paintapiece.com
Voted a top birthday spot, Paint a Piece hosts bridal showers, scout troops, church groups, and team-building events. Every Tuesday studio fees are half-price (plus the price of your pottery). Summer workshops for ages 4 to teen offer experiments in tye-dyeing, art techniques, pottery painting, and glass fusing.
Seize The Clay
Chickasaw Oaks Village, 3084 Poplar Ave. 323-2991 • seizetheclay.net
Create your own pottery in the Mad Potter Studio or choose blank pottery shapes to paint. In the Mosaic Center, kids tile and grout a mirror or picture frame and take the project home the same day. Summer camps are offered for ages 5 and up in June and July. Try a wheel throwing camp, mosaic tile mirror camp, paper mache camp or clay camp. Birthday packages available.
Wish! Memories
100 E. Mulberry St., Collierville 414-2353
wishmemories.com
Wish! Memories offers painting classes for all ages, themed birthday parties, and summer camps.
THEATRE CLASSES
Did you know that there are classes offered year-round for junior thespians? Kids can be on stage or learn what it takes behind the scenes. Action!
Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center Summer Theatre Classes
3663 Appling Rd., Bartlett • 385-6440
bpacc.org
BPACC offers week-long Summer Theatre Camp sessions for kids grades 2 to 8. Children learn the fundamentals of acting, singing, and dancing as well as scene work and spontaneous improvisational skills.
Germantown Community Theatre
3037 Forest Hill-Irene • 754-2680
germantowncommunitytheatre.org
Kids act and dance at Fun in Theatre Summer Camp for grades pre-K to 8. Students craft props, write skits, and learn about theatre. Find the spotlight at FIT camps July 11-15 and July 18-22. Saturday morning acting classes are offered fall and spring. James and the Giant Peach runs July 29-31, Aug. 5-7. An additional matinee performance at 2 p.m., Aug. 6 at Memphis Botanic Gardens. Admission: $10/adults, $7/students.
Harrell Performing Arts Theatre
440 W. Powell Rd., Collierville • 457-2780
harrelltheatre.org
Harrell Theatre taps young actors for many productions, including a family-oriented show staged in December. Fall and spring classes for ages 7 to 15 include theatre and drama classes with some technical instruction.
Memphis Black Arts Alliance/FireHouse Community Arts Center
985 S. Bellevue/Elvis Presley Blvd. • 948-9522
memphisblackartsalliance.org
MBAA’s family-oriented experiences help people of all backgrounds discover the arts and cultural contributions of African-Americans. Mentored by professional artists, the FireHouse Community Arts offers students year-round classes in acting/musical theater, ballet, creative writing, jazz, hip-hop, African dance; painting, drawing, and photography. Private and group music instruction offered in piano, strings, winds, blues, jazz, voice, African and band percussion. Community ArtsReach, after-school programs, and summer and holiday camps also available.
New Day Children’s Theatre
The Avenue Carriage Crossing
4630 Merchant’s Park Circle, Suite 737
Collierville 853-9669 • newdaytheatre.org
At New Day Children’s Theatre, kids ages 5 to 18 star in main-stage productions and gain skills in acting and technical workshops. Summer camps for ages 6 to 18 are held in June and July. Kids can perform a song, monologue, or read a poem at Open Mic Night, first Friday of each month.
The Orpheum
203 South Main Info: 525-7800, tickets: 525-3000 • orpheum-memphis.com
Camp Broadway, for theatre-loving kids ages 12 to 17, is taught by Broadway professionals. The camp runs July 25-29 and concludes with a performance. The Orpheum’s Summer Institute is a workshop for high school sophomores to seniors, as well as college freshmen. Experience the inner workings of the theatre. Summer Institute is offered each June. with classes taught by local artists and Orpheum staff.
Playhouse on the Square’s Theatre for Youth
66 S. Cooper • 728-5631
playhouseonthesquare.org
Kids learn all about theater at the After School Acting Program (offered at satellite locations around Memphis) for ages 7 to 12. Teens also get into the act with Teens In Theatre (TNT). On Saturdays, check out Theatre School for ages 5 to 17. Summer Youth Theatre Conservatory offers one-, two-, and three-week programs for ages 5 to 17.
Tennessee Shakespeare Company
P.O. Box 382143 Germantown • 759-0604
tnshakespeare.org
Tennessee Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre and education organization providing year-round educational and training programming. The company invites ‘riotous youth’ to explore Shakespeare in engaging immersive summer play camps. TSC visits schools and provides classroom playshops.
Theatre Memphis
ShoWagon/KidsWagon
630 Perkins Ext. • 682-8323
theatrememphis.org or showagon.org
Four times a year, KidsWagon brings tales of myth and literature to the stage. A seven-week course for kids ages 5 to 12 culminates in a public performance. New this fall is a six-week technical course for teens.
MUSIC LESSONS
Whether it’s Kindermusic or lessons for your school-aged child, music teaches everything from patience and math to rhythm.
Bartlett Music Academy
6757 Stage Rd., Bartlett • 213-4262
bartlettmusicstore.com
The academy offers music classes for piano, keyboard, voice, violin, guitar (acoustic, electric, and bass), flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, French horn, baritone, and tuba. Instruments available for sale or rent.
Kindermusik with Ann Durden
1986 Exeter Rd., Germantown • 753-8686
germantownkindermusik.com
Kindermusik offers music and movement classes for ages 1 to 7. This parent/child program encourages music and rhythm appreciation. Activities focus on music, language, physical, and social development. Semester-long sessions begin August, January, and June.
Lane Music
9309 Poplar Ave., Germantown • 755-5025
lanemusic.com
Lane Music offers Keyboarding Camp for ages 6 to 12, July 18-22. Lane Music also provides lessons for piano, guitar, drum, bass, violin, and band instruments. Group piano lessons start in the fall. Instruments available for sale or rent.
Music for Aardvarks
871-0227 • memphisaardkvarks.com
Music for Aardvarks is an interactive music enrichment program for children ages 6 months to 5 years and their parents/caregivers. Classes incorporate singing, dancing, instrument play, and musical storytelling as well as live guitar playing. Classes held in Midtown and East Memphis. Newcomers welcome to drop-in for one free class. Available for children’s guitar and vocal lessons and birthday parties.
Memphis Music
5237 Poplar Ave. • 937-8484
memphispiano.com
Memphis Music offers private guitar lessons. Band instruments also available for sale or rent.
University of Memphis Community Music School
Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music • 678-4244
memphis.edu/music/cms.php
The Community Music School offers music programs for every age and for all ability levels in piano, strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, and voice. Private music lessons, group classes (Suzuki and traditional), and ensembles. Suzuki programs start at age 3 and Kindermusik for tots ages 1 to 7. Summer camps include Memphis Music Camp, Memphis Suzuki Institute, Piano & Art Camp, and Kindermusik Adventures.
DANCE LESSONS
Many kids don’t stop at a song — they want to dance to the beat. Dance schools offer ballet, lyrical, hip-hop, and even flamenco lessons.
Ballet Memphis School
7950 Trinity Rd. • 737-7322
balletmemphis.org
Ballet Memphis School offers dance for all ages. Classes begin in August and January. Children in the school can audition to perform in Ballet Memphis’ annual production of Nutcracker, and all students ages 3 to 18 receive two complimentary tickets to main stage performances.
Ballet On Wheels Dance School and Company
1705 Poplar Ave., Evergreen Theatre 870-4348 • balletonwheels.org
Ballet on Wheels offers dance classes in ballet, pointe, modern dance, and creative movement. Classes at the Evergreen Theatre start in August and January.
Children’s Ballet Theatre
921-0388
BalletChildren.com
Directed by Mary VanDyke Roudnev, Children’s Ballet and Dance offers students ages 2 to adult a dance program to build poise, confidence, grace, concentration and posture. Ballet training is in the Russian tradition. Each class offers beginner to advanced sections with performance opportunities, including the Children’s Ballet Theater Nutcracker and recital. Classes include pre-ballet, ballet, pointe, jazz/tap, flamenco, lyrical, musical theater, vocal performance, theatre, adult ballet and classical conditioning. Also available is a Conditioning Class for children and adults with mild physical disability or injury.
Children’s Ballet Theatre, Advanced Program
Buckman Performing Arts Center
60 Perkins Ext. • 921-0388
balletchildren.com
The Advanced Program, directed by Dmitri and Mary Roudnev, offers children 9 to 17, as well as adults, the opportunity to study classical ballet. Dancers perform Nutcracker and a spring recital featuring Sleeping Beauty or other ballet highlights. Auditions held year-round.
Dance Academy of Bartlett
6240 Stage Plaza East • 385-2228
thedanceacademyofbartlett.com
The Dance Academy provides a variety of dance lessons for ages 3 to adult including ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop. Summer dance camps take place in July.
Dance Works, Inc.
Trinity’s Educational Center
1738 Galloway • Studio 301-3262 or 452-8811• danceworksinc.org
Now in its 25th year, Dance Works emphasizes an international accredited classical ballet program as its foundation, which serves as a springboard for introducing other dance forms such as creative dance, modern, jazz, and hip-hop for children ages 4 and up. Pilates offered for ages 14 and older. The 24th Annual Chance to Dance, a four-week intensive summer program for children ages 7 and up, runs July 5-29. Performances for the public take place at 11:30 a.m., July 14 & 28, and 4:30 p.m., July 15 and 29. Admission: $2.
New Ballet Ensemble & School
2157 York Ave. • 726-9225 • newballet.org
A classically-based program for students of dance, New Ballet offers classes for children and adults in creative movement, ballet, flamenco, hip-hop, contemporary dance, and Pilates. New Ballet also offers Beginning Ballet for teens to adult. Com pany instructors perform on the main stage and throughout the community in schools while recruiting talented children for their core program. Call to have the company visit your child’s school. Scholarships available.
ARTS AT AREA PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS
Bartlett Parks and Recreation
Singleton Community Center, 7266 Third Rd. • 385-5593 • cityofbartlett.org
Bartlett Parks and Recreation hosts a variety of activities throughout the year, including preschool programs, home-school classes, arts and crafts, dance, hobbies, and music lessons. Singleton Day Camp is offered June and July for kids ages 5 to 15.
Collierville Parks Recreation and Cultural Arts Department
440 W. Powell Rd. • 457-2770 collierville.com
The Collierville Parks Recreation and Cultural Arts Department holds classes in art, music, and the performing arts. Summer specialty camps and performing arts camps are offered.
Germantown Parks and Recreation
2276 West St. • 757-7375 or 757-7376
germantown-tn.gov
Germantown provides a variety of music, art, and dance classes for children. Art in the Park summer camp takes place in June. Kids discover drawing, painting and other media with instruction from Memphis College of Art teachers. Contact Michelle at 757-7382 or mmcdonnell@germantown-tn.gov.
City of Memphis Community Centers
576-4203 • cityofmemphis.org
Each community center offers classes, programs, and events in health, fitness, wellness; educational development; cultural arts; dance, music expression; and character building and social development.