Curtains Up For Kids
Nearly 10,000 students visit the Basie every year as part of its Curtains Up For Kids school performances program — and for many, it’s their only opportunity to experience live performing arts. From classical music with modern twists, to the diversity of Asian and African artistry or historical plays like I Have a Dream, the Basie inspires students to dream forward through culture and artistic expression.
New Jersey state learning standards and arts integration come full circle with Curtains Up For Kids. Teacher study guides are provided, which offer information about the history, culture and inspiration of the performances. Academic connections are also provided, helping integrate the performances and experiences into the classroom. Companion activities for pre- and post-show discussions round out the experience, allowing state learning standards and arts integration to come full circle.
Interested in attending a bus-in school show? Click here for a reservation form.
Curtains Up for Kids Series Tickets:
$12 Individual Sales
$10 – Education Groups of 10 or more students
Financial assistance is available.
The Basie is very grateful to the Mary Owen Borden Foundation, Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Gia Maione Prima Foundation, and Horizon Foundation for New Jersey for their support of Curtains Up For Kids.
For tickets or more information, call 732-224-8778 x 130 or email education@thebasie.org
Applicants will receive an email confirmation within one week of your reservation. In the event you do not receive a confirmation, email education@thebasie.org. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to popularity, we cannot hold seats without receipt of a reservation form. Download the guide and faq. (PDF)
UPCOMING SCHOOL SHOWS
Lula Washington Dance Theatre: Reflections in Black
January 13, 2020 • 10:30AM
45 minutes
Recommended for grades: K-12
Reflections in Black is a 45-minute dance concert that traces African American history via dance. The performance includes dances centered around Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, The Little Rock Nine, and other important aspects of black history.
• History
• Storytelling
• Interpretation
• Movement
• Multi-Cultural
• Roots and Heritage
Dino-Light
February 11, 2020 • 10AM & 12PM
45 minutes
Recommended for grades: 1-5
DINO-LIGHT, formerly known as Darwin the Dinosaur, was the recipient of the prestigious Jim Henson Foundation Grant and first feature-length theatrical production created and performed by creators Ian Carney and Corbin Popp. In this original storyline, a famous scientist with magic powers brings a friendly dinosaur to life. When the dinosaur wanders away from home, he discovers a wonderful world full of creatures that light up the darkness and help him find the true meaning of love. This glow-in-the-dark adventure is visually amazing and has been praised for its cutting edge blend of puppetry, technology and dance by audiences all over the world.
• Puppetry
• Storytelling
• Interpretation
• Cognitive Reasoning
Flip Fabrique
March 9, 2020 • 10:30AM SOLD OUT!
50 minutes
Recommended for grades: PK-12
Cirque FLIP Fabrique is a young troupe founded by a group of friends who are at the peak of their talents as professional circus artists. Their shared dream is to create CIRQUE shows that are built in the image of their artists, inspired by their personalities and their experiences. Each performer is the top star of their Cirque specialty and showcase their one of a kind, unmatched skills!
• Movement
• Art
• Multi-Cultural
• Physical Fitness
YogaPalooza
March 16, 2020 • 10:30AM
50 minutes
Recommended for grades: PK-4
Yoga with a dancing bear? A giant roller coaster of kids? Welcome to Yogapalooza. Beloved family music artist and pioneering kids’ yoga educator, Bari Koral leads this highly interactive concert that blends imaginative songs, yoga poses, dance breaks and play. Ideal for open spaces but with modifications for traditional theater seating, this is the most fun you can have doing yoga guaranteed. No prior experience necessary!
• Movement
• Multi-Cultural
• Physical Fitness
• Yoga
• Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Connections
MatheMagic!
April 1, 2020 • 10:30AM SOLD OUT!
April 3, 2020 • 10:30AM
50 minutes
Recommended for grades: PK-4
Internationally acclaimed magician and educator, Bradley Fields, captivates students with his famous magic illusions, and turns them on to the history, the power, and the beauty of the language of Math! The show promotes math-skills and problem-solving through visuals, history, language and world-class entertainment. Kids travel back to ancient times to meet Imhotep the Magician, (whose secret was really math), Zeno (whose paradoxes inspired Newton) and, of course, Pythagoras and his famous theorem.
• Mathematics
• Problem-Solving
• Cognitive Reasoning
• English Language Arts
Mariachi Herencia de Mexico
May 4, 2020 • 10:30AM
50 minutes
Recommended for grades: K-12
Mariachi Herencia de Mexico, an ensemble of students from Chicago’s immigrant barrios, is mariachi music’s most exciting newcomer. The group scored a surprise hit with their debut album of traditional Mexican music. “Nuestra Herencia” (Our Heritage), released 2017, hit #2 on the iTunes Latin chart and scored a Latin GRAMMY nomination. The following year, the group released their follow-up album, “Herencia De La Tierra Mía (The Heritage Of My Land).” The CD debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts and at #1 on the iTunes charts. Mariachi Herencia de Mexico has performed alongside major artists, demonstrating that this group of students has the talent, training and bravado to hold their own with the best in the world.
• Music
• Dance
• Global Literacy/Awareness
• Multi-Cultural
• Roots and Heritage
• History
David Gonzalez – Aesop Bops!
May 28, 2020 • 10:30AM
50 minutes
Recommended for grades: K-3
Fast-paced, funny, and packed with audience participation, Aesop Bops! features a potpourri of Aesop’s classic stories including The Lion and the Mouse, The Fisherman and His Wife, and The Turtle’s Shell. This feast of funky, physical storytelling leaves young audiences feeling like they had just performed the show too! Aesop Bops! rocks, and rolls out the red carpet – inviting kids to join in the fun.
• Storytelling
• Theatre
• Social/Emotional Learning
• Global Literacy/Awareness
• Multi-Cultural
• Roots and Heritage
In-School Arts Classes
Our Outreach program began as a collaboration with the Red Bank Borough School District in 2005. Today, we serve over 550 students annually with in-school, after-school, and summer performing arts classes in the Primary and Middle schools in Red Bank and the Joseph R. Bolger Middle School in Keansburg.
Our goal as educators is to instill a passion, appreciation and love of the arts. Besides enhancing one’s perspective and interpersonal skills such as communication, cooperation and creative problem solving,arts education is truly a magical elixir that raises one’s self–esteem,self-efficacy and confidence.
Need Help? Have Questions?
Contact the Education Department
Phone: 732-224-8778 x125
Email: sbrennan@thebasie.org
99 Monmouth Street,Red Bank, NJ 07701