The Value Behind the Scenes.

Theatre skill programs like Youthspring give young people a jump start to fulfill their positive potential. "Trying on" different roles is a timeless and entertaining way of accomplishing class and culture mobility and sensibility.

Freestyle Workshops Model A New Way to Act in the World.

Youth who don't know the ropes create a challenge for traditional theatre programs, which rely on consistent attendance in order to create a production.

In order to meet the challenge, Youthspring developed Freestyle Workshops: 6 week courses that concentrate on building confidence and personal best theatre skills, followed by a community showcase night. This allows children to gather skills at their pace, and be ready to properly integrate into a more disciplined production.

Freestyle is designed to do more than get kids moving and interacting: It challenges them to move out of their comfort zone and toward attainable goals of "personal best". Dance helps kids tune into their body and develops their brain. Improvisation helps kids learn how to "play well with others" while they learn to act spontaneously and positively in any given setting.

Past Productions and Partners.

Freesyle III Dance, a hip-hop and movement workshop by Kelsa Rieger, adjunct professor of urban dance at Antioch University, Fall, 2006.

Freestyle II Improv Workshop with partners the YMCA and Smarty Pants Theatre, Summer 2006.

Freestyle I Improv Workshop with partners the YMCA and Smarty Pants Theatre, Spring 2006.

"Summersglow," our first full-length production of an original musical revue, with partners the YMCA and YSKP, March 2006.

For more information on Freestyle or Youthspring:

• Gail Whipple: 937.609.0906
• Teri Barker,
  Youthspring Company Mgt: 937.477.6821