CRI and DCPA an Enduring Partnership
Community Resources, Inc. is all about partnerships…connecting resources in our community with the students in Denver Public Schools. One of the most wonderful resources in our community is the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA).
DCPA and its educators are can-do kind of people. Allison, David, and the team of teaching artists always find a way to make their programs available for students and schools, especially in low-income, impacted neighborhoods in Denver. Their joyously artistic participation can be seen throughout CRI program areas.
Over the many years that CRI has partnered with DCPA, their teaching artists have provided countless Academic Mentorships for passionate DPS students. From music theater and costume design, to theater production and performing arts administration, they have it covered! Last winter, Tracy, an enthusiastic young actor, was paired with David Saphier, one of CRI’s favorite DCPA Teaching Artists. This fortunate mentee was given one-on-one time with David, as well as a full scholarship to one of DCPA’s Teen Company classes. When the COVID pandemic hit, Tracy was in the middle of her mentorship having a fabulous experience with like-minded theater students in her teen class. Like so many students who faced disappointments during this time, Tracy was devastated when her mentorship came to a screeching halt; and CRI was equally upset that our beloved DCPA teaching staff were all furloughed. As the pandemic dragged on DCPA took much of their programming online and staff gradually came back to work. In September David not only resumed his mentorship with Tracy, but took on yet another CRI mentee! In early February 2021, twenty months after our initial contract meeting, Tracy completed her mentorship by sharing a fantastic virtual presentation with her classmates at Grant Ranch K-8.
CRI creates Art Days at DPS elementary schools where the entire school spends the day experiencing a wide variety of arts programming, from origami to African drumming to creative movement and dance. DCPA has provided wonderful programs for these days, including Improv, Flash Mob, Commedia Del’Arte, and Musical Theatre. Imagine a class of 5th grade students, who probably have never seen a classic musical, enthusiastically singing and dancing to tunes from Bye Bye Birdie or Grease. For our Science Days, DCPA engages students in a program called Digestive Workshop. Picture students acting out the various stages of the digestive system. The experience is educational, fun, and hysterical to watch!
DCPA has participated in the Classroom Speakers Program since 2009 with diverse programming such as Ellis Island Experience, Folk Tale/Fairy Tales, and the Water Cycle. With education’s move to remote learning in March 2020, DCPA translated these programs to a virtual platform. This school year, their Virtual Book Stars! program has been very popular with ECE and Kindergarten students. Teaching artists make familiar books come alive with movement, sound, and lots of student participation.
We are so thankful for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and their willingness to bring The Arts alive to the students of Denver. Their talent, enthusiasm, and giving nature are a true blessing.