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<\/a>And it was not even her first day, nor the first time she has enrolled in the program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was no less than her third time participating in a Miami New Drama\u2019s MIND Theater Intensive Program\u2026 and she is already ready for the fourth, this upcoming summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The program consists of two classes: \u201cCostume Design\u201d and \u201cIntroduction to Performing Arts.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Children ages 9 to 14 are welcome to sign up for the one-week program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCostume Design\u201d is the first class of the day, starting at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the time for students to embrace their imagination and get creative, crazy even, to make their own costumes. And by make, it means sew, design, and fully create a costume which he or she will wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople get impressed because it’s like kids using this machine, you know, the little fingers,\u201d Vyana Preti, director of Education said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most kids do not know how to sew, but Preti was surprised at how good some of the students have become, and it seems like she was not the only one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only are students getting better at hands-on costume designing, but they have strong visions of what they want in their characters and clothes. They are not afraid to reject suggestions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pangea Coal Virga, the costume design instructor, has worked with this group three times now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEach one has their own aesthetic,\u201d she explained, adding that each student has a different voice, and she continues to be impressed by how much it deepens and expands in the workshops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey are gaining clarity in their designs. “Even if you propose an idea they have their own vision,\u201d explained Preti. \u201cFor example, I asked Samuel, should we paste a piece of fabric and he told me no, it has to be two distinct kinds of fabric. And I think that\u2019s great. They come to the page to create their own design and then they get to wear it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After putting their effort into designing a one-of-a-kind costume, it is time to give it a purpose. They must now invent a character to own it. This sets the base for their final class where they learn how to take on and personalize the character they created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is where it gets real. Stage time. Kids show off their confidence and build on it by performing and learning basic acting skills.<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/a>Breaking out of their comfort zone in this way has been healthy for the class. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students have found friendships with other kids interested in similar career paths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe would design costumes and we would make new friends like me and my friend,\u201d Nu\u00f1ez said. \u201cOur characters are sisters and it’s really fun cause we get to act like we’re sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nu\u00f1ez was able to automatically find someone she connected with, Denisse Rodriguez, who became her new friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When it was time to decide on characters Nu\u00f1ez said there was no doubt in either of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe were like — we\u2019re being sisters, automatically,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both girls said they are interested in acting as a future career. Nu\u00f1ez is considering not only acting but singing as well. One of her favorite activities was to sing for the rest of her classmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Melanie\u2019s mother, Jelena, said that she has seen Melanie improve as she continues to engage in the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMelanie doesn\u2019t talk about her classes as much during the program because she doesn\u2019t want to ruin the surprise\/play at the end. But when I see the play, I can tell that she is improving a lot\u201d, she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe did an audition and got to choose our character for the dance competition that we’re doing and then we, you know, like lip sync to a song or sing a song. I sang a song, and it was fun,\u201d Nu\u00f1ez said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She\u2019s curious about writing scripts and wants to learn more about acting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both classes incorporate games to motivate students to elevate their self-confidence. This way students interact with each other while incorporating public speaking and acting skills at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A popular class favorite was Zip Zap Zop, a kid\u2019s game. It consists of making hand signals and passing it on. Both Nu\u00f1ez and Rodriguez agreed it was one of the best activities so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rodriguez also mentioned a game where everyone had to act innocent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYesterday, we did a thing where you were in a courtroom, and you had to say who you think was guilty of stealing the golden microphone,\u201d she explained. \u201cWe all have to act innocent cause we don\u2019t know who it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noah Devoto, another student, said his favorite class was Performing Arts and that he was interested in becoming an actor and appearing in movies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of the students are interested in pursuing a job in this world of theater. This program allows them to experiment with it and open their eyes to different possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virga said that her goal is to let kids know that \u201ceverything is possible.\u201d She described her classes as experimental and focuses on creative expression and sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The question of if kids use the time to their advantage and learn depends on a range of factors. Virga believes it is a matter of age and influenced by parenthood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt really depends on age and the parents, right? If the parents want to go out of their way to take their kids to a program or, you know, facilitate their children’s interests also makes a significant difference,\u201d Virga said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jelena, for example, plans to support her daughter and keep showing her what the theater world is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMelanie is very into singing\/acting and she will be going to Miami Arts Charter School this year in theater program, so I do see her doing this at least for the next few years,” she stated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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