STUDENTS FROM FERGUSON-FLORISSANT ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOLS PERFORM IN 18TH ANNUAL CELEBRATE CHILDREN CONCERT AT THE TOUHILL

FLORISSANT, MO, June 19, 2014  --  The annual Celebrate Children concert in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, which began as a dream to inspire students to ‘reach for the stars’ in artistic expression, showcased its 18th annual event in performances of a program titled Oh, Freedom! on May 13 and 14 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Inspired by a visit in 1995 by program director Betsy Anderson to Austin, Texas to observe the Summer Institute of the Believe in Me program, Celebrate Children is the only program of its kind in the Midwest and one of just eight in the United States.  Using dance to transform lives, Celebrate Children has helped 6,323 children in the Ferguson-Florissant School District dance across the stage with increased self-confidence since 1996.

With Ferguson-Florissant facing a $7 million budget deficit for the 2014-15 fiscal year, the Celebrate Children program is among the District’s budget cuts totaling $5 million.  This year’s show cost more than $92,000 to produce, including Touhill rental fee, professional fees for director, choreographers, singers and musicians and other ancillary costs.  The program generated just over $23,000 in revenue.

Efforts are underway by Celebrate Children supporters and District administrators to find ways to reduce the cost of the program and raise money so that future editions can be self-funded.

Broadway star and 1995 Kennedy Center Honor Recipient Jacques d’Amboise developed the teaching method along with Ellen Weinstein, Artistic Director of the National Dance Institute.  The program is available to students in all District elementary and middle schools.  Children become participants through auditions and staff recommendations and must attend 25 dance classes before school or on Saturdays to prepare for the culminating performance in May.

Among the hundreds of volunteers who devote time and talent to the annual extravaganza are four dance instructors who choreograph 13 dances as well as professional instrumentalists and vocalists who lend their talents to the performance.  This year’s theme was Oh, Freedom!, saluting the efforts of African-Americans, women, Jewish people who have fought for freedom.

More than 250 children from 20 District elementary and middle schools performed in the 2014 edition, with the assistance of educator liaisons at each school.  Betsy Anderson was writer and artistic director of the production and Kimberly Phillips served as lead dance instructor and choreographer.  Other choreographers included assistant dance instructors Erin Lawson and Charmin McGee and junior dance team instructor Pam Burroughs.

Frank Green provided narration, Richard Thayer contributed set design and props and Elizabeth Hutcherson-Rucks was musical director and arranger of songs by such composers as Duke Ellington, Dave Scott, Irving Mills, Fats Waller, Harry Brooks, Andy Razaf, Barry Manilow, Bobby Sharp, Teddy Powell, the Eurythmics, Robin Spielberg and traditional African spirituals.

About the Ferguson-Florissant School District

The Ferguson-Florissant School District, located in suburban St. Louis, serves more than 11,000 students from pre-school through 12th grade with an excellent comprehensive educational program.  Fully accredited by the State of Missouri, the Ferguson-Florissant School District operates 17 elementary schools, three middle schools, three A+ and NCA-CASI-accredited high schools and an alternative school.

In addition, the District includes a nationally recognized early education program, the award-winning Challenger Learning Center space education facility and the Little Creek Nature Area, a 97-acre nature preserve which offers experiential learning opportunities for students in science, biology, ecology and related areas of study.  For more information, visit www.fergflor.org.

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