From Dancing to Drumming, Singing to Storytelling, Active Arts at the Music Center Provides a Comfortable Environment for Everyone to Be Active!

Los Angeles - Whether a person sings in the shower, on stage, dances with a company or with the stars, anyone who craves a creative outlet has an opportunity to participate in Active Arts at the Music Center programs, scheduled from April through December 2007.

Offering year-round art-making activities including dancing, singing, music-making, and storytelling, Active Arts at the Music Center is designed to expand the public's experience associated with this performing arts venue in new, non-traditional ways. Active Arts programs cut across cross-cultural boundaries and invite people to participate for the sole purpose of art-making. Through these programs, Music Center public spaces activate with creativity, exhilarate social interchange and celebrate cultural diversity - reflective of Los Angeles.

"People want to exercise their creative muscles in a way that's fun, engaging, and fulfilling to them - and they're not necessarily interested in becoming a professional and performing for other people or buying a ticket to a performance," states Josephine Ramirez, Vice President, Programming and Planning, Music Center. "We want to entice everyone to check it out - come dance, sing, play music, tell stories in a sociable, mistakes-allowed, joyful environment." She continues, "With Active Arts programs, folks rediscover the power of art-making and creativity in their individual lives and in so doing maximize the quality of life we share as Angelenos."

"Not only are participants in our programs enjoying themselves," adds Ming Ng, Director, Active Arts, "but Active Arts at the Music Center has proven to be a catalyst for many. As a direct result of the program 'Get Your Chops Back Flute Choir', a group of flutists has organized and is playing around town."

Active Arts at the Music Center programs benefit greatly from Active Arts volunteers dubbed "Activators". This group participates, initiates, and serves as ambassadors, advisors, spokespersons, buzz agents, sometimes writers, and volunteers at events.

Danielle Harrell, an Activator, states "I love seeing families playing together and elderly couples behaving like teenagers on a first date, and I feel proud, even partly responsible for helping people embrace the arts in this way." Adds Yves Marton, Activator and dance instructor, "Revitalizing our lives and connecting people from diverse parts of our city, the programs engage us in positive, pleasurable and constructive activity together."

Active Arts at the Music Center is supported by grants from the James Irvine Foundation, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, The Ahmanson Foundation, The Annenberg Foundation, and the James A. Doolittle Foundation. Corporate sponsorship provided by U.S. Bank and KCRW is media partner. Gallo Family Winery is presenting sponsor of Dance Downtown. Remo, Inc. is a supporter of Drum Downtown.

For more information about Active Arts at the Music Center, call 213-972-3660 or visit www.musiccenter.org.

2007 Active Arts at the Music Center
PROGRAMS

• Dance Downtown - Attendees are invited to put on their dancing shoes and dance the evening away under the stars on the Music Center Plaza. Dancers of all levels are encouraged to attend and beginner dance lessons are available. Live music and dance floor is provided.
  Dates: April 27, May 11 & 25, June 8 & 22, July 6 & 20, August 3 & 17, September 14 & 28, October 12
  Time: 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
  Where: Music Center Plaza
  Cost: Free

• Drum Downtown - A unique outdoor drumming experience held on the Music Center Plaza once a month on a Saturday morning between May and September. Attendees participate in a public drum circle - no prior drumming experience necessary - and join in on an informal music-making experience. Hand drums, shakers, tambourines, and other percussion instruments are provided.
  Dates: April 7, May 5, June 2, July 7, August 4, September 1
  Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  Where: Music Center Plaza
  Cost: Free

• Get Your Chops Back - The program targets "lapsed" musicians at the advanced beginner/intermediate-level and encourages a low-risk and fun re-entry into music-making via workshops and coached play-alongs. Each workshop/play-along provides participants an opportunity to re-learn that instrument they have hidden in their closet or stored away in their garage, all within an informal, mistakes-allowed atmosphere.
  Dates: April 28 (Guitar/Bass/Mandolin). Additional instruments/dates TBA.
  Time: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  Where: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
  Cost: $10

• Friday Night Sing-Alongs - An opportunity to enjoy warm summer nights with sing-along fun on Friday evenings at the Music Center Plaza. Participants can croon to catchy tunes, familiar melodies and old favorites during a spontaneous, casual, and fun evening for singers of all levels. Dates: June 29, July 27, August 24
  Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  Where: Music Center Plaza
  Cost: Free

• A Taste of Dance-A-Thon - Celebrate the diverse dance heritage and cultures of Los Angeles at A Taste of Dance-A-Thon. Dancing, exercising, healthy living, and raising funds - all for a good cause. Be a sponsor or challenge yourself to dance the day away in support of the arts.
  Date: October 20
  Time: TBA
  Where: Music Center Plaza
  Cost: TBA

• Jingle Bell Sing - Provides holiday songsters with the opportunity to participate in a series of interactive site-specific sing-alongs in various downtown Los Angeles locations. In partnership with the Downtown Center Business Improvement District.
  Dates: November-December 2007
  Time: TBA
  Where: Music Center Plaza
  Cost: Free

• Jingle Bell Holiday Sing-along 'Round the Tree - A public sing-along featuring festive favorites and seasonal songs under the winter sky on the Music Center Plaza.
  Date: December 21
  Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  Where: Music Center Plaza
  Cost: Free

• L.A. Storytellers - Launched in January 2007, is a collection and weaving together of oral histories, personal and/or family stories, engaging experiences, and vivid memories of everyday people in Los Angeles - funny, poignant, and provocative stories illustrating the Angeleno way of life, both past and present. Two workshops concluding with an informal sharing for invited friends, family, and guests. L.A. Storytellers is a project in collaboration with Cornerstone Theater Company.
  Dates: TBD