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Operation: Opera, AIS
Bringing Opera to Life for the Young Student: Journey through music history with an entertaining artist who introduces the history of Opera, performs excerpts from famous operas, teaches Italian, and describes the evolution of opera music into Musical Theater, Broadway Shows, Movies and even Television Cartoons. Throughout this “Operation”, students and teachers will learn proper use of the voice, breathing techniques, projection and dramatic gestures. Students will be selected to “perform” in an improvised operatic scene playing the roles of protagonist, antagonist and chorus. Students will be able to identify elements of modern opera musicals: Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and rock operas.
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What A Bird-Brain, AIS
Multi-talented and versatile, Patrice Kaluza has been entertaining audiences around the country for over 25 years. Now, she brings her Hyacinth Macaw, Tiki, an endangered and rare bird species from South America, to schools to explain the importance of protecting endangered animals such as the Hyacinth Macaw and to show the unusual intelligence of this tame and beautiful creature. “Ms. Patrice” has been researching and studying parrots and birds for over 20 years (Ornithology). She has trained her parrot, Tiki, using a very natural approach--he learns by living in a family. Born in captivity and surrounded only by humans, Tiki has learned to bond only with humans through a process called “imprinting”.
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Amerimusicana, AIS
Amerimusicana navigates students on journeys through Music History--from 3000 B.C. through modern day Country and Rock ‘n Roll. The musical guides on these journeys are two vivacious and entertaining musical educators.
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Children of the Horn
Composed of experienced performers and music educators from NC State University and Duke University, Children of the Horn is an instrumental ensemble that has created a unique sound by combining influences from Soul, Jazz, Rhythm and Blues and World music.
With a front-line of horns backed by a rhythm section, Children of the Horn takes students on a kaleidoscopic journey through original compositions that range from super-syncopated Funk and Latin to swaggering New Orleans Second Line to classic Motown-inspired grooves.
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InterACTive Theater of Jef
InterACTive Theater is designed specifically for celebrations, festivals, street fairs and first nights. During these events, Jef weaves through the crowd sharing his wacky brand of roving artistry which includes mime, juggling, mask work and variety arts. His roving work translates wonderfully to short (30 minute) stage sets which require minimal set up and fit perfectly into a festival format. He routinely performs as an opening act or entr'acte either onstage as a curtain raiser, or in front of the stage while a changeover occurs on the stage itself.
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Flow Circus
Flow Circus combines the skills and experiences of educator and writer Dawn Daria and nationally performing artist Paul Miller to create engaging and dynamic programs. At the core of all of our programs is the belief that learning is and always should be fun. Playfulness and spectacle ensure that students and staff will be talking about Flow Circus long after the visit. Performer Paul Miller of Flow Circus explores the world of science and skill toys where things fall, balance, and spin. He will leave students (and teachers) with an urge to pick up and play with the world around them to discover the mysterious forces of the invisible, physical world.
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Southern Fried Jazz, AIS
Led by the original trumpeter for Frank Sinatra, Southern Fried Jazz stirs the appetites of its audience with some of the most authentic and refreshing Dixieland music available anywhere.
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Alex Weiss & A Different Drum, AIS
Alex Weiss & A Different Drum take students on a musical journey that bridges Africa and the Americas through song, dance and stories by weaving the history and cultures that connect these continents into a multi-cultural quilt of entertaining, educational performances. From the driving Rhythms of Mali through the beautiful Sambas of Brazil to the vibrant Salsa of Cuba and the playful Cumbia of Columbia, students will learn about the musical instruments that create this cultural music and the manner in which certain rhythms from these countries have influenced contemporary music.
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Mickey Mills, AIS
Recording Artist, writer and composer Mickey Mills is a featured performer in a number of documentaries explaining the history, playing techniques and musical applications of the steel drums. A native of Trinidad and Tobago, Mickey has performed concerts with the steel drums nationally and internationally. In addition to his appearances on stage with Mick Jagger, Jimmy Buffet and Kenny Chesney, he performed in the off-Broadway show, The House of Flowers, and in the television show, Matlock.
He is also an approved artist in the Artists in the Schools programs for Wake, Orange and Durham Counties.
