Your Kids Are Awesome! (And You Parents Aren't Bad Either)
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 12/10/07.
God With Us was an incredible experience this year... Thanks for helping to make it a success!
I can't even begin to tell you how encouraged Tanya and I were after seeing all of the students, teachers, and parents in action at God With Us. You guys did an amazing job and I am always impacted by how clearly the heart of God is reflected through you as a community. We are truly privileged to be a part of it.
By the way... I've got to include a special "thank you" to the folks at Boone's Creek Christian Church. They were incredibly generous and helpful to us throughout the entire production. We absolutely could not have done it without them. Thanks to Carrie, Laurie, James, Dean, and Brandon for all of your help. You guys are awesome!
I've updated the registration form on the site with the Spring 2008 schedule. We're taking registrations for the new semester, which begins on January 7th.
The new registration forms include a carbon copy that you can take home with you. Hopefully this makes it easier to remember what classes you've registered for and -- what the overall semester schedule looks like. The catch, is that you must use the forms I have at the Arts Center, rather than download and print your own. You can still download the sample form as a reference but, will need to pick up one of my forms, in order to complete your registration for the Spring 2008 semester.
Please Note: We cannot hold your current class or lesson times unless we hear from you. Please register early to guarantee your existing class or lesson times!
With that said... We've made a few changes that will help many of you get connected more easily, including new Pre Ballet and Ballet Basics options, as well as, new classes like Battle of the Bands (details coming soon), Spanish 1 (a twice-a-week class for quicker development), and two Painting classes (both oils and water colors).
We've got lot of other things in the pipe. I'll be sharing the details about some of those (including an up-coming musical production) as soon as we've worked out the details! = )
One last thing... Please turn in December's tuition this week! We only have two weeks left in the current semester and I'd love to get those outstanding balances settled. Thanks!
God With Us Dress Rehearsal & Performances Next Week!
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 12/01/07.
PLEASE NOTE four important requests/notifications about next week's events, including God With Us!
If possible, please pre-order your tickets this week!
Pre-ordering will help us reduce the length of the ticket line at the event. Of course, you're welcome to wait until the last minute but -- wouldn't it be better to just have your tickets in hand and be able to get great seats, rather than wait in line? = )
Also... Please help promote God With Us to family, friends, and neighbors (or even strangers) this week. We've sold around 600 tickets this week. We have around 600 seats still available. Please help us fill them!
There is a full dress rehearsal scheduled at Boone's Creek Christian Church for Friday, December 7th.
Click here to view a map to the church.
Pre-Ballet & Ballet Basics students should be in costume and ready to begin at 4:00. All other participants should be in costume and ready to begin by 5:00, as soon as the younger dancers are finished.
Each scene will be rehearsed until the staging, lighting, and audio are set for that scene. This way, actors, singers, and dancers are free to go once their scenes are complete, rather than have to wait around for the other scenes to rehearse. We'll do our best to have everything in place by the time you get there. Please help us by being there on time.
This weekend is your last chance to pre-order the God With Us DVD at a reduced rate of $20!
This will be a very high quality DVD that any parent, grandparent, or student would love to have... A great way to remember the event and to share it with family and friends. DVD's will be available for $30 after this weekend and -- may not include the same label and packaging as the original DVD's. Please let me know if you'd like to pre-order one (or more) of these DVDs.
Don't forget! Tuition for December (the final payment for this semester) is due next week.
Speaking of which... I'll have the schedule posted for the spring semester by the end of next week. Please give me a shout if you have questions. Thanks!
Trinity Arts Center in the news?
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 11/30/07.
Last week, WCQR gave Tanya and I the opportunity to talk about the Arts Center in a 1-hour interview with Tiger Brooks.
Tiger and all the folks at WCQR were extremely encouraging to us and we had a great time! Thanks to WCQR, Tiger, Amy, & Summit Leadership Foundation for their help getting the word out. We are (of course) daily listeners to WCQR and have been financial supporters for a long time. If you listen to Christian radio, please consider supporting them as well.
Keep your eyes open for articles in both the News & Neighbor and Johnson City Press over the next two weeks.
This week, News & Neighbor will be running a 1/4 page ad for God With Us, as well as, an article about the Arts Center and some of what's been happening during our first year. We're very excited about this chance to let people know about the Christian arts community and what's been happening at the Arts Center. Thanks to Mary Jones and Leslie Haas for helping us get the word out!
Finally... The Johnson City Press interviewed (and took pictures of) Tanya, myself, and several of our instructors, parents, and students on Thursday night. I don't have a confirmed run date for that article but it sounded as if it was slotted for next week's paper! Keep your eyes our for that. Thanks to Julie Belt, Allison Alphonso, and Lee for giving us the forum. We appreciate it!
Anyway... There's a lot more going on but -- I'll include more info in another update. This one is too long already. Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Thanksgiving Break & God With Us!
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 11/16/07.
The Arts Center will be closed next week for the Thanksgiving holiday (except for Monday).
Monday's classes (and private lessons) will still be held, to make up for the Labor Day holiday earlier this semester. There may be special rehearsals and recitals scheduled later in the week, that will still be held as scheduled. See individual instructors for details.
About 1/4 of the tickets for God With Us have already sold!
This year's production of God With Us is shaping up to be an awesome "next step" for this annual tradition. Thanks, by the way, to everyone who has contributed to making costumes, placing ads, purchasing tickets, and playing one of the many parts in what we're trying to do. I can't wait to see the results.
By the way... We will be selling professionally recorded DVD's of this year's performances of God With Us!
Kyle Long and his team, over at Digital Fridge, have agreed to shoot this year's performances of God With Us using two professional cameras and a handful of his video production toys. The final product will be a very high quality DVD that any parent, grandparent, or student would love to have... A great way to remember the event and to share it with family and friends.
To take advantage of some bulk pricing, we're offering these DVD's at a special pre-order price of just $20 until December 1st. After December 1st, DVD's will be $30 and may not include the same label and packaging as the original DVD's. Please let me know if you'd like to pre-order one (or more) of these DVDs.
Finally... We still need help with a few aspects of this year's production of God With Us.
Please consider playing a part in this year's production by helping some of our younger dancers backstage, taking tickets, transporting props, cleaning up, or one of several other roles. We have a sign-up sheet on the front table. We'd love to have your help!
As always... Thanks for all of your support. You guys are awesome! = )
God With Us, Thanksgiving, and Make-Up Lessons.
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 11/06/07.
Next Friday, November 16th, is the deadline to order a personal or business ad in the God With Us program.
Let your students know that you are proud of them, or advertise your business or organization, with an ad in the God With Us program. Your ad support helps keep our productions free from the costume and performance fees that are common with other studios. Ads start at just $25. Let me know if you are interested and we'll get the ball rolling.
By the way... We will have God With Us tickets available at the Arts Center on Monday, November 12th!
For those who weren't with us for last years' peformance...
God With Us is our version of the Christmas story, told through dance and music. This years' production will include performances by more than 120 of our dance, music, and theatre students, as well as, several of our instructors and local guest artists. I know I'm a little biased but -- this will be an awesome event! Please make plans to attend. You will be glad you did!
God With Us will be performed at 2:00 and 7:00 on Saturday, December 8th at Boone's Creek Christian Church. Seats are limited so please order early if you have a specific show time that you'd like to attend. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children under 18. Hopefully we'll see you there. = )
The Arts Center will be closed the week of Thanksgiving, except for Monday, November 19th.
Monday's classes (and private lessons) will still be held, to make up for the Labor Day holiday earlier this semester. There may be special rehearsals and recitals scheduled later in the week, that will still be held as scheduled. See individual instructors for details.
Make-Up Lessons For Music Students
We will be offering an opportunity to make-up missed lessons later this month. If you have missed a lesson this semester, and have met the notification requirements, we'd like to get you scheduled asap. Please contact me by next Friday (November 16th) to schedule a time.
Please don't forget... Tuition for November is due this week.
Please help us keep our rates and administration fees low by getting your monthly payments in on time. Thanks!
Did You See The Giant?
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 10/23/07.
Thanks to everyone who came out to support our first children's theatre production of The Selfish Giant!
Saturday's peformances of The Selfish Giant were a huge success, with smiling actors, actresses, parents, grandparents, and friends alike. = ) Thanks especially to Lauren Vernon, Scott Snell, and all of the students and parents for making The Selfish Giant possible... We really appreciate the support.
Stay tuned for information about our next production, coming early next year. We'll be communicating audition, rehearsal, and performance dates in January.
Fall Break (And A Couple Other Things).
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 10/08/07.
First things first... Don't forget that we're off this week for Fall Break! We'll see you guys back in class next week. = )
By the way... In addition to our e-mail updates, and the information on the web site, there is a calendar of events posted in the front window of the Arts Center that lists important dates for the next couple months. Speaking of which...
Come out and support all of our budding actors and actresses as we present The Selfish Giant, the first production from our children's theater group, on Saturday, October 20th.
Please help us continue to offer this free theater program by purchasing tickets for either the 2:00 or 7:00 shows. It's a fun show and the whole family will have a good time. = ) Tickets are $7 for adult and $5 for children (under 18). You can pick those up at the Arts Center anytime next week.
Finally, here are a couple other dates worth noting...
- Saturday, October 14th
Theater auditions for 14-18 year old performers, to participate in a musical workshop presented by The Group Theatre Too, a theatre collective from New York. See their site for details. Thanks to Summit Life for the heads up. = )
- Saturday, October 27th
Ballet Magnificat at Milligan College (see below).
- Friday, November 2nd
This is the deadline for ordering personal ads for the God With Us program. Touch base with Jamin if you have questions. Business or organizational ads need to be placed by November 16th.
- Friday & Saturday, November 2nd & 3rd
Rebecca Marr is setting appointments for Trinity Arts Center families to have photos taken for students performing in God With Us this year or -- to have family photos taken. By the way... These photos can be available for use in a personal ad for the God With Us program, if you select and purchase pictures early. = ) Rebecca will have a sign-up sheet available at the Arts Center soon.
- Wednesday & Thursday, November 7th & 8th
Additional appointment times with Rebecca Marr. For more information, visit her web site.
Milligan Arts Council Welcomes Ballet Magnificat!
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 09/25/07.
I'm sure many of you have already heard (I know we've already talked to many) but -- please note this event on your calendars...
Ballet Magnificat will be performing "A Hiding Place" at Milligan College, on Saturday October 27th!
From their press release:
Milligan College (August 31, 2007) -- The story of Corrie ten Boom comes to life this fall as Ballet Magnificat! Omega takes the stage at Milligan College's Seeger Chapel to perform Hiding Place, Saturday, Oct. 27, at 7:30 p.m.
Set in the war zone of Dutch Haarlem in 1944, Hiding Place is a portrayal of divinely inspired forgiveness and hope in the midst of desperate and unimaginable circumstances. Ballet Magnificat! taps into the struggle of two sisters, Corrie and Betsie ten Boom, as they search for possibilities to help their life-long Jewish neighbors and friends to find security in a small hiding place built in the wall of their home, only to be discovered and transported to the concentration camp of Ravenbruck to face struggles far exceeding their wildest imagination.
Choreographer Jiri Sebesatian Voborsky unveils this heroic story with a great level of drama, passion, pain, yet joy, and ultimately hope, as he brings before the audience the challenge to believe the unbelievable -- the power of forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
Admission for Hiding Place is $10 for adults and free for children five years and under. Tickets will be available at the door or in advance by calling Theresa Garbe at 423.461.8718. For more information, visit www.milligan.edu/arts.
Hiding Place is sponsored by the Milligan College Arts Council and the Office of Alumni Relations.
Hopefully we'll see you there. = )
Scholarship Fundraiser & Violin Concert!
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 09/21/07.
Hey all! Sorry for the late reminder but, a great supporter of the Arts Center (and neighbor) has offered to host a Wholesale Jewelry & Sample Sale at the Arts Center on Saturday, September 22nd from 10:00am to 5:00pm.
This is a great chance to pick up some discounted Christmas presents (or maybe something for yourself) AND help provide scholarships to students at the Arts Center.
It sounds like she'll have several tables of sterling silver jewelry plus a few jackets, vests, and handbags. Stop by while you're out on Saturday afternoon and see if there's anything that fills a spot on your Christmas list. = )
Also... Please don't forget about the violin concert on Tuesday, September 25th at 8:00pm. Miss Galina is bringing 40-50 of her students to entertain and show off their hard work. It should be a fun performance, especially for you music students!
Thanks! Give me a holler if you have questions.
Jazz, Costumes, and Giants?
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 09/18/07.
First things first... I found a great quote this week that I really connected with. Hopefully you'll connect with it as well.
"I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve. But I was outside the Bagdad Theater in Portland one night when I saw a man playing the saxophone. I stood there for fifteen minutes, and he never opened his eyes. After that I liked jazz music. Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way..." -- David Miller, Blue like Jazz
What a great quote. = )
Anyway... For those of you who missed out on the six-week sewing workshops we just completed, we're offering one last chance to brush up on your sewing chops and -- to help us make some of the costumes for this year's performance of God With Us.
Donna Horowitz will be hosting a FREE 3-hour sewing workshop this Saturday, September 22nd, from 9:00 to 12:00.
Each participant will be given the materials to sew one of this year's costumes, and three hours of group instruction on some sewing basics. You'll then have four weeks to work at your own pace, with a follow up workshop on Saturday, October 20th from 9:00 to 12:00, to tidy up any loose ends. Please RSVP so we can have machines and materials ready for everyone who would like to participate.
Tickets go on sale for The Selfish Giant next week!
Come out and support all of our budding actors and actresses as we present The Selfish Giant, the first production from our children's theater group, on Saturday, October 20th. Please mark the date on your calendar and bring the whole family to see this great story of faith and forgiveness.
I'd also like to introduce a new piano teacher, Melissa Neal.
Melissa began her first piano lesson at age 7! Her desire is to impart a love of piano and music to any student that studies under her. Melissa began teaching beginner piano in high school and has had 10 years of experience teaching children of all ages. She continued her piano studies through college and completed a piano pedagogy course and practicum at Elon University in North Carolina. Since then, Melissa has obtained her Masters of Public Health and is currently working toward her Doctorate in Public Health at ETSU.
Melissa is involved with Grace Fellowship Church of Kingsport and is a founding director of Families Free, an organization serving families affected by incarceration.
Melissa is a great instructor for students of all levels. She's a great player and a great teacher with a real heart for kids. = ) Let me know if you'd like to set up a lesson time.
The Last Days Of Summer... Sigh.
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 09/02/07.
Hello all! I hope this e-mail/web update finds most of you enjoying a three day weekend with your families and having a bit of summer fun before cooler weather starts sneaking up on us. = ) Speaking of which...
There will be no classes on Monday, September 3rd.
Scheduled classes and lessons will be "made up" the week of Thanksgiving, when Monday is the only day that we will have classes.
Speaking of classes... Tuition for the month of September is due this week. Please drop that off at the front desk. Thanks!
Normally I only introduce one new instructor in these semi-monthly updates but -- we've added so many new instructors this semester that I thought I'd start introducing them three at a time. = )
Several of these instructors have long histories in the Tri-Cities area and may be familiar faces, other may be new... They are all doing an oustanding job and we're excited to welcome them to our community!
Galina Timofeev, Violin Instructor
galina@trinityartscenter.com
Galina TImofeev is an established director and musician, having taught in the area for more than 30 years. Galina received a Master of Science in Music from Kazakh State Conservatory in the former USSR... Read More
Ms. Galina is currently accepting students on Friday evenings at the arts center. Let me know if you'd like to set up an evaluation or lesson time.
Jennifer Coleman, Guitar Instructor
jennifer@trinityartscenter.com
Jennifer graduated from Murray State University with minors in Art and Music. She spent the previous five years in campus ministry, leading worship and directing women's ministry for college students at ETSU... Read More
Jennifer is currently accepting students on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at the arts center. Let me know if you'd like to set up an evaluation or lesson time.
MJ Light, American Sign Language Instuctor
mj@trinityartscenter.com
MJ Light, a homeschool graduate, holds two state titles for sign language song interpretation. She has been an ASL instructor for ANCHORS Academy (a homeschool umbrella), a Deaf Awareness workshop for the Sullivan County Police Dept and... Read More
MJ isn't new but -- she is accepting students in both the introductory and intermediate ASL classes on Tuesday nights. Let me know if you'd like to get started in either class.
Central Ballet's "Sleeping Beauty" Auditions Next Saturday!
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 08/17/07.
Central Ballet Theater of Greeneville is holding auditions for their January 2008 adaptation and production of Sleeping Beauty on Saturday, August 25th, at 12:30.
For more information, please contact Lori Ann Sparks at (423) 639-9766.
Modern Dance Workshop On Saturday, August 18th!
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 08/16/07.
Trinity Arts Center is hosting a special Modern Dance Workshop with Judy Woodruff (Executive Director of the Tennessee Association of Dance) and Mountain Movers (a local modern dance company) on Saturday, August 18th!
The workshop, for students 12 to adult, will be held from 9:00 to 12:00 at Trinity Arts Center. The cost of participation is $20, with checks payable to Trinity Arts Center. Please register with Tanya or Jamin as soon as possible. Space is limited.
August 25th Auditions For The Selfish Giant!
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 08/16/07.
On Saturday, August 25th, from 10:00 to 12:00, we will be holding auditions for our October production of The Selfish GIant.
This 8-week production is centered around a play called The Selfish Giant, a great story of faith and forgiveness that all ages will enjoy. The play includes roles for fourteen students, three adults, two stage managers, and a director's assistant.
Auditions are open to actors of any age, and will include a cold reading from portions of the script. The cast list will be posted the following Monday, August 27th.
Rehearsals will begin on August 30th, and will be held each Tuesday & Thursday from 7:00, until 8:00 or 9:00, depending on which scenes are being rehearsed that day. Additional rehearsals will be held each Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00, with the entire cast rehearsing all three days for the final three weeks. The company will offer two performances on Saturday, October 20th. Times and ticket prices will be announced soon.
Speaking of theater, I'd like to introduce our theater instructor, and the director of The Selfish Giant... Lauren Vernon!
Lauren is a Child Development Specialist at Haynesfield Elementary School in Bristol, TN. She graduated in 2004 with a minor in Theater from ETSU. While at ETSU she was in several full length and one-act plays including playing the role of Emily in "Our Town."
Lauren has worked with professional actors and auditioned for several professional Theater's around the country. She was very involved in the Theater department at Science Hill High School, where she performed in many shows including "My Fair Lady", "It's a Wonderful Life", "Harvey", and others.
She also competed in several individual and group theater events, garnering 1st place in State in Readers Theatre, 1st place in Storytelling, and Best Ensemble for the One Act competition at the South Eastern Theater Conference. Lauren has also done work at the community theatres in Johnson City and Kingsport.
As always... Check out the education page for faculty bios and class descriptions. Give me a shout if there's anything I can do. Thanks!
Classes For The Fall 2007 Semester Begin Today!
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 08/06/07.
Just a couple updates about the fall semester at the Arts Center...
We've moved the Elementary Spanish, German, & Painting classes. Please download the most recent copy of the schedule to make sure you have the most current information.
In addition to shuffling a few classes... We also have several that are at capacity, requiring us to close registration for those classes and -- create some new options for those of you who have not yet registered.
The Pre Ballet & Ballet Basics classes on Monday evening are full, along with the Ballet Basics classes at 5:00 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
There are still spots available in our Thursday morning classes and -- we've created an additional Ballet Basics class at 6:00 on Tuesday to help create some additional options for families who have not yet registered. Please register soon to reserve a place in any of these classes.
I'd also like to introduce an exciting new addition to our faculty, the very talented Jazz & Tap teacher (among other things) -- Susan Potter!
Susan started dancing with the Ann Hodge School of Dance in Johnson City at the age of six, studying Pointe under the direction of Melita Brock-Warner, Tap under the direction of Debbie Weems-Corpening, and Jazz/Acrobatics under the direction of Kristi Hodge.
Since 1996, she has worked as a teacher and choreographer for the Chatanooga Ballet Company and the Paula Duff School of Dance. In addition, Susan implemented a dance fitness program for the elderly and a children's creative movement program, in coordination with Westwood Baptist Church in Cleveland, TN. Susan has also participated as the guest instructor and choreographer for the Knox County school system and the Black Dance Theater of Tennessee, sitting on the board of the latter. As part of these positions, she studied Afrikan Caribbean under the direction of Danny Hinds, Capoeira under Erik Murray, Hip Hop under Clyde Evans Jr, and tap under Chester Whitmore.
Anyway... Check out the education page for her full bio and class descriptions. Susan is a great addition and we're glad to have her! She'll be helping with the Jazz 2 and Jazz 3 programs, as well as, introducing Tap this semester! Let me know if you'd like more info.
As always, give me a shout if there's anything I can do. Thanks!
One week to go, by the way... Do you sew?
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 07/30/07.
First... Please register early to ensure that you recieve your preferred class and lessons times! I can't stress that enough! Shoot me an e-mail if you have questions.
OK, with that out of the way... I forgot to mention an important note the other day, concerning the FREE sewing classes that will be held each Tuesday, beginning on August 8th...
We have hired a phenomenal seamstress and costume deisgner to teach these classes. We've purchased a variety of material for the costumes. What we don't have is sewing machines! = )
For those who aren't familiar with the format of these classes... They are designed to teach basic sewing techniques to anyone interested in learning, while creating the costumes for our annual performance of God With Us. In addition to the classes, we will also be providing patterns and material to those who already have sewing experience and would like to help.
Please contact Tanya if you are able to loan us your sewing machine for the six weeks that we'll be offering the classes. We need at least eight of them and we would really appreciate it!
Did I mention that you should register early to ensure your preferred class and lessons times? = ) Anyway...
I'd also like to remind you that Rebecca Marr will be teaching nine and eighteen week photography classes...
Rebeccca owns her own photography business, A Moment in Time. In addition, she holds a bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education, having taught first grade before she and her husband Tony started their family, which now includes two beautiful girls.
Rebecca, and her husband Tony, have been involved in a variety of church and youth ministry organizations in Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Johnson City, including her current position as children's director with Redeemer Community Church and Tony's counseling, training, and support ministry, Higher Ministries.
See the schedule for current class times and tuition information.
Thanks... We'll see you in class!
The Fall Semester Begins On August 6th!
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 07/25/07.
Hey guys! I wanted to get out one more reminder about the fall semester, which begins in less than two weeks! While we are on summer break, we are not available during our normal hours at the Arts Center so... The best way to register is to mail your forms. If you have questions, we will be responding to voicemail and e-mail as quickly as we can. Feel free to e-mail me to make sure you have a spot reserved on the days and times that work best for your family. All of our contact info is listed on the contact page.
Please register early to ensure that you receive your preferred class and lesson times. This is especially important for the early childhood dance classes and private lessons. These spots are limited and they fill very fast!
Download the registration form to see the updated schedule and please, let us know if you have any questions.
Thanks! We'll see you in a couple weeks. = )
2007-2008 Schedule & Registration Available!
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 07/07/07.
Updated registration forms are available now! For those of you who picked up a registration form two weeks ago... There have been a couple changes worth noting.
Please download the newest copy of the form to make sure you are aware of the most recent class and tuition schedules.
- We've reduced our tuition to just $36 per month for a single group class (only $54 for private lessons).
- We've added a 10% discount for semester payments.
- We've allowed for a limited number of private lessons (four) in our family maximum tuition policy.
- We've based our tuition on a new point system that allows us to discount classes that are offered for only part of the semester or, are offered more than once a week.
- We've increased the length of our semeseter to 18 weeks, matching up almost identically with the Johnson City school system.
- We've added a $20 annual registration fee (It can't all be good, right?). = )
We also have several new classes coming this fall!
Once you download the form, take note of the new classes, including German, and a host of new FREE classes and workshops.
Please register early to guarantee your spot in class, especially for the early childhood dance programs and private music lessons. We hope you're having a great summer and -- we'll see you in a few weeks!
Family Picnic, Summer Camps, & Oliver!
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 06/10/07.
The Trinity Arts Center Family Picnic is this Sunday! Please RSVP to help us prepare the fun, games, and food for the day.
Most of you received phone calls from Cara Richards last week about the family picnic (thanks Cara). If you haven't, and you have any questions, pick up one of the flyers at the Arts Center or e-mail for details about what to expect, how you can help, and what to bring. If you'll be attending, please RSVP so we can plan the fun, games, and food for the day.
Registration for our summer camps has been extended through July 1st. Register soon to guarantee your spot!
There are still available spots in all three of our summer camps (click on the posters to the left for additional info). We will be accepting registrations all the way up to July 1st for each camp or -- until we are at capacity. If you're interested, please register soon to guarantee your spot!
Oliver tickets can be purchased for just $15!
Barter Theatre has agreed to offer us a special group rate for the 8:15PM performance of Oliver, on June 30th. This $15 ticket price is less than half of the regular price and, is even lower than their employee price! If you're interested, this is a great opportunity to see a high-quality show for a reasonable cost. I'm ordering tickets on Wednesday, June 20th. I'll need to have your order in before then to be included.
Finally, we'd like to introduce Christine Rice...
Christine Rice graduated dean's list from St. Mary's College of Maryland, a public honors college, with a BA in Music and an emphasis in Romance Languages. She has taught band, choir, and Spanish for over 13 years in elementary through college levels. Her band's in Northern Virginia and DC have consistently received top ratings and won numerous competitions. Her students have been recognized at national levels and Christine commitment to teaching and performing have earned her numerous teaching awards including Master Teacher.
In addition to teaching and performing, Christine volunteers as community educator and lobbies for the Alliance for Lupus Research and the Lupus Foundation of the Greater Washington Area.
Christine, a woodwind specialist, will be teaching flute, clarinet, saxophone, piano, and voice along with her Spanish classes. She's a great addition and we're glad to have her. = )
As always... Let me know if you have any questions or -- if there's anything else I can do. Hopefully we'll see you Sunday!
What's Happening In June?
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 05/20/07.
Just a couple quick reminders about some upcoming events and -- an introduction to a new member of our faculty, Becky St. Leger!
The Trinity Arts Center Annual Family Picnic & Talent Show has been moved to Sunday, June 17th (Father's Day).
This will be a full day of food, games, fun, and a talent show where father's are encouraged to participate. = ) We'll have some informational sheets to take home next week with all the details and a complete schedule.
Summer registrations for Artists In Armor, the Summer Ballet Intensive, and The Selfish Giant Theater Camp are due by Friday, June 1st.
Please register early to guarantee a spot and -- to help us plan effectively with resources, guest teachers, and special materials.
Finally, we'd like to welcome Becky St. Leger to our faculty...
Becky is a Graphic Designer & Interior Designer at Ken Ross Architects, Inc. in Johnson City, TN. She graduated in 2006 from East Tennessee State University with two degrees, one in Digital Media and the other in Interior Design, with much experience in architectural visualization, logo design, raster based imaging, vector based imaging, and 3D design.
Becky has always had a passion for the arts of any kind. She specializes in portraits and wire jewelry making. She has most recently painting a portrait "Acts of Worship" that was displayed at the Passion conference for 18,000+ students from all over the world.
When she's taking a break from designing you can catch Becky on any trail, running, kayaking, or hiking with her dog Rusty!
Becky is doing a great job with the Elementary Art & Jewelry Making classes on Tuesday night. You're welcome to pick up the last five weeks of those classes (or any of our classes) for just $60, if you've got kiddos who are interested.
As always... Let me know if you have any questions or -- if there's anything else I can do. Thanks!
Our Summer Semester Begins Next Week!
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 05/03/07.
As most of you know, this is the final week of the spring semester, which means that this is the last week to get registered before the summer semester begins.
There are a handful of important things to note about the new semester:
This summer semester is an eight week semester, beginning next week and running through the end of June.
The summer semester begins next week, on May 7th and runs eight weeks, through June 29th. The cost for participation in our group classes is only $96 for the semester. Private lessons are only $114.
We've added several new classes (and instructors) for the summer semester, including Violin, Woodwinds, Piano, Voice, Spanish, and Jewelry Making.
Caroline Giles, an extremely talented local musician and teacher, has joined us to teach violin. Christine Rice, an equally talented and experienced teacher from the DC area, has joined us to teach woodwinds (flute, clarinet, saxophone), piano, and voice. She will also be leading our Spanish program. Becky St. Leger, another very talented artist and teacher, is launching two new classes on Tuesday evenings -- elementary art and jewelry making. Finally, Will Chenault, an experienced youth pastor and artist (and one of the few guys on our faculty), will be teaching General Art, Drawing, and Painting on Thursday nights.
We will not be offering Saturday classes for the summer.
Those of you enrolled in our Saturday Pre Ballet, Ballet Basics, Spanish, or Music classes will need to transfer into one of the alternate classes on this summer's schedule. Download a registration form to see what is available.
Current enrollments do not automatically carry into the new semester. You will need to re-register in order to reserve a spot in the summer classes.
We have lots of room in most classes but, as always, our early childhood dance programs are filling fast. Please register as soon as possible to ensure your child's place in these classes. Our private music classes are also booking fast so, please make sure to talk with your instructors early to ensure your preferred lesson times.
It's going to be a great summer! Give me a shout if you have any questions or -- if there's anything else I can do. Thanks!
Registration for the Summer 2007 Semester Is Now Open!
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 04/21/07.
Registration is open for the Summer 2007 Semester, which begins on May 7th and runs through the end of June.
Don't forget... We will be hosting an Open House on Monday, April 30th to introduce you to several new teachers and programs at the Arts Center.
This will be your best chance to meet instructors, ask questions, and get the details on what is coming up this semester and later this year. To see a complete schedule, download the registration form.
In addition to our regular class schedule, we are offering three summer camps that require early registration. Space for all three camps is limited so please register early to guarantee a spot.
Artists In Armor
The first, our Artists In Armor arts camp is for ages 4-10. That week-long camp will offer daily programs in art, bible, dance, music, language, and theater. Participation is from July 23rd through the 27th from 9:00-12:00 each day. The cost is $85 and includes a t-shirt, all art supplies, and lots of take-home materials. Enrollment is limited to around 72 students so that we can maintain a teacher/students ratio of around 1 to 6. This will be a fun, full week of arts experimentation including everything from drawing and painting to music and stage combat. The theme passage for the week is Ephesians 6:10-18 (The Armor of God). Registration must be in by June 1st with a $25 deposit.
Theater Intensive: The Selfish Giant
Our second summer camp, is a theater intensive in July that runs for two weeks, from July 16th through July 27th with a final performance on July 28th. Students will meet every evening (Mon-Fri) from 4:00-8:00 to rehearse, design props, make costumes, and finally, perform for an audience of family and friends. This years camp is centered around a play called the Selfish Giant, a great story of faith and forgiveness that all ages will enjoy. The play includes roles for fourteen students and three adults + three student stage managers and director's assistants. Auditions will be held on Monday, July 2nd from 6:00 to 8:00. The cast will be posted the following day. If cast, participation for the two week intensive is $120.
Ballet Camp at Central Ballet of Greeneville
This year's summer ballet intensive will be held the week of July 16th through July 20th at Centrall Ballet in downtown Greeneville. Intermediate students will participate from 9:00-12:00. Advanced students (those on pointe) will participate from 1:00-4:00. The cost is $90 for the week long intensive. Guest instructors will be announced soon.
We're really excited about all three events... It's going to be a great summer! Please stop by the Arts Center anytime for complete registration information. Hopefully we'll see you soon!
Coming Events... Spring/Summer 2007
Revised by Jamin Rathbun on 04/13/07.
Hello all! Just a few quick announcement about everything happening at the Arts Center over the next couple months and -- a sneak peek at a few very cool Summer events as well. There are a lot of great things coming up. Please print a copy of this e-mail (or pick up a copy at the Arts Center) and stick it on your fridge so you don't miss out on anything. As always, let us know if you have any any questions. = )
- Scottish Highland Dance Workshop
Next Saturday!
We still have room in our Scottish Highland Dance Workshop on Saturday, March 31st from 9:30-11:00AM. This workshop is being provided by the Scottish Highland Dancers of Greeneville and will be a great experience for all of our dance students. Please take advantage of this opportunity to experience a new form of dance and -- to study under another quality instructor. This will be a great learning experience, even if you don't have aspirations to become a professional Scottish Highland dancer. = ) The workshop is available for ages nine to adult and will include a ninety minute class covering the basics of Scottish HIghland dance. The cost for this workshop is $10.
- FREE Arts Discussion Group For Pre-School Parents
Wednesday's In April
Tanya Rathbun, mother of five and Artistic Director at Trinity Arts Center, will be hosting a special 4-week workshop next month discussing ways to incorporate the arts for infants and toddlers. This will be an open discussion where everyone can share their thoughts or just soak up the advice of others. Tanya will provide some good thoughts about stretching and motion for children under the age of three. Those workshops will be held each Wednesday in April from 9:30-10:15AM. There is no cost to participate and we have plenty of room so... Invite your friends and neighbors!
- FCA Bible Study Information
Monday, April 30th (during open house)
There will be an informational meeting during our Open House on Monday, April 30th to discuss the details of starting an FCA sponsored bible study at the Arts Center. FCA does a great job providing accountability and support (training, bibles, and counseling) for students, athletes, and their parents and we're excited about partnering with them to provide a study at the Arts Center. Parents of pre-teen and teen students are encouraged to attend.
- Barter Theater Field Trip
Saturday, April 21st
Lauren Vernon, our theater director, has organized a field trip (and special group pricing) for Trinity Arts Center students (and parents) to attend the April 21st performance of "Jamestown: A Likely Story" at the Barter Theater in Abingdon, VA. Barter's web site describes the show as -- "The adventurous tale of John Smith and how he helped found Jamestown in the new world. Experience crossing the ocean, meeting Native Americans and trying to survive in a land Europeans had never before settled. See history brought to life in this rich and exciting celebration of the beginnings of this nation." Tickets for the show (if purchased as a group) are just $8. Our group will meet at the Arts Center that morning at 8:30 to drive up for the 10:30 show. We will need at least two drivers who are able to help transport our theater students to the event in their vans. If you you would like to attend or -- would be willing to chaperone, please let me know as soon as possible. Ticket money must be turned in by April 5th.
- Spring Open House
Monday, April 30th
Trinity Arts Center will be hosting a public open house on Monday, April 30th from 5:00-8:00PM. As part of this event, our faculty and students will be showing examples of their work including live music, dancing, theatrical performance, and a public display of their artwork. This is a great opportunity to get to know the instructors and -- learn more about the dance, music, art, theater, and language programs at the Arts Center. You'll also be able to register for the 8-week summer session or any of the special camps and workshops we have scheduled for the summer. We'll have flyers available in the lobby next week. Please take as many as you need and help spread the word!
- Parents Watch-Week
April 30th through May 5th
Want an opportunity to see your students in action? You're welcome to sit in on their classes or private lessons the week of April 20th through May 5th. Some classes (like ballet, art, and music lessons) have limited space so... Please limit extra visitors as much as possible.
- Parent/Teacher Dance Forum
Saturday, May 12th
Tanya will be hosting a question and answer forum for parents of existing or interested dance students on Saturday, May 12th at 11:45AM. This forum will be held in the lobby of the Arts Center and -- will include be a panel of dance professionals answering dance-related questions like -- training specifics, physical health, the importance of summer workshops, professional dance opportunities, college scholarships, and anything else you'd like to know. This is a parents-only forum. No students please.
- Trinity Arts Center Family Picnic & Talent Show
Sunday, June 17th (Father's Day)
Mark your calendar now for the premier event of the year! = ) The first annual Trinity Arts Center Family Picnic & Talent Show is coming soon with live music, games, prizes, food, fun... American Idol meets America's Funniest Home Video (or something like that). A great time for everyone! = ) We'll post complete details soon.
- Summer Dance Intensive
July 16th through July 20th
Trinity Arts Center has joined with Central Ballet of Greeneville to offer our annual Summer Dance Intensive in Greeneville, TN. This week-long intensive will be held from July 16th through July 20th and will include workshops led by guest instructors, as well as, Miss Tanya and Miss Lori Ann. This is another great opportunity to study under a variety of professional instructors and is highly recommended for all of our dance students. We'll have the specifics about the cost and schedule posted as soon as they are finalized.
- Artists In Armor Summer Camp
July 23rd through July 27th
This summer, Trinity Arts Center is offering our first annual arts camp -- Artists In Armor. This camp will include a week of art, dance, music, language, bible, and performance fun for students ages four to eleven. Each daily program will offer break-out sessions including: Bible memory (Ephesian 6:10-18 will be the theme verse for the week); Dance (sessions will include everything from silly walks to creative movement to fitness exercises); Art (experience drawing, painting, paper, and pottery with lots of take-home projects); Language (introductions to spanish, american sign language, and more); Theater (accents, stage combat, express yourself) -- PLUS contests, prizes, costumes, and lots of free take home materials (t-shirts, artwork, etc). We're still finalizing some of the details but... This will be an awesome week! We'll post complete cost and schedule information as soon as we can.
- Theater Performance Intensive
July 16th through July 27th
Lauren Vernon, our Theater Director, is offering a special two week theater performance intensive that will allow participants to experience all aspects of theater and performance. This two-week intensive will include auditions, cast assignments, rehearsals, prop design, costumes, and -- will culminate with a final performance that will be open to parents, family, and friends. This will be a great experience for students wanting to get beyond the classroom and really get their feet wet in the world of theater.
Thanks! We'll see you in class!
Spring Is Just Around The Corner.
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 03/05/07.
A few quick notes about the Arts Center this month.
- Monday Classes Begin Today
Beginning today, we are offering additional Pre Ballet (4:00-4:45), Ballet Basics (4:45-5:30), and Ballet 3 (5:00-6:30) classes every Monday evening. If you are making the switch from another day or would like to enroll a new student, please let me know asap. The existing classes are at capacity and I'd like to know where we have room as soon as possible so we can begin to move families off the waiting list.
- Spring Break
Trinity Arts Center will be closed from March 11th through the 18th for Spring Break. We'll reopen for our regularly scheduled classes on Monday March 19th. By the way, don't forget that daylight savings time begins early this year, on Sunday, March 11th.
- Scottish Highland Dance Workshop
The Scottish Highland Dancers of Greeneville are providing a special educational workshop at the Arts Center on Saturday, March 31st at 9:30 AM. This workshop is available for ages nine to adult and will include a ninety minute class covering the basics of Scottish HIghland dance. The cost for this workshop is $10 and is limited to only eighteen students. Eight places have already been reserved at the time of this post so -- reserve your spot now if you'd like participate.
- We Need Help!
We are looking for a few special people who would volunteer 3-4 hours each week to greet students, answer the phone, and welcome new families to the Arts Center (there may also be some laughing and hugging involved). We'll welcome anyone with a smile and a heart for kids but -- we'd really love to connect with some retirees who could add that special something that only a grandma or grandpa can. = ) If you know someone (or if you are that someone), please contact me for details. In addition, there are volunteer opportunity sheets in the lobby where you can offer to assist with everything from cleaning windows to sewing costumes to supervising service projects in the community. Please take a look at the list of needs this week and let us know if you can help.
Piano, Guitar, & Drums... Oh my!
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 02/21/07.
Hello all... Just a couple quick announcements for the Spring semester.
- Parking at the new building.
The new building has a half dozen parking spaces by the front entrance. In addition, there is additional parking in the back lot with enough space for another 20+ cars. If you park in the back lot, please come in the entrance on the right side of the building. That entrance won't be marked well until later this week but -- it opens to a staircase which leads directly into the main lobby. We'll have some signs up asap to make both the parking and entrance options more clear. In the meantime, thanks for your patience. = )
- Additional Art classes on Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday.
There are 4 weeks left for the painting segment of the Tuesday Art class, with a 6-week pottery course to follow. In addition, we've added a second Drawing class at 5:00 on Wednesdays and -- have room available in the Thursday Painting class. Let me know if you'd like more information... I'd be glad to give you the details.
- Piano, Guitar, and Drums... Oh my!
Now that we have additional music rooms, we have additional lesson times available. In fact, we have openings for piano, guitar, drums, violin, voice, and -- are hoping to add brass and woodwinds soon. Our teachers are phenomenal, they're great at connecting with students, and -- it could be really convenient if you're already at the Arts Center for some other classes. We'd be glad to schedule a free evaluation lesson if you'd like to see what we offer.
- Monday Pre-Ballet & Ballet Basics classes.
We have added additional Pre- Ballet and Ballet Basics class on Mondays, beginning on March 5th. The Pre-Ballet class will be at 4:00 with the Ballet Basics class following at 4:45. Students currently taking on Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday are welcome to make the switch if Monday is a better night. Also... Please let you friends know that we have openings available in those classes.
- Thursday Adult Ballet class.
Beginning on March 8th, we'll be offering an adult ballet class on Thursday nights from 7:00-8:00. This class is specifically designed for older teens and adults and is a great way to get in shape, fellowship with other adult students, and maybe just enjoy a mom's night out once a week. = ) Touch base with Tanya if you have any questions.
- Additional Ballet III class on Monday.
Beginning on March 5th, we will be adding an additional Ballet III class on Mondays from 5:00-6:30. Current students are welcome to attend this class in addition to, or in lieu of, the current Wednesday and Friday classes.
Thanks! We'll see you in class.
February 20th Is Moving Day!
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 01/30/07.
I'm sure most of you have heard the rumors floating around the past couple weeks but -- we wanted to make an official announcement about our new building! We'll also be sending home a printed announcement with a small map and a reminder about the move. With that said...
When are we moving?
We'll continue having class in the current building for the next three weeks, through the 17th of February. We'll be reminding you about that a couple times over the next few weeks but -- please mark your calendars now. February 20th is the big day!
Where is the new building?
The new building is located at 909 Chase Drive, two blocks west of State of Franklin, off Hanover Road (see attached image). The building sits just down the street from the new Sam's Club, behind the shopping center where Cheddar's, Stir Fry, and Barnes & Noble are located. It's a great space in a centrally located part of the Tri-Cities and we're really excited to be making the move! The new building, if you'd like to make a drive-by, is a two story that looks much like a large home from the outside. It is painted blue on the side that faces State of Franklin with a brick front facing Chase Drive.
What about the disco ball?
Sadly, we'll have to leave the disco ball behind. As a small consolation, the new building will include a large lower level with a community area where students and parents can finish homework or meet with friends. In addition, it will also include two dance studios (one large and one small), an office, two private music rooms, and three multi-purpose rooms that can be used for language, art, theater, or music classes as needed. It will also have four bathrooms and -- a water fountain!
Thanks!
Thanks again to everyone who's been praying for God's continued provision for the Arts Center. God has done and is doing some amazing things in our community and we're really excited about some of the opportunities that the new building will provide.
As always, let us know if there's anything we can do!
We're Moving!
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 01/21/07.
Most of you have heard the rumors by now but -- I wanted to make an official announcement. We are in the process of finalizing an agreement with Redeemer Community Church to share a building on Chase Drive, just behind Cheddar's (by the new Sam's Club). It's a great location that will provide us with room to grow and will (hopefully) be our home for a long long time. = )
We'll be doing some minor construction over the next couple weeks (adding soundproof music rooms, dance floors, ballet bars, mirrors, etc) but... It looks like we'll be in our new building by the middle of February.
Thanks to everyone who's been praying for God's continued provision for the Arts Center. God has done and is doing some amazing things in our community and we're really excited about some of the opportunities that the new building will provide.
Anyway... We'll keep you updated and will publish a move date as soon as we have finalized everything. Give us a shout if you have any questions.
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