Flynn Center for the Performing Arts :: 2009/2010 Season

Just like kids need good nutrition on a daily basis, they need frequent servings of the arts—but so few get enough! Much more than fun "extra" activities, dance and theater have far-reaching benefits for kids' self-esteem, confidence, concentration, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, communication, cooperation with peers, and even academic performance and test scores. Here at the Flynn, we don't need years of research to tell us that kids' active participation in the arts is closely linked to what parents want for their children, because we see it in our studios every day. For the record, research does confirm it. So, we've developed a program for kids in pre-school through grade 3 to maximize their social and emotional development while educating them about dance, theater, comedy, and storytelling, and fostering a deep appreciation for the role of the arts in our world.

In our dynamic new Creative KIDS! program, children engage with favorite stories (and new tales of their own invention) through the building blocks of acting and dance: language, gesture, body movement, and emotion—creating shared meaning in the playful context of developmentally-appropriate classes. They learn a ton about the performing arts, and even more about themselves! Creativity, imagination, and the expertise of nurturing teaching artists make an unparalleled contribution to your child’s learning and social development. Come get in the act!

TRACY MARTIN is a master teacher of young children, who teaches dance around the state as well as through the Flynn’s signature Words Come Alive! school program. She studied dance at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and is artistic director of Phantom Theater, creating original works in dance, theater, and music.

LIDA WINFIELD has a diverse background in choreography, performance, and the visual arts. She has taught theater and dance to students of all ages for more than 10 years and teaches through the Flynn’s signature Words Come Alive! school program. Winfield founded her own studio in Massachusetts and creates and tours solo performances across New England.