| Michelle Beckstead helps Kambrie Hinkins with her costume. |
The Emery County Arts Council held its first annual ‘Learning in The Arts’ camp this summer on June 14-16 at the Castle Dale Elementary School.
The camp was very successful. There were 35 elementary age students attending. They learned about singing with stage presence, drama and stage presence, making theatre masks and costumes and what it takes to put on a show.
Each participant made their own mask and painted and decorated it. They each made one or more articles of clothing into a costume.
The children had a great time as they learned about being part of the theatre. On the last day of camp, each participant and leader were presented with a camp T-shirt.
Our leaders were Ann Murdoch teaching singing with stage presence. Natalie Blackwell teaching drama and stage presentation, Shannon Erickson teaching dance movements and Kaelynn Winn leading the class in creative arts. There were many who helped with creative arts when the children made their masks and costumes.
Our helpers were Tineke Baantjer, Shawna Carroll, Lorie Rogers, Gina Sitterud, Michelle Beckstead, Ann Murdoch and Natalie Blackwell. Heidi VanWagoner, sterling scholar in visual arts and Shela Baantjer, sterling scholar in music were a big asset in helping with the camp.
Three of our 4-H youth leaders, B.J. Porter, Beverly Gilpin and Kirsten Thompson also were a great deal of help and an asset to the camp. We also wish to thank Principal Ralph Worthen and the special custodians for all their help in putting this camp on.
On the last day of the camp each child performed a monologue and did very well. They had photos taken of them in the masks and costumes they made. Christine Jensen, a member of the Arts Council, suggested that the children enter their masks and costumes in the county fair with the 4-H exhibits and arranged for the children to be able to do that.
So you will be able to see the masks and costumes they made at ‘Learning in The Arts Camp’ in the 4-H exhibit at the county fair where they will be judged and able to receive ribbons.
I want to thank everyone who participated in any way for a job well done. The Arts Council plans to have at least one theatre camp next summer and hopefully two. We plan to do a heritage arts camp as well.
We need a lot of help to put these on. We will need people who can teach dance, drama and creative art and will be committed to take the time to participate.
If you are a person with these abilities and would like to be involved, get in touch with Karen Truman, Emery County Arts Council at 435-384-2896.