Education: Workshops for Grades K-5

Grades K-1: This special series of workshops is developed with our youngest performers in mind…Through singing, movement, games, and stories, these workshops nurture and encourage children’s love of play. The stories become adventures brought to life, interwoven with traditional songs, dances, and games. Each session stresses teamwork, cooperation, and mutual respect, while also encouraging individual expression.

Grades 2-3: In these workshops, students use their whole body, natural curiosity, and creativity to explore music, dance, and drama through traditions, songs, stories, and crafts according to the changing seasons. Emphasis is on encouraging use of the imagination while developing performance skills in a comfortable setting. Perfect for kids who like to play and explore all the arts.

Grades 4-5: Dragons, villains, jesters, and more…The workshops are action-packed and performance-based, where students continue to explore the theatre through traditional stories and plays. Students read and write scripts, create characters, and produce skits based on broadly played characters and outlandish or mythical situations. A riot of fun and imagination!

» Learn about registration and read our policies
» Meet our teaching artists

Winter 2012 Workshops

Grades K-1: Winter's Smallest Wonders with Teaching Artist Oran Sandel
Fridays, 4-5:30 pm, January 27 - March 23, 2012 (no class on March 2) » REGISTER NOW

Grades 2-3: Exploring Winter’s Creative Quilt with Teaching Artist Margo Brenner
Mondays, 4-5:30 pm, January 30 – March 26, 2012 (no class on February 20) » REGISTER NOW

Grades 4-5: American Trickster Tales with Teaching Artist Danny Pushkin
Thursdays, 4-5:30 pm, February 2 – March 22, 2012 » REGISTER NOW

Spring 2012 Workshops

Grades K-1: Spring's Little Explorers
Fridays, April 13 – June 8, 2012 (no class on May 18)

Grades 2-3: Spring Escapades & Inspirations
Mondays, April 16 – June 11, 2012 (no class on May 28)

Grades 4-5: Heroes, Villains, & More
Thursdays, April 12 - May 31, 2012

PAST WORKSHOPS

Fall 2011

Grades K-1: Autumn's Amazing Adventures with Teaching Artist Oran Sandel
Fridays, 4:00-5:15pm, September 16 - November 4, 2011 » REGISTRATION CLOSED

Grades 2-3: Fall Fun with Friends with Teaching Artist Margo Brenner
Mondays, 4:00-5:30pm, September 12 - November 7, 2011 (no class 10/31) » REGISTRATION CLOSED

Grades 4-5: Jest with the Best! with Teaching Artist Danny Pushkin
Thursdays, 4:00-5:30pm, September 22 - November 17, 2011 (no class 9/29) » REGISTRATION CLOSED

If you have questions about the workshops please call 301-587-3835.

TEACHING ARTISTS

Our workshop leaders are skilled in multiple performing arts disciplines, both as talented performers and as gifted teachers. Emphasis is placed on helping youth to actively engage in the creative process, to gain performing skills and confidence, and to develop a deeper understanding of cultural traditions – all while having fun!

MARGO BRENNER COLLINS
After assistant directing The Christmas Revels in 2006, Margo joined the Revels staff as education director and production manager from 2007-2010. She recently completed her Master’s in Education and has returned to the DC area. Margo has worked extensively in both production and education and is looking forward to this season of Revels workshops! 

EMMA JASTER
Emma is a performer and teaching artist who was raised from childhood in the Revels community. She started backstage, still in her mother’s arms, danced each year at the May Fair, sang in the teen chorus and finally returned to appear as Smeraldina alongside the wonderful Oran Sandel in last year’s Italian Christmas Revels. She has accumulated her training in theater and dance from cultures around the world, traveling as far as India and Taiwan to witness and participate in different ways to share a story. She has taught in Taiwan, New York and locally with the Round House Theater and Creative Adventures. Now she is delighted to share her passion for storytelling at home in the Revels community.

ALAN PEEL
A “Reveler” for years both on and off Revels stages and a known committer of morris for almost as long, Alan Peel is currently “Squire” for the Foggy Bottom Morris Men, a group of morris dancers which has entertained the Washington DC area public for over thirty years. The “Foggs,” as they are affectionately called, help maintain a longstanding English countryside tradition of dancing in the streets and at festivals, especially around seasonal changes. In keeping this tradition vibrant and alive, the Foggs visit local schools and also work with groups such as Washington Revels to demonstrate and teach the art of morris dancing to any age group. The sense of exuberance, energy and wild joy inherent in these dances speaks directly to the child in all of us, yet the form and skills are a beautiful way to develop teamwork and discipline. Whether it’s waving handkerchiefs, clashing sticks or locking swords, morris dancers love to share this folk art with anyone and everyone! Most recently, Alan has taught morris dancing for Washington Revels’ “Festival Day” celebrations and to the 9-12 year-olds for this past “May Revels.” In his spare time, Alan is a Lecturer in Physics and Astronomy at the University of Maryland, College Park.

DANNY PUSHKIN
A native Washingtonian and performer specializing in very physical theater, Pushkin is passionately engrossed in the study of ritual theater traditions and the cultural role of fools. Danny was last on stage with The Christmas Revels in 2010, as Parson Maybold in a production based on Thomas Hardy’s Under the Greenwood Tree. He is also an Associate Company Member of Synetic Theater, where he last performed in Antony & Cleopatra. In his other life Danny writes, directs, produces and performs in musicals and theater for young audiences. He is a Resident Artist at Adventure Theatre, where he recently appeared in Serge Seiden’s production of Charlotte’s Web. Danny is also a teaching artist in Washington Revels’ after-school workshops. Danny's puppet musical, Pascal’s Aquarium, was recently presented to critical acclaim at the Capital Fringe Festival.

ORAN SANDEL
While you may recognize Oran Sandel from many years on the Washington Revels stage, Oran has been a teaching artist in the Washington area for 34 years. 23 of those years were spent with Arena Stage’s Living Stage, working with underserved youth of the DC area. After Living Stage, he spent six years as a lead trainer with the Shakespeare Theatre’s Classics in the Classroom teacher training program. He has been trained in arts integration with the A+ Schools Program (Greensborough) and the Kennedy Center, and is fully versed in aligning lessons to the National Standards, as well as the Standards for many states. By integrating arts with curriculum, he enlivens the process for all students, helping them to retain information by increasing the relevancy of the curriculum to their lives. In the field of Early Childhood Education, Oran co-created, with Living Stage founder Robert Alexander, the Children First preschool teachers’ training. At present, he is a regular visiting play specialist at Amazing Life Games Preschool, a consultant with the Early Childhood division at Centronia, and a teaching artist with Adventure Theater.

JENNI SWANSON VOORHEES
Jenni has been onstage or backstage with the Washington Revels since 1984. She originated the children’s set in the May Revels and directed it for many years. She has directed the children in the Christmas Revels 16 times. Jenni is also a playwright and has written and produced over 30 plays with children. She has been teaching for 33 years and Morris dancing for 26 years.