Educational Outreach

Over the last five years, the Buckman Performing and Fine Arts Center has offered thirteen educational outreach efforts to more than 12,000 Memphis area children, who witnessed unique performances they might never have seen otherwise. We endeavor to increase our outreach activities each year, to share these internationally acclaimed artists with as many students in the community as possible. All efforts are open to the public at little to no fee. Please call (901) 537 1486 to confirm all dates, times and events.

2007-2008

Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan – October 5, 2007

The Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan will offer a Master Class at Rhodes College open to the public prior to the Saturday evening public performance. Sponsored by the Center for Outreach and Development of the Arts

Huber Marionettes – November 30, 2007

The Huber Marionettes will offer a Children’s Performance open to Memphis School Students and area youths at the Buckman Performing Arts Center prior to the evening performance and sponsored by Drs. Grace and Eldon Geisert

AlexCuba Band – January 18, 2008

AlexCuba offers a Lecture/Demonstration open to the public prior to the Saturday evening performance.

Dayton Contemporary Dance Co. – February 7-8, 2008

  • Dayton Contemporary Dance Company offers a free Master Class on the Buckman Main Stage for serious dance students on Thursday, February 7.
  • On Friday, February 8, DCDC offers a school performance at Buckman open to area youths and Memphis School Students.
  • Both events are sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Southern Arts Federation

Essential Martha Graham Dance – February 27-29, 2008

  • A free screening of Martha Graham: An American Original will be open to the public at the Buckman on Wednesday, February 27.
  • On Thursday, February 28, the Martha Graham Dance Company will offer a free Master Class at the University of Memphis DanceSpace, CFA Room 124 for serious dance students.
  • On Friday, February 29 at the Buckman, the Martha Graham Dance Company will offer a school performance for Memphis School Students and area youths.
  • All Essential Graham events are made sponosored by the First Tennessee Bravo Award and the Tennessee Arts Commission.

2006-2007

Jose Limon Dance Company – September 21-22, 2006

In addition to two public performances (one sold-out), there were several outreach activities in the community:

  • A lec/dem, featuring a Jose Limon dancer with 3 serious dance students from New Ballet Ensemble, attended by 400 people at the Annual Cooper Young Festival
  • Two Master Classes for intermediate and advanced New Ballet Ensemble students
  • A Master Class at University of Memphis attended by 105 dancers from all over the state of Tennessee
  • A lec/dem performance for 300 school children of all ages at the Buckman
  • The Jose Limon Dance Residency was made possible by First Tennessee’s Bravo Award

Lura – December 3-4, 2006

In addition to a public performance, there was the following education outreach activity:

  • With the support of a Greater Memphis Arts Council Arts Builds Community grant, Lura made a visit to Stax Music Academy to offer a lecture and demonstration for the music students of the charter school.

Andrea Holmes Lugar (Mixed Media Artist) – January 8-February 9, 2007

  • As the 2007 Louise T. Archer Artist-in-Residence at St. Mary’s Episcopal School, Ms. Lugar taught master classes to St. Mary’s students in Upper and Middle Schools with a focus on Eighth Grade ENSEMBLE fine arts classes.

Luna Dance Theater – February 9-10, 2007

In addition to two public performances, there was the following outreach:

  • A lec/dem for 300 school children at Buckman
  • A lec/dem for 800 school children at Snowden Elementary/Middle School
  • A master class TBA

Hubbard Street II Dance Company – March 30-31, 2007

In addition to two public performances, there was the following outreach:

  • A lec/dem for 300 school children at the Buckman
  • A master class TBA

 

2005-2006

Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company – October 28-29, 2005

In addition to two well-attended performances, there was:

  • A lec/dem performance “Dragon Tales” for 300 inner-city Memphis City School children in elementary and middle schools at the Buckman.

Alonzo King Line’s Ballet – coming up February 10-11, 2006

In addition to two public performances, there will be outreach:

A lec/dem performance (which has already sold-out) for 300 school children of all ages at the Buckman and a master class for 40 serious dance students at the U of M.

2004-2005

Maximum Dance Company – October 21-24, 2004

In addition to two well-attended public performances, with one sold out, there was a four-day residency:

  • A sold out lec/dem performance of “Ballet Today” for 300 school children of all ages, mostly inner-city Memphis City School children, at the Buckman.
  • A Three Day Dance Intensive at the U of M for 40 serious ballet students from 4 different ballet schools across the city (Ballet Memphis, Classical Ballet Memphis, New Ballet Ensemble, Memphis Jewish Community Center Dance Program).

Taylor 2 Dance Company – March 3-5, 2005

In addition to two well-attended public performances, one sold-out, there was extensive outreach:

  • During their Louise T. Archer Artists-in-Residency at St. Mary’s Episcopal School, they performed a lec/dem for St. Mary’s students and taught master classes to St. Mary’s students in Eighth Grade ENSEMBLE and 11 th grade.
  • A sold out lec/dem performance for 300 school children of all ages, mostly inner-city Memphis City School children at the Buckman.
  • An open master class at the Buckman, attended by 40 serious dance students in the community.

Ron K. Brown/Evidence – March 30-April 3, 2005

In addition to two well-attended dance performances, there was a five-day residency:

  • 1 lec/dem performance at Arts Magnet school for inner city children, Colonial Middle School, attended by 100 students in the fine arts program.
  • 1 lec/dem at U of M for 60 of its students and faculty.
  • 3-Day Dance Intensive at Colonial Middle School for its 60 dance students.
  • 3-Day Dance Intensive at University of Memphis for 50 of its theatre and dance students.
  • Master class for Watoto De Afrika, an African-American youth theatre company, comprised mostly of at-risk inner-city youth.

2003-2004

Noche Flamenca –October 18-19, 2003

In addition to two sold out public performances at the Buckman, there was extensive outreach:

  • Over 3000 school children attended performances in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month.
  • 2 lec/dem performances for school children of all ages were at U of M’s Rose Theatre, which seats 900 children, mostly attended by inner-city Memphis City School as well as Shelby County School children. St. Mary’s eighth graders attended as enrichment to their fine arts ENSEMBLE class.
  • 1 performance at Treadwell Elementary for 1200 inner-city elementary school children.
  • Master class at U of M for 15 serious dance students in the community.

Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble – February 12-14, 2004

In addition to two well attended public performances, one sold-out:

  • A lec/dem performance at U of M Rose Theatre that was attended by 800 school children, mostly inner-city Memphis City School children.
  • A master class for Watoto De Afrika, an African-American youth theatre company, comprised of over 100 mostly at-risk, inner-city school children.

Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago – April 14-17, 2004

In addition to two well-attended public performances, there was extensive outreach that included a four-day residency at the Buckman. The residency included:

  • A sold out lec/dem performance of “Jazz Dance Beat…Then and Now” for 300 school children of all ages, mostly inner-city, at the Buckman Fine Arts Center, also attended by St. Mary’s eighth grade ENSEMBLE Class.
  • Master classes for St. Mary’s eighth grade ENSEMBLE class.
  • 2 master classes at the Buckman Fine Arts Center for 80 serious dance students in the Memphis community.