Saturday, November 9, 2024

Kaleidoscope of Creativity

Creative and deep are a few words to describe Toledo School of the Arts’ Kaleidoscope 2014 presentation at the Valentine Theatre. This annual showcase, held May 15 and 16, featured myriad visual art forms that engaged the audience on many levels.

Something new this year was the school’s creative writing group, which prepared an original script presented on three screens narrated by the students and produced with Penta Career School’s help.

The unique and well-choreographed dance numbers impressed the crowd with urban-styled performances as well as numbers reminiscent of Isadora Duncan from a century ago.

TSA treasurer Kelley Allred watched the Saturday afternoon performance and found herself immersed along with the other audience members with the puppeteers. As the theater dimmed, students paraded silently down the aisles and in the balcony with luminous, hand-crafted jellyfish swinging gently on poles over the audience’s heads. The puppet parade was accompanied by the hypnotic music of student John Healy.

The orchestra featured a symphony-like performance with conductor Jay Welenc that commanded attention. Other music performances included a “Take Five”-flavored performance by the TSA jazz group, whose students put their heart and soul into the gig. Sophomore Kaiden Chase, guitarist for the group, stated that preparing for the showcase was easy. The native of Toledo added, “This is definitely where my heart is.”

Senior dancer Kayla Hampton, who has been a student at the TSA since the 6th grade, told the Toledo City Paper, “I like the mixture of the elegance of ballet and the grit of hip-hop.” Kayla will attend Loyola Marymount on scholarship starting this fall.

The performances touched all ages of the audience, including a dance to the music of the Patti Duke Show, a band performance of the Mommas and the Papas, and tan impressive monologue,  “I am a Professional Dishwasher” written and performed by Tyler Fowler.

An energetic steel drum performance lit up stage with the street flair of Jamaica as the rhythms got the crowd jamming with music from the islands.

Over 400 students performed Friday at Saturday at the downtown school’s theater to crowds numbering 2,200 for both days. David Saygers, artistic director said,  “You only see a small portion of the sea of people involved. Teachers and students work together. The logistics are huge, but it is a well-oiled machine.” Saygers, who has been involved with the Kaleidoscope program since its inception 15 years ago, added that the students are not hard to motivate as they take the project very seriously.

Creative and deep are a few words to describe Toledo School of the Arts’ Kaleidoscope 2014 presentation at the Valentine Theatre. This annual showcase, held May 15 and 16, featured myriad visual art forms that engaged the audience on many levels.

Something new this year was the school’s creative writing group, which prepared an original script presented on three screens narrated by the students and produced with Penta Career School’s help.

The unique and well-choreographed dance numbers impressed the crowd with urban-styled performances as well as numbers reminiscent of Isadora Duncan from a century ago.

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TSA treasurer Kelley Allred watched the Saturday afternoon performance and found herself immersed along with the other audience members with the puppeteers. As the theater dimmed, students paraded silently down the aisles and in the balcony with luminous, hand-crafted jellyfish swinging gently on poles over the audience’s heads. The puppet parade was accompanied by the hypnotic music of student John Healy.

The orchestra featured a symphony-like performance with conductor Jay Welenc that commanded attention. Other music performances included a “Take Five”-flavored performance by the TSA jazz group, whose students put their heart and soul into the gig. Sophomore Kaiden Chase, guitarist for the group, stated that preparing for the showcase was easy. The native of Toledo added, “This is definitely where my heart is.”

Senior dancer Kayla Hampton, who has been a student at the TSA since the 6th grade, told the Toledo City Paper, “I like the mixture of the elegance of ballet and the grit of hip-hop.” Kayla will attend Loyola Marymount on scholarship starting this fall.

The performances touched all ages of the audience, including a dance to the music of the Patti Duke Show, a band performance of the Mommas and the Papas, and tan impressive monologue,  “I am a Professional Dishwasher” written and performed by Tyler Fowler.

An energetic steel drum performance lit up stage with the street flair of Jamaica as the rhythms got the crowd jamming with music from the islands.

Over 400 students performed Friday at Saturday at the downtown school’s theater to crowds numbering 2,200 for both days. David Saygers, artistic director said,  “You only see a small portion of the sea of people involved. Teachers and students work together. The logistics are huge, but it is a well-oiled machine.” Saygers, who has been involved with the Kaleidoscope program since its inception 15 years ago, added that the students are not hard to motivate as they take the project very seriously.

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