I heard that Asante Children’s Theatre has a program for younger kids, tell me about it?
"Prep4Life" is our introduction to performance art for 6 to 12 year olds.
How did it begin? In 2002, it started as a transportable drama camp which familiarized the world of performance art to 6 to 12 year olds in a summer camp setting. Since that time, in 2004, in 2006 and in 2010 we successfully offered it during the school year. Prep4Life introduces the basics of storytelling, acting, poetry, physical movement and singing.
According to the Child Development Institute, "Self-esteem is a major key to success in life. The development of a positive self-concept or healthy self-esteem is extremely important to the happiness and success of children and teenagers." At the Asante Children’s Theatre, we employ "age - appropriate page to stage" techniques, storytelling, spoken word/poetry, acting, physical movement and writing in journals to accomplish our goal of helping each child achieve their personal best.
When are the meetings? Prep4Life is offered 4 times annually: The Fall Session is from September to December, the Winter Session is from January to March, the Spring Session is from April to June and the Summer* Session is from June to August. Prepsters receive about 26 hours of skill development workshops by meeting on Saturday mornings from 10am to Noon. Additional weekdays are added as they near their community showcase. Each session ends with a community showcase and cast party.
What does it cost?Tuition fees for Prep are $100 for each session except summer*. Fees for the summer session are handled separately. For more information, email: P4L@asantechildrenstheatre.org
How do I get my child in this program?Prep 4Life is open to all youth regardless of race, creed or religious affiliation. No audition is necessary. To register for the next session of Prep4Life just email: P4L@asantechildrenstheatre.org.
What can I expect if my child participates in this program? Most Prepsters discover the value in performing arts when they realize their artistic skills in the areas of storytelling, acting, poetry, writing, singing, and physical movement to music. They typically demonstrate greater self-confidence, greater self-reliance, improved verbal skills, self-respect and respect for others through ensemble building and teamwork toward a common goal. Because of the movement coordination activity, they also learn the benefits of healthy food choices and daily physical movement.
*The Summer Session of Prep4Life is offered at various summer camp sites around Indianapolis.
