Sleeping Beauty: Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona & Dance Theater West Present Storybook Ballet 2019

Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona (Free Arts) is celebrating its 18th year in collaboration with Dance Theatre West and the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts with the annual Storybook Ballet performance on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 3 p.m.  This year’s performance is Sleeping Beauty. Young children from local homeless shelters and foster care group homes will join the Dance Theatre West Storybook Ballet Company on stage.  This free dance performance is lighthearted, fun and perfect for the entire family.

The homeless shelter and foster care group home children will study for three weeks with Dance Theatre West to learn creative movement, choreography, teamwork and confidence in order to join the company on stage.

The event will be held at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, located at 7380 East 2nd Street, Scottsdale, AZ.  The exhibit gallery will open at 2:30 p.m., the dance performance at 3 p.m. and a community art activities will take place at 4 p.m.  Art activities will include viewing a mixed media exhibit entitled “Out of the Woods,” created by teens from a local residential treatment center and led by a Free Arts professional teaching artist.  This program is possible throughgenerous support from Scottsdale Arts, Scottsdale League for the Arts, The Bob &Renee Parsons Foundation, Thunderbird Charities, Arizona Lottery, and Scottsdale 20/30.

“Free Arts is thrilled to continue our partnership with Dance Theater West,” said Jessica Flowers, program director at Free Arts.  “For 18 years this program has allowed Free Arts children the opportunity to learn new artistic and life skills through dance and build their resilience by sharing those skills with a large audience on a professional stage.  I always love to see how their eyes light up as they walk out onto the stage at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts for the very first time.  It is like magic!”

The performance is free to attend, to reserve your spot on Sept. 28, please RSVP here:  https://www.freeartsaz.org/ events/storybookballet2019/

About Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona
Founded in 1993, Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona is a non-profit organization that uses the arts to build resilience in children who have experienced the trauma of abuse, neglect, or homelessness. Free Arts programs include creative elements that promote safety, self-expression and a sense of belonging. Free Arts programs are delivered by 900 volunteer mentors and artists who serve more than 8,000 children annually through partnerships with 43 social service child welfare agencies at 100+ sites across Maricopa County. For more information on Free Arts, visit: www.freeartsaz.org.

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