New Victory Theater Launches Online Arts Curriculum for Students
Natalie Rine
One of the joys New Victory Theater brings to the New York theater community is their signature dichotomy of presenting theater that is both international and intimate. During this time of physical isolation, New Victory Theater is continuing their dedication to sharing the performing arts in a fun, accessible way by inspiring families to learn performing arts skills from the comfort of their own home through an initiative called New Victory Arts Break.
A free online series released over the course of the last month, each week explores a particular art form and invites kids and parents to incorporate the arts into their homeschool learning through a series of videos and instructions. Not sure how to break up the monotony and impracticality of keeping your kids busy all day without the structure of school and extracurriculars to keep them engaged while you’re also juggling work, stress, and the never-ending news cycle of a shifting global paradigm? Trust New Victory to infuse some innovative and accessible arts activities you and your family can do together, as even you will want to jump up from your endless laptop-staring existential dread to join in the fun.
The New Victory Arts Break videos feature the talented and imaginative New Victory Teaching Artists leading playful, informative, and energetic demonstrations ranging from juggling to songwriting to voguing and everything in between. This is commendably a part of the theater's effort to keep NYC artists employed.
With a season of more than a dozen shows from around the world, New Victory was one of the first cultural institutions to cancel upcoming productions as a result of COVID-19, but the theater quickly galvanized around New Victory Arts Break as a digital extension of the theater's robust arts education offerings, which include free arts curriculum online and in the venue's lobbies for every show in the season.
While the following videos have been released over the last month, families at home can access all the materials and tutorials online at newvictory.org and YouTube, either following along chronologically or playing along a la carte. Since launching online on March 16, the video series has received over 150k total views. The enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication of New Victory Theater to bridging audiences of all ages to accessible global arts prevails even from the living room.
Week 1: Percussion Week Viewers explore different forms of percussion including body percussion, rhythm and music skills, beatboxing, stepping, and making instruments out of everyday objects. The series' first video tutorial garnered 20,000 views and counting.
Week 2: Just Move! Week Viewers are prompted to follow along with some stretching before they dive into dance-centric activities that will make them move. You can make a dance inspired by your name and create choreography with family.
Week 3: Puppetry Week Create your very own puppet with household items and put on a show this week! Imagine the world your show would live in - how does your character move, who else is in this world? Work together to put on a puppet show written and produced by you.
Week 4: Something Magical Week There is a magician in all of us. Take the magician's code and start your journey into your new magic profession with everyday household items. Amaze your family! Video chat and impress your friends! When this week is done, you'll have your persona, and a few acts up your sleeve to show off.
Week 5: Juggling Week Don't have juggling balls you say? No problem! We can teach you some basic juggling skills with things you have around your home. Get your skills down and by the end of the week you can perform as your very own juggling acts in a circus.