About Community Partnerships

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Community Partnerships programs include the following:

Partnership Schools Initiative Program
Artistic Development for Youth
Performance Attendance Opportunities
Summer Projects

The Community Partnerships program is an initiative of the Kennedy Center's Education Department to provide culturally diverse youth in the local Washington area access to high quality arts education activities, performances and training. Community Partnerships' mission is to create partnerships among artists, cultural institutions, school districts, local governments, and the general community resulting in high quality artistic and educational events. These processes are documented and shared with other local communities across the country as a model for replication.

Partnership Schools Initiative Program

DC Public and Charter Schools Partnership Initiative Program Partnership Schools
This summer 40 DC students, grades 5-8 during the 2007-2008 academic school year, will be selected to participate in a 4 week program (July 14 - August 8, 2008) led by national theater professionals that will include standards-based classroom instruction in set design, costuming, acting, singing, and dancing. The program will culminate with a series of community-based performances. Auditions will be held Saturday, April 26, 2008 at the Kennedy Center, and will be open to any student currently enrolled in a DC Public or Charter School in grades 5-8. On-site registration will be available at 12:00 noon.

The Duke Ellington School Partnership
Supports arts and academic curriculum at The Duke Ellington School of the Arts, a District of Columbia high school that offers pre-professional arts training and college preparatory academic instruction. Program offerings including faculty professional development, lecture/demonstrations, master classes, artist residencies, and attendance at Kennedy Center performances. Visit the Duke Ellington School of the Arts web site at http://www.ellingtonschool.org/.

Artistic Development for Youth

Dance Theatre of Harlem Pre-Professional Residency
The Dance Theatre of Harlem Residency is celebrating its 14th year at the Kennedy Center. The 18-week class series features instructors from the Dance Theatre of Harlem and runs from late October 2006 through March 2007. The 2006-2007 Residency will conclude on March 18, 2007 in a master class with Mr. Arthur Mitchell, artistic director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem and a performance by this year’s students. The two- hour culminating event will begin at 3:00 PM in the Concert Hall and will be open to the public. Free tickets may be obtained as available by calling (202) 416-8839 or (202) 416-8803.

Ballet students who wish to apply for the 2007-2008 season of the DTH Residency should fill out an application (available in August 2007) to audition for the program. Auditions will be held in late September and the 20-week Residency will begin in November. The purpose of this residency is to provide long-term training to students from diverse backgrounds who demonstrate an affinity for classical ballet training. Students who audition and are selected are trained by instructors from the acclaimed Dance Theatre of Harlem in a series of classes using the principles of classical ballet as practiced by the Dance Theatre of Harlem to be held at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and the Kennedy Center.

If you would like an application, please open the PDFs below:

If you would like to request an application, please mail your contact information to:

The Kennedy Center
Attn: DTH Residency
Education Department
PO Box 101510
Arlington, VA 22210

Pride, discipline, endurance, and self-assurance is what I have received from this program. I am proud to be an African-American dancer that is seriously studying her art with the teachers of the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
--DTH Residency Participant

It helps me jump much higher!
--DTH Residency Participant

Performance Attendance Opportunities

Community Outreach Tickets
Provides complimentary tickets to qualifying community service organizations that serve youth who would otherwise be unable to attend performances at the Kennedy Center. Application for Community Outreach tickets.

America's Promise
Spearheaded by the Kennedy Center Community and Friends Board, the America's Promise "Get on the Bus" scholarship program is a commitment to support Title I schools that are within a 50 mile radius of the Kennedy Center. Application for America’s Promise.

Summer Projects

Musicals in the Schools
This summer 40 DC students, grades 5-8 during the 2007-2008 academic school year, will be selected to participate in a 4 week program (July 14 - August 8, 2008) led by national theater professionals that will include standards-based classroom instruction in set design, costuming, acting, singing, and dancing. The program will culminate with a series of community-based performances. Auditions will be held Saturday, April 26, 2008 at the Kennedy Center, and will be open to any student currently enrolled in a DC Public or Charter School in grades 5-8.
More information (pdf download)

For more information about these programs, email or call the Program Manager at (202) 416-8800.