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Risk-taking is a learnable skill for students in MADE Program (7 photos)

Students who are part of this urban arts project are putting on a performance of SHREW for the next two nights

Not many students can say that yoga, graffiti art, and vocal classes are part of their course curriculum.

 

Unless of course, you’re a student in Guelph’s ultra-hip MADE (Music. Art. Drama. English) Program.

 

The urban arts project was founded three years ago by Ms. Kelly McCullough and Mr. Jeff Bersche. Both teachers have a background teaching English and Drama, and are also involved in the arts and music scene within the city.

 

The program brings students from all over Guelph to one central location, for a full semester of artistic immersion.

 

“The students are in the Youth Music Centre all day. Jeff and I share the teaching, and they get four credits,” explained McCullough.

 

The Guelph Youth Music Centre is located on Cardigan Street, in Downtown Guelph. The facility hosts a variety of programs and resident groups, all with a focus on educating and empowering youth in music and the arts.

 

Students from high schools throughout Guelph spend a full semester at the centre, earning four credits in Grade 11 English, Non-Traditional Music, Non-Traditional Visual Arts, and Dramatic Arts, said McCullough.

 

The program requires a full semester commitment, and upon completion the students return to their high schools and typical course loads.

“Most of the work that we do is integrated programming. A lot of it we try to do through authentic learning opportunities,” said McCullough.

One of the opportunities the students are currently working on is a class production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare.

The show, titled SHREW, is an urban and feminist interpretation of the classic play. The show includes live contemporary songs, powerful drumming, energetic dancing, and even a few very realistic combat scenes.

“There’s a group of kids that are catering it, there’ll all acting in it, they do all the singing and music, and the poster making,” said McCullough.

She explained that the students are involved in every aspect of the production, and will receive a grade for both the creative process and the show.

Elisha Yabut is a Grade 11 student who is currently enrolled in the MADE Program. She is singing, dancing, and acting in SHREW, and has found the program has helped her develop skills she didn’t know that she had.

“I’ve learned just because you don’t have a background in something doesn’t mean you can’t do it,” said Yabut. She has been most surprised by her musical talent, something she had never explored before.

Through the program she has been exposed to many different types of musical experiences from bucket drumming to playing the ukelele, and even professional vocal lessons.

McCullough said that risk-taking is a big skill that the students learn in the Urban Arts Program.

“We try so many different things, we do dance, we do drumming, we do singing, we do stage combat - and not all of those pieces are for everybody. But they’re just trying, and being open to trying whatever is presented,” she said.

McCullough said that she’s proud of the students and how far they have come in trying new things, gaining new skills, but perhaps most importantly, gaining confidence and new resilience that they can take back to their traditional schools.

To learn more about the Urban Arts Program visit their website.

SHREW is being presented Wednesday, June 8 and Thursday June 9 at 7:00 PM.

 

Doors open at 6:30pm, at the Guelph Youth Music Centre.

 

Tickets are available for $5 at the door.

 


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Brianna Bell

About the Author: Brianna Bell

Brianna Bell is a Guelph-based writer who focuses on events, small businesses, and community stories. In addition to GuelphToday, she has written for The Guelph Mercury and The Globe & Mail.
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