Summer isn’t just for school vacation and games like baseball and softball.
Just ask Donna Tellier, the director and founder of J-DAPA – the Johnston Dance and Performing Arts – who continues to provide opportunities for children who like to sing and dance.
“The goal of J-DAPA is to promote a love and appreciation for the arts through involving performers of all ages throughout the Rhode Island community,” Tellier said. “We strive to raise funds in an effort to renovate the Johnston Senior High School auditorium. And please remember, you don’t have to live in Johnston to join.”
Yet another goal, Tellier emphasized, is “to better the lives of the individual members of J-DAPA as well as audience members through fostering an appreciation and education of the arts.”
One of the ways Tellier is helping youngster achieve those goals will come during the upcoming J-DAPA Summer Theater Camp for children ages six to 14, which will be held in two separate sessions during the next two weeks.
The first session, Tellier said, is scheduled for Tuesday, July 29 and Thursday, July 31 from 8 a.m. to noon. Session two will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 5 and Thursday Aug. 7 from 8 a.m. to noon. Both sessions – with a cost of either $60 per session or $100 for both – will be held in the Johnston High School cafeteria.
Classes will include how to audition for a play, drawing, acting, dance, makeup, voice, costuming and tech.
J-DAPA is also concluding summer dance classes for everyone from students entering grade seven to adults.
It has been a seven-week program that offers students everything from a combination of jazz, tap, acro, lyrical and hip hop classes as dancers prepare for what Tellier said will be “our annual cabaret performance this coming winter.”
Those classes will conclude on Aug. 12.
J-DAPA is also completing a unique four-week partnership with the new and colorful Cumberland Farms store and headquarters, which will result in the non-profit performing arts group receiving financial support for its ongoing effort to renovate Johnston High School’s auditorium.
“The program began on July 8 with Cumberland Farms’ grand opening,” Tellier noted. “From then until Aug. 5, J-DAPA will receive 10 cents for any dispensed drink sold.”
As an early “thank you,” Tellier brought some 50 J-DAPA performers to the new Cumberland Farms location at 2361 Hartford Ave. to entertain customers at the official grand opening.
“I decided it would be great to show our appreciation by asking some of our members to perform,” Tellier went on.
“And of course they were all very, very happy and excited to do so.”
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