Finding Individuality Through Performing Arts

Performing arts develops many aspects in a child. It helps children find their many talents and develop habits and traits that would greatly affect their future.

Singing, dancing, acting in theater or musical plays are some activities performing arts has to offer. Because it has a broader scope, the range of skills and space for development in every child is vast. Children open the doors to their better and more experienced selves as they evolve in performing arts since it plays an important role in cognitive, social, motor, emotional and language development.

In every performance, a child is given the chance to express him/herself while delivering something-- whether it be a song, a line or a dance. Children get to show what they are capable of and unconsciously develop self-esteem and confidence. With this, they are able to bring ideas to life while also connecting with their innate feelings and instincts.

With better self-esteem and confidence, kids perform with heart and passion that gives them the chance to stand out and identify themselves in a crowd. Because they gain better understanding of themselves as they participate in different activities, they develop a sense of individuality while being able to support their co-performers.

Activities in performing arts also test a child's individuality through improvisation. There are many opportunities for each child to show their unique approach to prospective circumstances or situations in life. Letting the kids experiment on this promotes their individuality and lets them celebrate human diversity with just the right amount of free play.

By allowing your children new experiences it helps them to prepare for the real world as they grow up. Performing arts involvement is just one of the many ways to assist your child's development and growth.

Enroll your child in a day camp which offers this opportunity, like Zodiac's Summer Day camps that offer Specialty Programs that focus on a child's area of specialization-- one of which is Performing Arts.

Zodiac's Specialty Program for campers 5.5 to 12.5 years is aimed for helping children find the art they are most comfortable with, and use their talents for their own benefit when they grow. Zodiac's Specialty Program will help your child hone his/her skills and find great people at the same time. Make the obvious choice, and choose the camp that is reputed for its good service and guidance. Choose Zodiac!

Different Kinds of Performing Arts Discipline

Performing arts is comprised of different fields that have the common factor and as the name suggests, it is all about performance or performing. All arts under this category produce something that cannot be touched, but can be seen and heard. Some of these arts are dance, music, opera, theater, mime or puppetry. Any kind of art that makes a performance its final product falls under Performing Arts.

Music is the art that involves production of tunes and songs. This form of art also falls under performing arts, since the artists perform their music to the audience. There are even musical plays that incorporate music and acting into one.

Dance is the art of graceful movements. Dance is used to express different emotions and represent different meanings and events. It has been associated with many social and cultural symbolism, and makes use of movement and choreography to deliver messages to the audience.

Theater, on the other hand, is a mixture of both disciplines, and many others. Theater involves music, dance or acting and drama to present an event or a story to the audience. Theater also involves stagecraft wherein performers do stage design. There are different types of theater: drama, musical theater, comedy, tragedy and improvisation. Performers portray scenes from known previous events in human history or present an enactment of situations written in books and famous stories.

Operas are always live performances in an opera house, and the story is sung throughout the performance by highly trained and expert classical singers and actors.

The scope of Performing Arts is still debatable especially in the modern times, since there are many performances rendered by different artists all over the world. Opening your child to the wonders of Performing Arts will show them different kinds of performances, as well as engaging them to learn and appreciate the kind of art presented by the actors, singers, dancers as performers. They may even aspire to be one, and who knows, maybe your child has the talent and skills that are yet to be nurtured for this field.

Zodiac Day Camp offers a specialty program for kids, which comprises of many specialization areas including Performing Arts. As a parent, we always want the best for our children, and we aim to support their growth and interests especially when they contribute to their well-being. Register your child with Zodiac and you can be rest assured that your child will have fun and learn a lot about the wondrous field of performing arts!

10 Things Your Child Can Learn from Drama Classes

Learning starts pretty early in a child's life. As a parent, you'd always want to help them grow in the best possible way and take every opportunity you can to support your children hone their skills, nurture their talents and at the same time, learn new ones.

There is so much the learning society has to offer to assist parents with this goal. There are camps and classes aimed for child growth and development and one of which is a drama class. There are many things your child can learn just by joining drama classes. Let us run you through some of them:

1.Dramas develop creativity.

Your children will learn and discover new ways to approach situations and people, which will broaden their comfort zone. They will find these instincts come naturally, which will help them with their performances in life in the future.

2. Through drama classes, children develop confidence.

Drama classes develop the child's self-esteem and in turn, build up their confidence. This helps them deliver a message convincingly, giving them a voice that is worthy of command and impeccable stage presence. Children are less likely to have stage fright when they grow older, and will be much more at peace with having an audience.

3. Drama improves language and communication.

Because of constant verbal activities, the children's phonics and the control of their voice will greatly improve. They learn how to express their ideas more efficiently and are less likely to struggle in the future.

4. Drama also improves focus and concentration.

Children will learn to pay attention to the lines, to the ways people act and talk, how emotions should be portrayed and many other things.

5. Drama encourages collaboration.

Most plays require children to act with other people, therefore presenting children into a group atmosphere. Through this, they learn how to collaborate with their fellow actors, therefore improving their social skills and help them become team players in the future.

6. Drama teaches the value of responsibility and accountability.

When children get exposed to working with other people, they learn that their decisions weigh something and can affect the people around them. They develop a sense of responsibility and will give their best to contribute to the success of their class.

7. Dramas can help children enhance their memory.

Some drama activities and plays may be spontaneous, but most of the time, plays require children to memorize their lines and deliver it like they mean it. Constant practice will give them better habits when it comes to studying and also give their brains sufficient amount of exercise to keep it stimulated.

8. Drama is one way children can learn through active play.

Think of all the costumes and wigs and all the props they make and wear for their little activities or even in actual performances. Children love to play and imagine a world filled with fun, and the amount of fantasy provided by drama will give them a good dose of imagination everyday.

9. Drama develops emotional intelligence in children.

Every single day of our lives, we act for various reasons. Because drama exposes children to enact certain character's emotions, they will learn how to recognize them and will be aware of these emotions and how they affect the people they meet in their everyday lives.

10. Drama classes may open doors to friendships.

Because children interact with one another everyday, eventually they will find their fellow classmates to be their friends and build relationships with other people.

There are so many values and skills that a child can learn from drama classes. Every parent should seize the opportunity to expose their child to this fun learning experience. Camps like Zodiac offer this opportunity for your children.

Zodiac has the Specialty Program dedicated for kids who want to specialize in certain fields and develop their skills along with other children. Come and let your child be part of the Zodiactors, and tread the journey of performing arts.

10 Reasons Why You Should Encourage Your Child to Dance

There are many ways to let your children explore their individuality. Some would show inclination towards certain activities at a certain age. There are some children who would show a liking for the culinary arts; others towards acting and performing. Some parents may even see their tots groove to certain music and exhibit moves that shows a dancer’s potential.

If your child has that impeccable groove when he or she moves, it is always good to encourage your child to develop their dancing skills. Why? Let us look at some reasons:

1. It helps build their stamina, motor skills and coordination. Dancing helps your child’s physical development most especially their strength and stamina.
2. It improves their sensory skills. Dancing enhances your child’s development through the different senses: their auditory skills when they need to harmonize their movements to the music, their spatial reasoning especially when they dance with a group, their hand-eye coordination and so much more.
3. It helps them express themselves. Dance helps children express themselves. Your child will exhibit moves to express their thoughts and feelings.
4. It gives them an outlet for stress. With the rigid assignments and school work, your child needs some outlet to relieve the stress and dancing can be an amazing outlet.
5. It allows them to find their individuality and at the same time work with a team. There are many benefits when one dances. Dancing helps one find the niche that can best express his or her soul through different dance genres (ballet, hip-hop, etc.) and at the same time, allow social interaction and teamwork through group performances.
6. It expands their horizon. When one learns the art of dancing, they get to learn different genres and different cultures where specific dance movements come from. This will allow them to appreciate how one dance differs from one another.
7. It greatly enhances their creativity. Dance, like other performing arts, helps one develop his or her creativity through different dance movements.
8. It teaches them discipline. Training for solo or group performances will instill discipline in your child. This can be a building block in his or her other undertaking in the future.
9. It enhances their focus and concentration. When training for a dance, your child’s focus and concentration are also enhanced.
10. It is a form of play. The beauty of dance is that it teaches your child all these life skills while exposing them to a not-so-rigid and formal environment.

Let your children dance their way to self-discovery. Here at Zodiac Camp, we help students move to their groove as they enjoy the full use of our bright and beautiful dance studio. We will help your child focus on rhythm, movements, fitness, music and imagination as we expose them to different dance styles. Don’t miss out on this amazing chance, call Zodiac today!

Discover Hidden Talents at Performing Arts Camp

Let your child discover hidden talents and develop existing ones at performing arts camp. They'll be able to learn new skills, make friends, and have fun. Here are a few reasons why you should consider performing arts camp.

Has your child ever expressed interest in performing arts? Whenever her favorite song comes on, does she perform? Does she have that intense look in her eyes when watching a play or a movie? Whether it's singing in a band, playing the drums, or acting in a musical, attending performing arts camp may be the perfect activity for him or her this summer. Performing arts camp offers many activities for kids to develop skills in a variety of areas like theatre, fine arts, music, dance, and even film production. If you think you've got a budding star, read on for the benefits of going to performing arts camp, it might just be what he/she's looking for:

• Build self-confidence. Studying performing arts is a great way for kids to come out of their shell and build their self-esteem. Through a range of exercises and workshops, kids can learn the basics of acting, singing, or playing the instrument of their choice. As they progress and get better, so will their confidence.

• Make friends. It's no secret that summer camp is where friendships are forged and relationships are cultivated. By working through exercises within a group or a pair, campers will be able to learn the value of collaboration and working through solutions by seeking the help of their peers. This, in turn, will improve their social skills and help them make new friends in the process.

• Learn new skills and interests. Even if your child isn't sure what he/she's interested in or what he/she wants to do, by simply introducing him/her to new activities like acting, singing, or playing music, you're allowing him/her to explore different avenues of creativity and thinking, which will help him/her develop a healthy sense of curiosity, and may even lead to him/her interests being piqued. Performing arts camp can help kids be more well-rounded individuals by exposing them to new ideas and crafts.

• Hone his/her talents. If your child's passionate about performing arts, this is the place for him/her. Not only will he/she be able to develop his/her talents but collaborate with like-minded individuals which encourages growth and inspires confidence. It's here where he'll/she'll get the support he/she needs from an ever- growing community of artists, musicians, and actors.

• Help with academic development ? At summer arts camp, kids will be reading through plays, which can help them advance their reading and comprehension skills as well as their writing skills. This prepares them for their return to class after the summer.