Approximately 60 St. Charles Parish Public Schools’ band students in grades 4-8 recently participated in a workshop led by a quartet from the Ellis Marsalis Orchestra under the direction of Derek Douget. On the same day, Satellite Center high school dance students learned from the Lula Elsy New Orleans Dance Theatre.
The two Nov. 5 experiences were part of a partnership series the school district calls an Artsperience, where acts scheduled for performances at the Lafon Performing Arts Center offer an educational class to district students.
“I will say that in my position of supporting and facilitation of these educational art experiences for students I and my team continue to challenge our own perspective to create an equitable as an experience as possible for all students,” District Coordinator of Gifted, Talented, and the Arts Joshua Martin said. “We continue to ask ourselves, ‘How do we maximize their school hours? How do we create experience that enrich their education during school hours?’ Part of that initiative is having these Artsperiences for students.”
Martin said the classes aim to give all students maximum exposure to arts experiences while closing the gap between students who may not be afforded the experiences after school hours and those who are. He added the Artsperiences are funded through Lafon Performing Arts Center ticket sales.
“A portion of all ticket dollars go towards these experiences,” Martin said. “If a patron buys a ticket they are gifting an experience.”
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