This school performance interprets the Virginia Science SOLs that relate to potential and kinetic energy, simple machines, gravity-equilibrium-inertia, and the states of matter through dance sequences. The presentation offers short movement demonstrations before each dance, which pull the audience into the dance-making process.
Request ProgramVisual and Performing Arts Programs
VMFA visual and performing arts programs are designed to stimulate greater community involvement in art education and to provide opportunities for individuals to work closely with noted professional artists. These artists have been selected for the merit of their work, their serious commitment to professional excellence, their teaching experience, and their communication skills. The wide variety of workshops allows the VMFA partner the flexibility to schedule programs that meet specific audience needs and satisfy different levels of skill and/or experience. See Booking Visual Arts Workshops and Performances for information about requesting a workshop or performance
Speaking Dancing: Creative Movement Workshop
This workshop explores the magic of words and movement. Participants observe, analyze, and interpret words and movement throughout the workshop. The workshop begins with movement, breathing, sound, and word exercises. Students develop expressive skills as they experience the creative potential of whole body movement. Upon completion of this workshop, participants have a dynamic structure that can be used to create their very own dance and performance pieces. Each workshop group provides their own specific interests. Groups may explore the themes of heritage, family icons or traditions, interpret text or script, or build an original group document, story, or dance.
Request ProgramSand in my Shoes
This performance is inspired by four Virginia locations: the high rises and crosswalks of urban Crystal City, the rural Piedmont area surrounding Charlottesville, the mountains near Luray, and the recreational Northern Neck. The dancing echoes each location. The journey encompasses the pedestrian missteps and moving walkways in Crystal City, the playful loyalty of a country dog, the Appalachian Trail with breathtaking moments of falling, and the summer fun of a beach party.
Request ProgramRidge Line
This performance, suitable for a school assembly, uses dance, photographs, personal letters, and original sound scores as a way to study, examine, and interpret the Civil War. Dances reference the clear-cutting of trees to construct the forts for the Defenses of Washington, Frank Wilkeson’s book Turned Inside Out: Recollections of a Private Soldier in the Army of the Potomac, and the civilian viewpoint documented by Marion Southwood in her description of some 20,000 people, mainly women and children, bidding their dear ones goodbye.
Request ProgramOrganic Beauty
Building on their signature style that intersects art forms and community, Jane Franklin Dance creates a site-specific work inspired by the organic beauty of Dale Chihuly’s glass sculptures. Audiences take part in a trans-formative event as they follow the dancers to experience performances in unexpected places. See Dale Chihuly’s glass sculptures through a unique lens and experience the power of taking a second look.
Request ProgramPinhole Photography
Photography was invented in 1839.In the beginning, there was a light-tight box, a lens, and a shutter to control light. The camera projected the image on a light-sensitive paper, which was then developed and made permanent through chemical processes. Students will view the first photographs as they look back at the history of photography and then discuss how photography has changed over the last century. Once students have an understanding of image making, the class will make rudimentary photographs using pinhole cameras (supplied) and review the materials needed to make pinhole cameras.
Request ProgramCut, Paste, Layer, and Mask: The Digital Photo Montage
Using digital photographs and Photoshop, students will alter images at the pixel level creating digital montages — or a blend of imagery created by cutting, pasting, layering, and masking digital content — inspired by artwork in the VMFA collection. The instructor will provide digital images during the workshop, but students are encouraged to bring their own digital photos on a jump drive. Students are required to have basic computer skills.
Request ProgramStorytelling with a Camera
A story is often told through photographs. Small groups of students will write fictional stories based on artwork from the museum collection and shown photography examples that take advantage of set construction, lighting, and documentary styles. Visually thinking about their stories, each group will decide how to convey the narratives using a camera. Establishing the subject, location, and character, the photography process begins. The final output will be a portfolio of photographs exhibiting the story either through digital or printed resources.
Request ProgramPhoto Illustration Using Collage
This workshop will illustrate an idea using various photographs. To start, students choose a word or phrase to be illustrated. Looking through a variety of photographic imagery, students will choose photographs to cut and paste to make a collage. Students will be asked to express their word or phrase with three to five different versions of their photo collages. If digital photography technology is available, cameras will also be used in the photo illustration process. The final output will be a portfolio of three to five photo collage illustrations.
Request ProgramThe Digital Portrait
Join photographer Glen McClure, whose projects have included A Random Portrait of Virginia and Faces at the Races, in a hands-on workshop on the digital portrait. Learn simple portrait techniques, including the use of natural light, electronic studio flash, proper backgrounds, and strategies to help your subjects relax in front of the camera. Weather permitting, we will work outside with natural light and create portraits of our classmates. At the end of the day, images are reviewed in one-on-one and group discussions.
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