NY Artists Unlimited Announces Series of Workshops

 With a generous Sm(ART)s:  Seniors Meet the Arts grant from the NYC Department for the Aging, City Council, and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NY Artists Unlimited is proud to partner with the Arturo Schomburg Senior Center, 1315 Franklin Avenue in the Bronx, to present a series of workshops from now until the end of June '08.  The lineup includes workshops in dance, improvisation, theatre games, poetry, and more.  Artist-teachers are renowned show business personalities, such as actor-singer Richard Pryor Jr. and Francis J. Roach of Luigi's Jazz Centre.   These workshops not only give seniors a window into artistic techniques, they also stimulate the senses for "real life."

On Saturday, May 3, at 1:30 PM, published poet & teacher Cynthia Nibbelink Worley holds a Seniors Poetry Workshop as part of the Body, Mind, & Spirit Health Fair at the center.  Ms. Worley, who holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop and has extensive experience teaching in high schools and universities, shares her own writing.  In addition, she will read and discuss works by other poets.  Participants are invited to share their thoughts about poetry and the therapeutic nature of writing.  All will be encouraged to write and share their own poetry.
           

On Tuesday, May 6, at 1:30 PM, Anita Brown, Artistic Director of Shooting Star Theatre/Montauk Theatre Prods., and Court Sweeting, AHRC Workshop Leader/Program Director, lead a Dramatics for Seniors Workshop.  Brown and Sweeting invite seniors to participate in theatre games, creating characters, and other exercises designed to stimulate imagination and encourage creativity.
           

On Wednesday, May 14, at 10:45 AM, Francis J. Roach, protégé of jazz legend Luigi, conducts a Broadway/Jazz Dance Workshop, including warm-up exercises and simple choreography, scaled to the level of participants.  Students are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and shoes.  Mr. Roach teaches Luigi Technique around the world and just returned from Munich, Germany.  Students of Luigi Technique include dance & choreography greats Liza Minnelli, Twyla Tharp, Ben Vereen, Susan Stroman, Bob Fosse and many, many more.  Luigi, who is now 82 and still teaches daily classes, will be Grand Marshall in NY's Dance Parade on May 17.
           

Upcoming workshops include:  Improvisation, Sense Memory, Prose Writing, Theatre "Tag," and more with actor-singer-teachers:  Richard Pryor, Jr., Kenny Wade Marshall, Erin Hadley, and Jen Ponton.  All workshops are FREE OF CHARGE.
 
For a schedule and further information:  NY Artists Unlimited - 212-242-6036, fax:  212-989-8864, email:  Nyartunltd@aol.com, www.NYartists.org.
 
NY Artists Unlimited is a 25 year old, nonprofit multicultural company that takes professional theatre to under-served audiences throughout NYC and the Northeast.  The focus is on original works that evoke dignity of the individual and sanctity of the human spirit.  An audience of approximately 30,000 is reached annually in libraries, recreation centers, universities, schools, nursing homes, senior centers, and the like.  They are supported in part by:  NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, A.R.T./New York, Puffin Foundation, corporate and individual donors.  Artistic Director Melba LaRose is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World, Who's Who of American Women, and Who's Who in Executives & Professionals.