Usdan Center for the Performing Arts to Hold Creative Play Aftercare

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts (www.usdan.com), the nationally acclaimed summer arts day camp that for almost 50 years has introduced the arts to more than 60,000 children, announces its new Aftercare Program, to further accommodate the needs of families. Open to all students, the program extends from 3:05 PM to 6 PM on every Usdan day, and parents may pick up their children any time from 3:45 PM on. There is no extra charge for this service.

"The New Usdan," with many new programs, is also accommodating the needs of families by adding an additional session of its popular three-week season. The added session will begin on June 29. The second three-week season will start on July 27. This will give families an even wider range of sessions to choose from: three, four and seven weeks.

New Dance programs include Hip hop (for grades 4-12, intermediate level), Beginning Combination Dance (grades 4-12, incorporating jazz, lyrical, theater and modern dance styles), and Lyrical Dance (grades 4-12, combining ballet and jazz). The Art Department will offer classes in Sewing and Fashion Design, beginner and advanced, where students can both design and create their clothes, Architecture Design (grades 7-12, building design principles, drawing and model-making), and Lego Design (grades 2-12), a program that uses Legos to create works of art and building design. In Recreation, new courses include Yoga, Archery and Quidditch (the non-Wizard version), all for grades 2-12. In addition, for students age 15 and up there will be a course in Lifeguarding, one leading to American Red Cross certification (proof of advanced swimming ability is required, plus a supplemental fee).

and 4-week sessions.

The next Open House for the Center's 48th season, which begins Monday June 29, 2015, will be held on Sunday December 14 from 11 AM to 2 PM at the Center's magnificent 200-acre woodland campus, 185 Colonial Springs Road, Wheatley Heights, NY 11798.

In addition to the Center's frequent Open House dates, Usdan offers individual weekend guided tours available by appointment. Weekday self-guided walks are also available. For directions to the Center, visit www.usdan.com. For an appointment, call 631-643-7900 (Visitors must be 21 years of age or accompanied by a parent). Families who cannot attend an Open House may make individual appointments for visits on weekends or weekdays throughout the Fall and Winter.

Usdan Center offers more than 40 programs in music, dance, theater, visual arts, creative writing, nature and ecology and chess, annually hosting more than 1,600 students from towns throughout the Tri-State New York area. No audition is needed for most courses, and transportation is provided in air- conditioned buses that depart from most New York- area neighborhoods. One- third of Usdan's students receive scholarship assistance based on family need. Video from many of Usdan's programs and special events, may now be viewed on the Center's website, http://www.usdan.com as well as on YouTube. Also, families can check out Usdan's Facebook site, where additional information and late-breaking news is featured.

Future Open Houses during 2014-15 will be on Sundays January 25, March 15, April 19, and May 17; and on Wednesday February 18, all from 11 AM to 2 PM.

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts includes among its alumni actors Natalie Portman and Olivia Thirlby and singers Jane Monheit and Mariah Carey. The Center is open to all young people from age 6 to 18. Although the mission of the Center is for every child to establish a relationship with the arts, the unique stimulation of the Center has caused many to go on to arts careers. Alumni include members of Broadway shows and major music, theater, and dance ensembles such as the Boston Pops and the New York City Ballet. In addition to its regular programs, Usdan offers special opportunities for advanced high school- age performing and visual artists. These include Music Staff Internships and a Musical Rep Theatre Ensemble. Usdan Center is an agency of the UJA-Federation of New York. Usdan Center also recently co-presented the sold-out "Jimmy Webb and Jane Monheit" concert at Port Washington's Landmark on Main Street.