California School of the Arts-SGV Students to Perform at Preview Party for ENCHANTED: FOREST OF LIGHT

California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV), an innovative public charter school providing premier arts and academic education for students in grades seven through 12, offers an unmatched performance opportunity for students through a partnership with Descanso Gardens.

On Saturday, Nov. 18, CSArts-SGV students dazzle VIP guests with music, dance and visual arts showcases during the Preview Party for the popular "Enchanted: Forest of Light." Student artists perform throughout the beloved nighttime light show, which features a one-mile walkway of awe-inspiring light displays and beautiful colored lights projected on the plants and trees throughout the gardens.

The CSArts-SGV partnership with Descanso Gardens, a 160-acre botanical garden of historical significance in La Cañada Flintridge, brings together two San Gabriel Valley organizations dedicated to enhancing the community through arts and culture. As Dean of Arts Abbe Levine explains: "Descanso Gardens is an important cultural destination in the San Gabriel Valley, already boasting a beautiful art gallery and inventive programming throughout the year. We at CSArts-SGV are thrilled to set the stage this November for a future of joint, community-minded arts programming that will enrich both institutions for years to come."

"We are excited to showcase the young performers of California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley," says Juliann Rooke, executive director of Descanso Gardens. "We know they will bring an added element of magic to Enchanted."

The debut performance at Descanso Gardens' "Enchanted: Forest of Light" offers the CSArts-SGV student artists the opportunity to gain real-world performing experience, as well as learn from industry professionals. Under the Oaks Stage is a performance by FUSION, the school's high-energy performing ambassadors, who preview "Magic to Do" from their upcoming all-school musical, "Pippin," along with other song-and-dance numbers.

Additional performances taking place throughout the unique lighting experiences include:

- A jazz combo at the Center Circle

- A percussion ensemble at the Flower Power exhibit

- The Vocal Arts Madrigal at the Starlight Garden

- Forest Dancers in the Symphony of Oaks

- A solo cellist at Fantasy Forest

Production & Design Conservatory students help manage the performances. In addition, artwork from more than 50 Visual Arts Conservatory students will be on display throughout the run of the exhibit, which ends Jan. 7, 2018.

"At CSArts-SGV we pride ourselves in giving our students fundamental training in the arts as well as pre-professional opportunities that allow them a glimpse into what it looks like to be a professional in their field," says Levine. "This event is a perfect opportunity for our students to not only showcase their art, but to also learn about the hard work that goes into making an amazing event like this possible. This sort of professional learning is essential to their growth as responsible artists."

The Descanso Gardens "Enchanted: Forest of Light" Preview Party takes place Nov. 18 from 6-10 p.m. Tickets are $125 and include food and drinks. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit enchantedLA.com.

California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) provides a creative, challenging and nurturing environment that offers bright and talented students unparalleled preparation for higher education and a profession in the arts. CSArts-SGV is modeled after the award-winning arts and academic programs of Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), one of the premier art schools in the country.

The public charter school opened on Aug. 14, 2017 in a unique public-private partnership with the Duarte Unified School District, and is a tuition-free, donation-dependent program. For the 2017-2018 school year, CSArts-SGV serves more than 700 students in grades seven through 11. Next year the school will expand to include grade 12. Approximately 66 percent of enrolled students reside in San Gabriel Valley, with others traveling from Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, among other locations.

CSArts-SGV students study in one of the 10 arts conservatories offered including acting, classical & contemporary dance, commercial dance, creative writing, instrumental music, integrated arts, musical theatre, production & design, visual arts and vocal arts. Students receive opportunities to participate in master classes, guest artist presentations, field trips and performances, as well as a variety of campus clubs and activities. Small student/teacher ratios in academic and arts classes allow for personalized attention to students.

The public charter school was established in 2016 by the California School of the Arts Foundation, a nonprofit organization established to operate a network of high-achieving, comprehensive public arts charter schools, modeled after the nationally recognized Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA). CSArts-SGV is located at1401 Highland Avenue, Duarte, Calif. For more information, visit sgv.csarts.net.

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