Dr. Phillips Center Florida's Dana Brazil Receives Award for Outstanding Achievement in Education and Engagement

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts announced that Dana Brazil, director of education, is the recipient of the 2015 award for Outstanding Achievement in Education and Engagement by the Broadway League. While the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts opened its doors on November 6, 2014, Brazil began outreach programming a year in advance of the arts center opening. In February 2015, the School of Arts was re-named Dr. Phillips Center Florida Hospital School of Arts & Wellness, after a partnership between the Dr. Phillips Center and Florida Hospital was announced to explore the relationship between performing arts education and wellness.

The annual Broadway League Awards, honoring excellence and achievement for touring Broadway, recognize the contributions of those who have displayed exemplary service to the Broadway industry and are considered innovators of their craft. Brazil was cited for being instrumental in the successful launch of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts with her far-reaching education and engagement programs. Along with her pioneering related programming at the new venue, she continues teaching at the School of Arts & Wellness and is a leading force in Broadway League engagement activities and initiatives. Brazil will also direct the Theater Week production for OCA, a camp dedicated to serving individuals with special needs, which will be performed at the arts center.

Dr. Phillips Center Florida Hospital School of Arts & Wellness continues its award-winning programs with a summer season, including Take it From the Top Broadway workshop and a Jazz Music Intensive featuring eight working jazz artists.

"All of our summer programs are designed to stimulate body, mind and imagination for the artist," says Brazil. "We are particularly excited to have well-known jazz and Broadway professionals joining us to mentor our students here in Central Florida."

With scholarships available for the July 6 - 11 Jazz Music Intensive, students will have the opportunity to be mentored and to perform with a roster of nationally/internationally known jazz artists at the top of their field as faculty. The Jazz Intensive is a six-day session made up of big band rehearsal, combos, studio class, jazz history, listening and improvisation. The Jazz Music Intensive wraps up with three performances; a Thursday evening jazz faculty performance, a Friday evening student big band performance and a Saturday afternoon combo performance. Faculty includes: Rodney Whitaker - Bass; Rockelle Fortin - Jazz Scat and Improvisational Vocals; Etienne Charles - Trumpet; Xavier Davis - Piano, Michael Dease - Trombone; Sean Dobbins - Drums; Randy Napoleon - Guitar; Diego Rivera - Saxophone.

To be considered for a Jazz Intensive scholarship, please submit a video for acceptance to Dana Brazil, director of education at Dana@drphillipscenter.org. For more information visit drphillipscenter.org/education.

Each summer camp will have a showcase, all of which are free, general admission and open to the public (no reservations needed).

Take it From the Top, a professional Broadway camp has three sessions, June 15-19 (Ages 10-14), June 15-19 (Ages 14-19), and June 20-21 (Ages 19+). Spots are available for the June 20 - 21 session. Faculty includes: Founder Paul Canaan, currently performing in and dance captain for Tony-Award winning musical Kinky Boots; Gary Adler, pianist and composer, who wrote music and lyrics for Altar Boyz, for which he received two Drama Desk Award nominations; Tony-nominated Best Actress Laura Bell Bundy; Director and choreographer Carlos Encinias; Actor/Singer/Dancer/Choreographer Tyler Hanes; Three-time Daytime Emmy nominated actor Van Hansis; Casting director for Telsey + Company Rachel Hoffman.

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