Art center fun aimed at kids

Leaders in the local art world say the best time to be introduced to all things framed, staged and composed is far before you can even spell those things.

That's why the Yuma Art Center is rolling out a calendar full of artsy fun aimed at kids as young as fresh right from the womb.

Activities range from dance classes for tykes to pottery classes for youngsters and early teens.

"These activities are a way to to introduce kids to the arts and let them tap into their natural creativity," said Pam Dusek, arts program supervisor at the Yuma Art Center. "If you start when they are young the arts just become a natural tool in children's lives."

The youngest introductions will happen during sessions of Kindermusik, a music and movement program aimed at children from birth to age five. Kindermusik will be offered Sept. 1 through Dec. 20.

The remaining activities in this vein are aimed at kids ages three and up.

Somewhat similar to Kindermusik will be the class called Twinkle Toes, which will have kids learning dances that are choreographed to popular children's movie themes. The class will perform "The Nightmare before Christmas" on Nov. 11. This class is for ages 3 to 5 and begins Sept. 9. Classes will meet each Tuesday from 4 to 4:45 p.m. The cost is $32 or $21 with a city resident credit.

A new class is Mini Mud Mashers, a pottery class for ages 6 to 13. The first session begins Sept. 6, with Saturday classes running 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $68 or $45 with a city resident credit. Clay, glaze and firing fees are included.

"Oh, kids love this!" Dusek raved. "Kids love to play with mud and this class is a natural extension of that."

Past classes have made everything from napkin holders to clay whistles that really work.

But the Yuma Art Center's most popular classes seems to be its guitar classes. The center has even added a whole extra session of the classes, which range from beginning to intermediate.

Beginning guitar classes, which is for ages 8 and up, starts Sept. 3 with classes on Wednesday and Friday. A second session starts Sept. 4 and will meet each Thursday and Saturday. Both classes will run from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The cost is $41 or $27 with a city resident credit.

Intermediate guitar classes will start Sept. 3, with classes running from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. each Wednesday and Friday. The cost is $41 or $27 with a city resident credit.

Other music and performance classes include:

Get the Beat: Beginning Percussion Group Class

Description: This class will introduce beginning drum students to the basics of playing a snare drum in addition to the fundamentals of music theory.
Ages: 7-12
When: Session one begins Sept. 7 with classes running from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Cost: $60 per person, per month; payable to the instructor the first class of each month and $7 per month payable to the Yuma Art Center.

Mrs. Play’s Puppet Fun Workshop, fall art camp

Description: Exploring a variety of puppet styles, techniques of voice, movement, and imagination budding puppeteers will develop puppet characters and story telling skills. They will also create costumes, scenery, and props for a puppet play to be performed for parents and friends at 4 p.m. in the Art Center Central Gallery on Friday, October 17.
Ages: 8-13
When: Oct. 7-17, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday
Cost: Fee: $72 or $48 with city resident credit
Other dance-related classes include:

Dynamite Dancers

Description: Students will develop dance skills such as hip-hop, lyric, and jazz and perform dances choreographed to themes from popular children’s movies. Class will perform during the presentation of “The Nightmare before Christmas” on Friday, November 14.
Ages: 6-8
When: Classes begin Sept. 9 with classes running from 5 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday
Cost: $41 or $27 with city resident credit

Movin’ to the movies

Description: Students will have fun learning a mix of dance styles from modern, jazz, and hip-hop while preparing for public performances in the Historic Yuma Theatre on Friday, November 14 at 7 p.m. Previous dance instruction or special clothing is not necessary.
Ages: 6 to teen
When: Classes start Sept. 6 and are offered at various times. Call for more information.
Cost: $68 or $45 with city resident credit.