“Human beings need to move, they need to sing, they need to create – these are the things that maintain our humanity, and this is needed more than ever in times of crisis.”
Fundamental to the Espinosa Method of education and ingrained in our philosophy is the belief that the Arts are essential to our students’ overall education and well-being. Exposing our students to the wide spectrum of the visual and performing arts and being able to provide them the opportunity to learn from professionals trained within the finest arts’ conservatories in the world has always been key to our methodology.
Due to COVID-19 all students will have the option to take their Conservatory classes in dance, music, and theatre online during the 2020-2021 school year.
During a time when physical distancing and hiding facial expressions behind a mask are the temporary normal, we all strive for communication and connection through expression with our movements, gestures, music, and our mutual understanding of artistic elements that humans have yearned for since the beginning of time—thus an education in the Arts is as valuable as ever.
Whether online or in-person, CEC continues to provide an individualized, rigorous arts program that allows our students to continue to thrive and receive the educational, social, and emotional benefits that arts education provides.
Unforeseen circumstances in Spring 2020 challenged faculty and administrators to adopt a growth mindset and think innovatively, reflecting on how to best offer students a sense of normalcy, while transitioning their Arts formation to an online platform. CEC’s answer – and success – has always been the human connection. The fostering of human connection – student-teacher, Conservatory, school and home, and peer relationships – are at the core of the Espinosa Method. Nurturing the fluidity and connection between the learning environment and the student has been an essential component to the program’s design, which was up and running within a day of the campus’ initial closure in March 2020.
In the CEA distance learning program, teachers continue to teach in the same manner as they do in their studios, but with a heightened awareness that they have to pay attention to different things and offer dedicated and individualized support to students, as well as create appropriate modifications due to the physical constraints of space. Daily communication with families has supported the sense of community and drawn strong support from parents and families.
MUSIC
CEC offers private music classes in a variety of musical instruments available both online and in-person, with the opportunity for students to participate in virtual family performances.
DANCE
Taking full advantage of the blended approach, our dance program will integrate the development of technique, artistry, and exploration of dance history, giving context and richness to our dancers’ knowledge and general understanding of their dance forms. Virtual collaborations and choreographic workshops to prepare performance opportunities that are physically distanced are in the planning stages for our fall Conservatory season. During a time when physical distancing and hiding facial expressions behind a mask are the temporary normal, we all strive for communication and connection through expression with our movements, gestures, and our mutual understanding of artistic elements that humans have yearned for since the beginning of time—thus an education in dance is as valuable as ever.
THEATRE
Theater classes will commence remotely for the 2020-2021 year with plans to transition to in-person classes later in the year.
Youth Ensemble (3rd – 5th Grades)
Youth Ensemble focuses on building a strong foundation of acting skills. Students will work on ensemble building, character development, movement, and voice. They will learn these skills through fun improv and theater games. All acquired skills will be applied to a final performance in the Spring.
Blessed Unrest (6th – 8th Grades)
Blessed Unrest focuses on continuing to hone the craft of acting. Students will work on ensemble building, character objectives, text analysis, and creating dynamic movement on camera. They will learn these skills through fun improv exercises and theater games. All acquired skills will be applied to a final performance in the Spring.
