Vocal Performance Workshop with Joy Ike - SAT May 14

Vocal performance workshop for HAT Co with singer-songwriter, Joy Ike, on Saturday, May 14 @ 1:30 pm. Joy will perform a few songs of her own for you, give you some feedback and assistance on your songs, and work with you specifically on how to connect the words to the music -- and convey the meaning and emotion to the audience. Check out her website so you know a bit more about her and her music before tomorrow.

“In a world saturated with singer-songwriters, Joy Ike stands out in the same way as Corinne Bailey Rae or Ingrid Michaelson. On her new release, Ike’s tapped into something special that pulls on your emotions when you listen to her sing away about finding God or fitting in. Her stellar backing band floats alongside her honey voice. Her thoughtful playing is comparable to Sarah McLachlan or Sara Bareilles. Joy Ike has got a one-up on most of her songwriter peers because not only is she brave enough to say what she’s saying, she has the chops and the skills to say it gracefully.” -Cindy Howes (WYEP Morning Mix Host & Producer)

newMoves Dance Festival Starts Today - Staycee Pearl dance project Tomorrow!

Staycee Pearl's company, Staycee Pearl dance project, will be performing tomorrow night (FRI May 13 @ 7pm) at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater in the newMoves Dance Festival. It's always great to be able to see the artistic work of our teaching artists -- and in this case you'll be able to see two of them: Staycee Pearl's choreography along with all of the fierceness that is teaching artist, Kerra Alexander's, dancing! (Kerra is in the company).

Staycee Pearl dance project | Octavia
A dance exploration of the life and work of  Octavia Butler (African-American MacArthur Genius Award-winning science fiction writer). The movement and environment represents the powerful dynamic of Ms. Butler's characters in relation to her own steady personality - physically imagining how they might fit within each other. The premier is scheduled for December 2011.

newMoves begins tonight and runs thru Sunday

Festival Pass $45 | Single Tickets $20

youthMoves (Sunday at 2 pm) HAT Co Dancers are performing

$10 Adults | $5 Children | Under 5 are free

HA Teacher Lisa Joseph Running Marathon - Way to Go!

Hope Academy violin teacher, Lisa Joseph, is running the marathon this Sunday.  If you're on the course and want to cheer her on you can register for free Runner Tracking Updates for Lisa, or any other runner in the marathon. We will be posting her progress on facebook as well, so if you're a fan of the Hope Academy facebook page you will get updates in your newsfeed. If you're not a fan, become one today! Just click on "like" at the top of the Hope Academy facebook page.

Support Hope Academy by Donating to PBT and the PSO Today!

You can help keep our young dancers on their toes and our musicians in tune by making a donation today, during Pittsburgh's Art Day of Giving, to one or both of Hope Academy's partners: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO).

While many cultural organizations have contributed to Hope Academy in various ways throughout the years, both Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra have generously and consistently been with us to make sure that dance and music are affordable and accessible -- and not a matter of privilege -- for young people in our community. Thousands of children have taken PBT dance classes at East Liberty Presbyterian Church on Saturdays over the past 15 years; and the PSO's community engagement concerts helped us to launch EL CEO, our free youth orchestra.

Please consider making a donation today. Your gift will receive a pro-rated match, so it will have greater impact. You'll receive a tax deduction. And you'll feel great for supporting world-class dance and music organizations that also contribute in significant ways to the children and youth in our community. 

To make an online donation, click HERE today!