(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) proudly continues its collaboration with the South Orange and Maplewood School District (SOMSD), spotlighting its Arts in Education (AIE) programs throughout November. Two exciting events will engage over 1,400 students, offering them transformative experiences with world-class artists: Alvin Ailey's Revelations Arts in Education assembly and an interactive performance by LUX Orchestra.
On Friday, November 15, 2024, South Orange Middle School hosts Revelations AIE Assembly, which features Ailey Teaching Artists Matthew Hill, Sherece Hill, Noibis Licea, Cheryl Rowley Gaskins, and Fatima Logan-Alston performing sections of Ailey’s iconic 1960 work while exploring his life and legacy. The performance introduces students to modern dance terminology, Ailey’s groundbreaking choreography, and his commitment to using dance as a tool for social change.
“Alvin Ailey did not just break artistic barriers — he used his art to challenge cultural ones,” says South Orange Middle School Principal Lynn Irby Hill. “Revelations is a powerful experience that transcends time and still resonates today, crossing boundaries of race, identity, and community.”
Then, on November 21, 2024, The LUX Orchestra Initiative presents an explosion of light, sound, and music founded by conductor and composer Brent Chancellor in collaboration with Carnegie Hall’s Link Up and the South Orange Performing Arts Center. Developed in collaboration with SOMSD music educators, this performance invites students to sing along to the Toreador Song from Bizet’s Carmen, count the occurrences of the iconic motif in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, and recognize the Star Wars theme by John Williams. “The beauty of this program is that students actively engage with the music,” says Chancellor. “It’s all about creating a memorable experience that fosters a lasting appreciation for classical music.”
Since 2016, SOPAC has been partnering with SOMSD to ensure arts education is accessible to students from all backgrounds. These programs go beyond one-time field trips to provide in-depth residencies and experiences, offering immersive skill-building opportunities across various disciplines. “At SOPAC, we believe every child should have access to transformative arts education,” says SOPAC Director of Arts Education Linda Beard. “We strive to empower and inspire students by exposing them to different forms of artistic expression.” Through its residencies, SOPAC offers opportunities that go beyond the classroom, fostering creativity and building skills in a collaborative environment.
“SOPAC Arts Education programs help students engage with art in personal and meaningful ways,” notes SOMSD Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts James Manno. “Our partnership reaffirms our mutual commitment to integrating the arts into education. Together, we connect students with world-class performers and provide transformative experiences that build cultural awareness, creativity, and a lasting appreciation for the arts.”
AileyDance Kids is an inclusive dance education program that works with public, charter, private, and independent schools and community organizations in the New York City metropolitan area, serving grades Pre-K through 12. Programs are offered in a comprehensive format and created to meet the individual needs of each school during either in-school or after-school hours. Through AileyDance Kids, thousands of children have the opportunity to envision their potential, imagine possibilities, and feel the joy of dance as they experience AILEY each year.
The LUX Orchestra Initiative presents a new vision for symphonic music, developed in collaboration with elementary school music faculty and specifically aimed at inspiring young audiences. An explosion of light, sound, and music founded by conductor and composer Brent Chancellor, and in collaboration with Carnegie Hall’s Link Up and South Orange Performing Arts Center, this event provides students the opportunity to meet different instrument sections and gain insights into basic music concepts. They also learn about the orchestra’s significant role in various genres like Symphony, Ballet, Opera, and even movie scores.
The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) offers audiences exhilarating and diverse arts entertainment in its intimate venue, serving as the cultural heartbeat of the greater South Orange/Maplewood region and contributing to the economic and social vibrancy of its highly diverse community.
SOPAC is an accessible cultural destination that presents world-class artists in an intimate and welcoming environment. The Jennifer & Tony Leitner Performance Hall is a 439-seat mainstage theatre with superb acoustics, sight lines and seating. Audiences remark that performances in this space are like having their favorite artists right in their own living room. Artists acknowledge that the atmosphere encourages conversations with audiences. The Loft at SOPAC is a 2,185 square-foot multi-purpose space used for performances, rehearsals, classes, and special events.
The unique architecture of SOPAC’s building, which includes a stunning 3-story glass-enclosed atrium, is also home to the Herb + Milly Iris Gallery. Beyond the building, SOPAC co-produces local events such as South Orange Summer Nights and serves students and schools through its arts education residencies.
SOPAC is invested in arts education. SOPAC serves students and schools in our region through a School Performance Series, Performing Arts Residencies and annual juried art exhibit entitled INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition. SOPAC also collaborates with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts each year to host the Region 5 Poetry Out Loud competition. The Seton Hall University Arts Council presents a diverse range of events at SOPAC with seasoned professionals, students, and faculty.
Nearly ten years in the making, SOPAC first opened its doors in 2006. South Orange Village Trustees, in partnership with Seton Hall University, envisioned SOPAC as the center of an ambitious redevelopment plan. Through visionary leadership and an unwavering commitment, SOPAC has become a cultural centerpiece for the region, an economic driver for the community, and a catalyst for artistic opportunity.
