Youth & Teen Creative Workshops

A unique workshop that focuses on melody, harmony, rhythm, improvisation, and lyrics. Participants can develop individual style by applying various concepts and techniques to express themselves when creating music. During this workshop participants will learn different genres of music, learn a variety of beats, and see how the music blends together.

Facilitator:  DJ Conscious

Bio: Jahdal Johnson is a local DJ from Kalamazoo, MI and has opened for artist such as Erykah Badu and B.O.B. His eclectic mix of Reggae, Funk, Hip-Hop, and R&B leaves his audience to be treated to an event of L.I.F.E (Love, Inspiration, Freedom & Entertainment).

Learn creative poetry structures and rhythms to express your thoughts, feeling, and emotions into a story.

Facilitator: Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative

Bio: Fire exists as a brave space, inspiring truth and freedom, where creativity nurtures youth to express, heal, and connect self and others. Our mission is to encourage and respond to people’s desire for authentic expression and social justice. As a youth driven space for art and justice in the heart of Kalamazoo’s most diverse neighborhood, we develop social and emotional learning and leadership skills through out if school time workshops, open mics, and poetry slams.

A beginner dance class that allows participants to explore ways to create and learn different dance techniques.

Facilitator: Heather Mitchell from Rootead

Bio: Our programs are based on traditional and holistic practices, as body and self-awareness are necessary for actual change and radical cultural transformation. We use healing arts, focusing on African roots and culture through drum and dance, mindfulness, social-emotional learning, indigenous history, and community support. We also facilitate programming for families and intergenerational spaces.

Learn creative ways to think on the spot, create characters, test your memory, build confidence with stage presence and public speaking.

Facilitator: Quincy Thomas

Bio: As a Professor in the Kalamazoo College Theatre Arts Department, Quincy employs their passion for theatre, performance studies, and film while speaking to issues surrounding cultural marginalization and misrepresentation in the arts. His most recent directorial offering was Douglas Lyon’s Chicken & Biscuits. Some of their favorite roles played include Christopher in Blue/Orange, Albert in Clybourne Park, Touchstone in As You Like It, Lord Longeville in Love’s Labours Lost, Selsdon in Noises Off, and Actor in Nassim Soleimanpour’s White Rabbit, Red Rabbit. Recently their play, The Whites Explain It All, was selected as the full-length play for the 2023 Region III Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Quincy is currently writing a new play entitled, Complex Rhythms

A beginner dance class that allows participants to explore ways to create and learn different dance techniques.

Facilitator: DeTashia Coleman

Bio: DeTashia Coleman is a dance instructor for a local dance team in Kalamazoo where she teaches youth creative hip hop routines to perform at competitive dance competitions and events.

Learn creative poetry structures and rhythms to express your thoughts, feeling, and emotions into a story.

Facilitator: Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative

Bio: Fire exists as a brave space, inspiring truth and freedom, where creativity nurtures youth to express, heal, and connect self and others. Our mission is to encourage and respond to people’s desire for authentic expression and social justice. As a youth driven space for art and justice in the heart of Kalamazoo’s most diverse neighborhood, we develop social and emotional learning and leadership skills through out if school time workshops, open mics, and poetry slams.

A beginner dance class that allows participants to explore ways to create and learn different dance techniques.

Facilitator: Trinity Prep Center

Bio: Ms. Adiah, Ms. Courtney, and Ms. Carmilla opened the doors of Trinity Prep Center in Kalamazoo, MI in the Summer of 2014. TPC offers affordable dance lessons in Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, and Tumbling for youth. Their mission is to use positive influence to help youth reach their maximum potential.

A unique workshop that focuses on melody, harmony, rhythm, improvisation, and lyrics. Participants can develop individual style by applying various concepts and techniques to express themselves when creating music.

Facilitator: Dylan Tolbert

Bio: Dylan Tolbert is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Kalamazoo, Michigan. He grew up in Three Rivers, Michigan where his love for music started. Over the span of 20 years Dylan has learned to play drums, piano, guitar, and violin. Putting his own style on classic songs with soulful grooves and creating tunes of his own is the driving force of every show. March 29, 2021 was the release of Tolbert’s debut album, Tolbert Drive. For more information about music, events, and booking visit www.tolbertdrive.com.