Young Audiences Arts for Learning NJ & Eastern PA

09/03/2026

🎭 Transform your school’s culture this Character Education Month!

How do we teach kids empathy, perseverance, and the danger of judging others by their appearance? We let them experience the power of story with acclaimed actor and speaker David Harrell.

Through hilarious, deeply moving autobiographical performances, David turns his own experience of growing up without a right hand into unforgettable character-building lessons for students of all ages.

Bring These Impactful Shows to Your Stage:

🥔 A Little Potato and Hard to Peel: A warm, smart, and hilarious autobiographical story about living with a disability. David takes audiences on a journey that reminds us all never to let life’s challenges peel away the core of our humanity.

🪝The Boy Who Would Be Captain Hook: Tired of only being picked for playground games because his prosthetic hook made him a natural "Captain Hook," David learned to stand up for himself. This moving, funny performance teaches students not to judge a book by its cover and proves that everyone can grow through perseverance.

🗓️ 2026–2027 Tour Dates:
Fall: Oct 19–25, 2026
Spring: March 15–19, 2027

Bring a message that builds character and transforms school culture: https://bit.ly/4diIrXl

09/02/2026

Bring world-class culture and music directly to your school with two incredible live assembly programs! 🌍🥁

The Afro-Brazilian Cultural Center of NJ presents the Afro-Brazilian Folkloric Show for Grades K–12 (North of Trenton only). This powerful performance explores the roots of Maculêlê, Samba, and Capoeira, telling an inspiring story of resilience and tradition.

Musiquita presents Vamos a Jugar (Let’s Play) for Grades Pre-K–6. It is a high-energy, interactive bilingual music program that gets students singing, moving, and exploring global rhythms while building confidence and cultural awareness (available in English/Spanish or full Spanish immersion).

✨ Ready to inspire your students? Schedule an unforgettable assembly today: https://bit.ly/4wq7XS5

08/31/2026

Congratulations to our very own, Kerri-Ann Munoz, Development Manager, on her promotion with Dance New Jersey to Executive Director. Alongside her work with YA, Kerri-Ann has been the Director of Dance Education for the past four and a half years at Dance New Jersey. In addition to this new role with Dance New Jersey, Kerri-Ann continues as Development Manager for Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern PA.

“We’re thrilled with Kerri-Ann’s advancement at Dance New Jersey, and excited for her continued contributions to Young Audiences,” shared Michele Russo, President & CEO of Young Audiences.

Please join us in celebrating Kerri-Ann on this well-deserved step forward!

Dear Dance New Jersey Community,

We're writing to share with you that after three years of dedicated leadership, Sarah Weber Gallo will be stepping down from her role as Executive Director as of September 1st. We are deeply grateful for her leadership and contributions to our organization and mission!

As we look ahead, we’re excited to announce that Kerri-Ann Munoz, who has been serving as our Director of Dance Education for the past four and a half years, will be stepping into the Executive Director role! Additionally, Kelly Guerrero, who has been serving as Managing Director for the past four years, will become DNJ's Associate Director.

"As I reflect upon my three years as Executive Director of Dance New Jersey, I am filled with gratitude for my DNJ colleagues and community, pride in our accomplishments, and optimism for the future of dance in our state.

It has been a true honor to serve New Jersey’s dance community, and I celebrate the legacy of DNJ’s tireless work to advance and elevate our art form.

I am proud of Dance New Jersey’s mission dedication and laser focus on our core values of COLLABORATION, CONNECTION, and SHARED LEARNING & ADVOCACY. This commitment has resulted in authentic, long-term connections that center our similarities and celebrate our differences in equal measure, proving that we are stronger when we move together.

Speaking of togetherness, working with Kerri-Ann and Kelly has been a dream characterized by collaboration and joy. I pass leadership forward with great confidence in their capability and vision, and I look forward to the evolution of DNJ under their stewardship.

Thank you all for welcoming me and challenging me and trusting me these past three years, and I will see you at DNJFest ‘27!" - Sarah Weber Gallo

We look forward to continuing to serve our NJ dance community for years to come!

All the best,
Dance New Jersey

Image: From left to right - Sarah, Kerri-Ann, and Kelly

08/28/2026

Celebrate Character Education Month with hands-on, arts-integrated workshops that turn empathy and history into creative action! 🎨✨

🦸Superheroes Among Us! By Rashad Malik Davis: Students master shape and color symbolism, interview a classmate, and design a custom superhero based on their partner—turning everyday peers into extraordinary heroes through empathy!

🧑‍🏫 Lessons in Tolerance By Pat Flynn: Students examine historical persecution and genocide, committing to tolerance by crafting artistic responses using code songs, arpilleras, poetry, and torn paper collages.

Bring these transformative teaching artists to your school to inspire kindness and unity! 📚🎭

Schedule Now: https://yanjep.org/character-education/

08/27/2026

🎨 Big news for NJ schools! We’re thrilled to announce that 12 schools across New Jersey have been selected for grant-funded 10-day and 20-day arts residencies through Young Audiences Arts Lab!

Out of 37 passionate PreK–12 applicants, these schools stood out for their creative vision and unwavering commitment to arts education. Through these residencies, professional teaching artists will head directly into classrooms to deliver customized student workshops, teacher professional development, and community-engaging final events—ranging from dance and theatre to circus arts and photography! 🎭💃🎪📸

Congratulations to our grant recipients:

🌟 20-Day Residency Recipients:
- Greater Brunswick Charter School (New Brunswick, NJ | Theatre)
- James Monroe Elementary School (Edison, NJ | Dance)
- John P. Holland Charter School (Woodland Park, NJ | Musical Theatre)
- Paterson STEAM High School (Paterson, NJ | Theatre)
- Quinton Township School (Quinton Township, NJ | Music)
- Silver Bay Elementary School (Toms River, NJ | Dance)
- Spring Garden School (Nutley, NJ | Circus Arts)
- Ulysses S. Grant Intermediate School (Trenton, NJ | Folk / Traditional Arts)
- Walnut Street School (Toms River, NJ | Dance)
- Washington Avenue Elementary School (Pleasantville, NJ | Dance)

✨ 10-Day Residency Recipients:
- Discovery Charter School (Newark, NJ | Musical Theatre)
- Salomé Ureña Elementary School (Newark, NJ | Photography)

This program is made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Young Audiences works in partnership with Count Basie Center for the Arts and Morris Arts to administer the residencies.

Join us in celebrating these amazing schools and the creative journeys ahead! 👏👇

08/26/2026

🎨 Art, connection, and celebrating our wins!

Our YA staff recently took a moment to slow down, reconnect, and reflect on an incredible year of impact—both in person and virtually! Team members met as a group to share successes, dream about what's next, and create together.

A huge thank you to Lori Rivera, Senior Director of Finance & Administration, for leading a beautiful watercolor workshop that let everyone unwind and tap into their own creativity, whether at the table or from across the screen! 🖌️✨

Here’s to another year of supporting students, creating community, and making art together.

08/25/2026

🎨 Big news for arts education in New Jersey!

19 schools across the state have officially completed their grant-funded Arts Lab residencies with Young Audiences Arts for Learning! Selected for their creative vision and dedication to the arts, these schools hosted professional teaching artists for immersive 10-day and 20-day programs filled with student workshops, teacher professional development, and community-wide culminating events.

Congratulations to all of the participating schools and teaching artists:

20-Day Residencies
- Academy of Greatness & Excellence (Ridgefield Park) – Painting with Molly Gaston Johnson
- Discovery Charter School (Newark) – Musical Theatre with Jarrod Scott
- Farmingdale School (Farmingdale) – Set Design with Ashley Cusack
- Hedgepeth Williams Intermediate School (Trenton) – Visual Arts with Molly Gaston Johnson
- Holy Cross Preparatory Academy (Delran) – Photojournalism with Erik James Montgomery
- J. Fithian Tatem Elementary School (Haddonfield) – Mosaics with Gail Scuderi & Kate Sclavi
- John P. Holland Charter School (Woodland Park) – Musical Theatre with Aidan Martinez
- Mannington Township School (Mannington Township) – Ceramics with Gail Scuderi
- Middle Township High School (Cape May Court House) – Ceramics with Gail Scuderi

10-Day Residencies
- Clifton School 17 (Clifton) – Music with Josh Robinson
- Forest Hill Family School (Camden) – Dance with Maxine Lyle
- James Monroe Elementary School (Edison) – Dance with Maxine Lyle
- Rivera Elementary School (Trenton) – Mural with Kate Sclavi
- Salome Urena Elementary School (Newark) – Bomba & Plena with Segunda Quimbamba
- Spring Garden School (Nutley) – Puppetry Theatre with Renata Townsend
- Vineland High School (Vineland) – Sculpture / Mosaic with Gail Scuderi
- Walnut Street Elementary School (Toms River) – Dance with Laura Marchese
- Washington Avenue School (Pleasantville) – Mural with Molly Gaston Johnson

This program is made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and administered in partnership with Count Basie Center for the Arts and Morris Arts.

✨ Thank you to all the educators, artists, and students who made these creative journeys possible!

08/24/2026

Thank you to PECO, Pennsylvania Creative Industries, and Team Pennsylvania for supporting our mission and believing in the power of creative expression.

With this grant, YA has expanded our Arts Impact Initiative into Montgomery County, PA! Funds support teaching artists to bring transformative arts programming, creative opportunities, and inspiring experiences to students and communities across the county.

Thank you for investing in the future of young artists and helping us power the arts where they matter most. 🎨✨

08/24/2026

October is Character Education Month! 📚✨ Cultivating kindness, empathy, and strong community values starts in the classroom, and storytelling is one of the most powerful tools to bring these core values to life.

Help your students explore compassion, respect, and positive relationships with two engaging assemblies by award-winning storyteller David Gonzalez. Both performances come with the Creative Classroom Toolkit, a collection of innovative educational tools that extend your in-school performances into a series of engaging, curriculum-based lessons.

💛 Mad Dog & Me: Bullying & The Power of Kindness: A compelling blend of world tales, myths, and personal stories from David's own childhood. This performance empowers students with actionable strategies to stand up to adversity, prevent bullying, and build compassionate communities.

🦁 Aesop Bops!: A high-energy, interactive performance designed for younger audiences. Featuring beloved fables like The Lion and the Mouse, this show brings a zoo full of animals to life while teaching essential early lessons about sharing, friendship, and social growth.

Bring transformative character education to your school this fall! 🎭👇

https://bit.ly/3SRTq35

08/20/2026

Celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month this October by bringing art and history directly to your classroom! 🎨✨

Arts and humanities enrich our culture, preserve our histories, and inspire the next generation of creative thinkers. There’s no better way to honor this month than with hands-on, immersive experiences led by incredible teaching artists:

🖼️ Taste of Mosaics with Gail Scuderi: Discover how ancient civilizations told their stories through mosaic art! Students explore the history of the medium before creating their own "Picassiette" style mosaics using ceramic and glass tiles—either as standalone pieces or as parts of a larger collective installation.

🧵 The Stories of Quilts and Creativity with Steven H. Hobbs: Step into the tactile world of fiber arts! Students discover the rich heritage of quilting, examine handcrafted quilts up close, and design personalized quilt squares that reflect their unique stories and personal creative journeys.

Ready to inspire your students through history, storytelling, and hands-on creation this October? Let's bring these creative workshops and residencies to your school!

Schedule now: https://bit.ly/4xLZ6uf