Days in the Arts at Tanglewood (DARTS)A program offered by the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Since 2005, the Little School has been fortunate enough to recommend students into this once in a life time opportunity. Each year we receive a few openings into this program. 5th grade 'ARTS' students are evaluated throughout the year and recommended into the BSO Days in the Arts based upon how best they would represent the Little School and North Reading. Please read further if you think this would be a good fit for your child. Recommendations into the program are made in May. Some of the cost of this program is funded by BSO Benefactors, but there is a fee involved. This truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Students are only allowed one opportunity to join the DARTD community. There are also many districts that are on the waiting list to get into such a wonderful program. Only 400 students from Massachusetts are recommended each year. Contact Mr. Tatro if you have any further questions.
Each summer, 400 students from communities throughout Massachusetts share a unique opportunity to participate in the DARTS program, which provides both exploration and focus in the arts in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. Participants are offered a range of disciplines, music, visual arts, theater, and dance, each participant selects a particular art from and works in that discipline to develop and complete a project. In each arts discipline, students gain practical experience in a progressive curriculum that emphasizes performance, analysis/critical thinking, skills, multicultural and interdisciplinary learning as well as leadership and team building skills.
Afternoon field trips to outstanding arts institutions in the Berkshires complement the students' work in their workshops and introduce them to a broad spectrum of artistic expression. They may find themselves at Jacob's Pillow interacting with the resident dance company; at Shakespeare & Company or the Berkshire Theater Festival learning how a play comes together; at the Norman Rockwell Museum or Chesterwood Museum gaining insight into the vision of professional artists; or at Tanglewood meeting BSO musicians and conductors or attending a master class for musicians from the Tanglewood Music Center. In addition the DARTS daily schedule includes creative writing sessions designed to enhance the understanding of the creative process. The week ends with a presentation that brings all of the students and the artistic disciplines together.
Program includes:
Housing in the Berkshires (Valley Head Campus, Lenox, MA)
All meals
Transportation to and from The Berkshires (Lenox, MA)
All transportation throughout the week
Instruction
24 hour Security
Admission to all excursions
Full time Nurse
Chaperones
A typical day looks like this:
7:00 am wake-up
7:45 Breakfast
8:30 creative expressions class
9:30 Arts workshop
Noon Lunch
12:45 afternoon excursion
5:00 Dinner
6:00 evening activities (games, talent show prep, singing)
9:30 lights out
Daily excursions include:
A performance by the BSO at Tanglewood- Students will attend a closed rehearsal sitting in the front rows of the historic Serge koussevitzky Music Shed.
Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival- students take an hour-long movement class with a professional dancer followed by a tour of the historic grounds. DARTS attends a performance by one of the touring Dance Companies on their Inside/Out stage.
Shakespeare and Company- Students will attend a classic Shakespeare production.
Norman Rockwell Museum - Students will visit the Norman Rockwell museum, where a docent will lead them on a tour and talk about Norman Rockwell and his masterpieces. Students will also get a tour of Norman's Studio which is also on the grounds.
Chesterwood museum- Home of Sculptor Daniel Chester French.
Berkshire Theatre Company - Students will attend a performance by the Berkshire Theatre Company.
Tour of Tanglewood- Students will take a 90 minute tour of the Historic 450 acre Tanglewood grounds.
Williams College Art Museum - Students will be led on a tour of the Museum at Williams College. Students will also engage in a Art activity led by graduate Arts students.