PROGRAMS
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Culture Arts Initiative, Inc. benefits the community by focusing on young people who are under-represented in the dance world due to affordability, availability, or lack of exposure through two arts pillars:
* Merit and Talent Based Scholarship Programs.
* Community Outreach Performance and Educational Based programs.
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CAI's talent based scholarship award programs provide young people who have the talent, potential, and desire to pursue a professional career in dance with high quality dance training in Houston and throughout the United States. CAI's community outreach programs expose children to the arts by providing various performance and training opportunities for those who have little to no experience or exposure to the performing arts.
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HOUSICAL THEATRE ARTS
CAI’s HOUsical Theatre Arts program is a community outreach musical theatre program. CAI hosts city-wide auditions to cast performers (ages 7-18) to perform in a full-scale musical theatre production. Performers commit to up to 24 rehearsals and are taught drama, voice, and theatre dance by highly trained performing arts professionals. This 12-16 week session will culminate with a musical theatre production that is open to the public. Open Casting Calls are held twice per year. CAI offers merit based scholarships to select performers who audition. No prior experience required to audition.
BLACK SWAN PROJECT
The BLACK SWAN PROJECT is an independent study, talent-based scholarship program. It provides underserved and under-represented young dancers who have the talent, potential, and desire to pursue a professional career in ballet with the financial support to receive high quality dance training in the Houston Metropolitan area. Scholarship recipients are given a nine month rigorous and focus-driven professional dance curriculum that provides exceptional training at various dance training facilities throughout the city of Houston. Students in this program will also be mentored by a Houston area dance professional and gain valuable performance experience by competing and performing at local community events.
CAI's Spread My Wings Dance Intensive Scholarship is awarded to young dancers who have the talent, potential, and desire to study ballet throughout the country. Financial support is given to the recipient to further his/her ballet training at dance intensives of his/her choice outside of the Houston area.
Scholarship Qualifications:
8-18 years old
Must have classical ballet training
Must have been a cast member of Houston’s Urban Nutcracker or attended a CAI Workshop Intensive
Must complete a ‘Dance Intensive Scholarship” Application
Must have received acceptance to a classical ballet intensive program 100 miles+ outside of your home town.
BUILD A BUDDING BALLERINA
The BUILD A BUDDING BALLERINA program is an, independent study, talent-based, scholarship program. It provides underserved and under-represented young dancers who have the talent, potential, and desire to study dance, with the financial support to receive high quality dance training in the Houston Metropolitan area. Scholarship recipients are given a focus-driven dance curriculum that provides exceptional training in various genres at selected dance training facilities throughout the city of Houston. Students in this program will also gain valuable performance experience and private coaching and intensive audition assistance. Sponsors may donate to a specific dancer and follow and support their dance journey.
TRACI GREENE COLLEGIATE SCHOLARSHIPS
The Traci Greene Collegiate Dance Scholarship awards are given to qualified incoming full-time freshmen who will major or minor in dance from a 4 year accredited college or university.
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The Traci Greene HBCU Collegiate Dance Scholarship awards are given to full-time college students who dance for a 4 year accredited HBCU (danceline or team) that does not offer a dance major or minor.
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Undergraduate Dance
Qualifications:
Must be an incoming freshman accepted to an accredited 4 year college or university
Must be a full time student
Must major or minor in dance or dance (at any four year accredited college or university)
Must have been a cast member of a CAI production or attended a CAI Workshop/Intensive.
HBCU Dance Qualifications:
Must be a full time student at an accredited four year Historically Black College or University that does not offer an undergraduate dance major or minor.
Must currently dance for an HBCU dance line or dance team.
Must have danced for the same HBCU dance line or team for a minimum of one year prior to applying.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
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The Continuing Education program is for high school graduates who have opted to continue their post-secondary dance studies through a conservatory or professional training program in lieu of a four-year college or university.
HOUSTON'S URBAN NUTCRACKER
Community Outreach
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Houston’s Urban Nutcracker (HUN) is an innovative community outreach theatrical production that serves as CAI's biggest annual fundraiser. HUN provides the opportunity for over 100 performing artists (ages 5 years and up) from the Houston area to train, rehearse, and perform in a professional theatrical production.
HUN’s Purpose
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To introduce an entertaining and family friendly Nutcracker with a multi-cultural twist to the city of Houston.
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To provide the opportunity for economically disadvantaged and multi-cultural youth to participate in a city-wide theatrical production.
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To expose ethnically diverse professional and pre-professional dancers and musicians to the city of Houston who are not usually afforded the opportunity to perform on such a large platform.
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To educate and introduce the performing arts to disadvantaged youth.
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To collaborate and showcase with other local artists, ethnic dance groups, and companies.
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To give back to the community by offering fine arts scholarships to underserved youth who wish to study the performing and fine arts.
Qualifications:
Ages 5-up
Must attend annual city-wide audition
CHRISTMAS IN JULY WORKSHOP
Houston's Urban Nutcracker Dance Workshop and Auditions
Community Outreach
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HUN Christmas in July Summer Workshop is a community outreach dance training seminar for dancers ages six through adult. The Christmas in July Summer Workshop gives dancers the opportunity to enjoy a weekend of multi-cultural and diverse dance classes from special guest instructors and choreographers. CAI partners with local school districts throughout the Houston Metropolitan area to offer full scholarships to some of its students to attend this annual event. Attendees also have the opportunity to audition for Houston's Urban Nutcracker at our city-wide casting call and an opportunity to win full tuition scholarships to attend Summer Intensive programs, like Broadway Dance Center in New York City and Arts Saves Lives Foundation on the beautiful island of St. Martin.