The Cabarrus Arts Council will be hosting its second Latin Ballet of Virginia arts-in-education residency and bringing a major photography exhibition to our new galleries, thanks to two grants totalling $14,000 from the North Carolina Arts Council.
The grants will enable the arts council to bring the Latin Ballet's "Be Proud of Yourself" residency to four Cabarrus County schools in February and New York photographer Michael Cunningham's exhibition "Queens: Portraits of Black Women and Their Fabulous Hair" to the galleries May 21-June 29.
During the residency, at each school, dancers will work intensively with a small group of 25-28 students, conduct a teacher workshop and present a performance to a large group of children.
Children will learn about Latin culture and history and how dance reflects both as they learn to do Latin dances themselves. A major goal of the residency is to foster understanding between our Hispanic and non-Hispanic students and pride among our Hispanic students.
The Latin Ballet conducted a residency for five schools in our community last fall, and teachers and administrators told us it was one of the best programs they have ever had at their schools. With our rapidly growing Hispanic population, the arts council believes it is an important program to offer to our community.
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Cunningham also produced "Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats" and "Spirit of Harlem." For more information about him and his work, visit www.mcphotog.com.