PROGRAMS
Our initiatives focus on therapeutic and educational arts programming for underserved populations. The organization is also a performing arts presenter, featuring the talent and diversity of the south Florida community and beyond. Take a look at our work....
Therapeutic Dance
Art Works For Us, Inc. was a recipient of a Miami Dade County CBO grant (2005-2014) to provide therapeutic dance programming to adults and teens with developmental and physical disabilities within the Miami Dade Parks and Recreation Leisure Access program at AD Barnes Park. The therapeutic program served 60 participants/year and was conducted year round with 2 weekly sessions for each group.
The organization produced and presented a yearly culminating performance showcase at Ad Barnes Park for participants, family and friends. Each year, a theme was selected by the participants for this event. Seasonal performances at the Manuel Artime Theater were also conducted.
Flamenco For All
With the support of Miami Dade Department of Cultural Affairs, the organization provided flamenco classes to children with disabilities. These sessions were conducted at Creative Children's Therapy and included children on the autism spectrum and also developmental disabilities such as Down's Syndrome. The program served 30 children which culminated in a performance at the Miami Children's Museum.
Flamenco For All also included training for the local community with master classes by international artists Marija Temo and Ulrika Frank conducted at FIU. These artists performed for patients and visitors at South Miami Hospital, partnering with Baptist Health Systems and Shands Arts in Medicine. They also performed with the children at Miami Children's Museum.
Multi-disciplinary Arts Programming within the library system
Art Works For Us, Inc. partnered with the Miami Dade Public Library System (2009-2013) to develop and facilitate educational arts programming at library branches throughout the county featuring internationally renowned teaching artists, promoting literacy and cultural awareness.
Modalities included dance, visual arts, theater and music. Among the many activities offered, sessions featured African drumming, Irish music, classical Indian Dance, puppet making and poetry.
The organization also provided yoga/mindfulness sessions for children and families as part of a wellness initiative at libraries throughout the county.
Lastly, the organization partnered with the MDPLS to provide performances at the Deering Estate, Sleepless Nights Miami Beach and at the Downtown Branch as part of their yearly festival.
Approximately 200-300 participants were served each year through this programming.
Cutting Edge Flamenco
Art Works For Us, Inc. brought international flamenco artists to Miami for performances and educational workshops. With funding from the Miami Dade Department of Cultural Affairs, corporate sponsors and individual donors, the organization presented innovative flamenco productions featuring the work of Miami based artists.
Two evening length productions, Soule and Revolution/Evolution received critical acclaim and were sold out shows, reaching over 200 at each presentation. In addition to flamenco and contemporary dance, they featured a 5pc band of musicians, spoken word and film projection.
In an effort to educate the community on the origins of Flamenco, the organization premiered the film Gypsy Caravan on Miami Beach. The event also featured local flamenco performers.
Presenting outside the region, the organization also supported Southern State, a choreography by Ana Miranda, previewed at the Nova Southeastern University Performance Theater and presented for two evenings at the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center in NYC as part of the Metropolis showcase, co-produced with the organization. Both performances were sold out at the 180 seat theater.
In these productions and presentations, Art Works for Us has provided paid work for 30 artists.
Hollywood Beach Latin Festival
Art Works For Us, Inc. produced performances for the festival's bandshell (2004-2009), partnering with the Latin Chamber of Broward that featured international performing artists of Latin America and the local community.
Among artists presented were Skampida, an international touring Colombian Ska/Rock fusion band (pictured here). productions featured Gypsy Cat, a flamenco fusion 5pc band, the work of Oscar Fuentes Biscayne Poet, south florida flamenco artists and Brazilian capoeira.
The festival productions provided paid work for 25 artists, some performing for multiple years. Hollywood Beach Latin Festival was consistently well attended as it is a staple of the local community, bandshell performances received positive media attention in local news, print/tv.
Contemporary Dance
The organization has featured the works of Miami based contemporary choreographers, supporting innovative collaborations and experimentation.
Among the contemporary dance performers presented were Pioneer Winter (pictured here), Joanna Ursal, Marie Whitman (also presented spoken word), Ana Bolt, Maria Serritella, Barny Espinal and Charm Walters.
In 2016, with the organization's support, Ana Miranda presented a solo piece, Proverb, at Judson Memorial Church as part of its Spring Season. It was significant in that a Cuban-American performer using flamenco and contemporary dance idioms was presented in this space, known for experimentation in dance and its history of presenting the work of post modern dance giants such as Merce Cunningham, Deborah Hay and the like.