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ARTS IN EDUCATION
Empowering underserved students through arts education, JGCO’s Arts in Education
program enriches the lives of youth in New York City’s most marginalized communities.
The Arts in Education program at JGCO brings vibrant, high-quality arts programming to underserved New York City public schools, filling critical gaps left by traditional education channels. Serving grades Pre-K through 12 in historically marginalized communities like The Bronx, Brownsville, and Harlem, the program offers students a rich array of artistic disciplines—including ballet, African dance, drumming, filmmaking, and theater—woven into a curriculum that aligns with New York State Arts Standards. This ensures students not only develop creative skills but also meet key educational benchmarks.
Arts in Education at JGCO is divided into two key sectors: Residencies and Lecture Demonstrations.
Residencies
Residencies bring professional teaching artists directly into schools, engaging students in hands-on workshops that develop technical skills, cultural awareness, and creative expression. Led by BIPOC artists—including seasoned educators, Broadway performers, and alumni of renowned dance companies—these residencies immerse students in disciplines such as:
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Dance (Ballet, Modern, Jazz, African Dance
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Drumming and Music
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Theater and Spoken Word
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Filmmaking
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Visual Arts
Residencies can range from six weeks to a full school year, culminating in a final performance that showcases students' growth and artistic achievements. Through storytelling, call-and-response, and thematic units on Black history and social justice, students gain a deeper appreciation for African-American heritage and the power of the arts as a tool for expression and change.
Lecture Demonstrations
JGCO’s professional Dance Theatre Company offers Lecture Demonstrations, live performances that bring history and social issues to life through dance, spoken word, and music. These educational performances are designed for the entire school community, including students who may not be enrolled in residency classes, ensuring broad access to cultural enrichment.
Performance Themes Include:
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Black History as World History
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Social Justice Narratives
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The Transformative Power of Art
Lecture Demonstrations combine original choreography, spoken word, and live music with interactive call-and-response, creating an engaging and immersive educational experience.
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The Arts In Education program not only educates students but also fosters a deeper connection between schools and their wider communities. Through community engagement, we invite families to participate in workshops that celebrate cultural heritage and artistic expression, while community performances provide a space for students to share their work, strengthening bonds and encouraging collective celebration.
Equally important is how we assess impact—tracking student progress in technical and creative skills, conducting pre/post surveys to measure confidence, resilience, and cultural awareness, and gathering performance feedback from students, teachers, and families. These evaluations ensure that our program continues to evolve, empowering students with creativity, confidence, and a broader understanding of the world around them.
New York City schools we are in at the moment!
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P.S. 011· P.S 70 · M.S. 691 · P.S. 307· Thurgood Marshall Lower School
Urban Assembly School for Green Careers · Academy of Arts & Letters · Brooklyn HS for Law & Tech
Dock Street School · P.S. 207 · P.S. 111· M.S. 113 · P.S. 256
FDA 8 · P.S. 44 · P.S. 46 · Urban Action Academy · P.S. 189 · P.S. 67