The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation
Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet warmly invites male and nonbinary youth in New York City to join Talanta Ensemble, a new tuition-free, year-round pre-professional arts and leadership program.
Talanta means “talent” in Swahili. The program is designed to help young artists develop their skills, confidence, leadership, and future pathways through professional training, mentorship, and cultural experiences.
Program Highlights
• Training in Dance, Drumming, Theater, and Spoken Word.
• Opportunities to perform in New York City communities and prestigious venues.
• Exposure to professional performances, Broadway, museums, and other major cultural experiences.
• Mentorship from experienced professional artists.
• Leadership, college, and career development.
Program Highlights
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Training in Dance, Drumming, Theater, and Spoken Word.
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Opportunities to perform in New York City communities and prestigious venues.
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Exposure to professional performances, Broadway, museums, and other major cultural experiences.
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Mentorship from experienced professional artists.
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Leadership, college, and career development.
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Weekly Program Schedule:
Fridays
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Mark Morris Dance Center | 4:30 PM - 7 PM
3 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Saturdays
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PS 70 - The Max Schoenfeld School | 9:30 AM - 2 PM
1691 Weeks Ave, Bronx, NY 10457
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JHS 113 - The Ronald Edmonds Learning Center | 10 AM - 4 PM
300 Adelphi St, Brooklyn, NY 11205
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Together, these experiences build a robust artistic resume grounded in professional practice and cultural understanding, preparing participants to emerge as skilled dancers and artistically driven leaders.

Vision and Structure
Talanta is Creative Outlet’s most rigorous pre-professional offering. It provides advanced artistic instruction, mentorship, and performance opportunities that establish a strong foundation for lifelong career success.
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The program directly confronts harmful stereotypes surrounding masculinity in dance, barriers that have historically discouraged boys from pursuing the arts. Executive Artistic Director Jamel Gaines recognized that in underserved communities, young men are often pushed away from artistic pathways due to financial pressures and gendered expectations. Talanta was created as a solution: a dedicated, tuition-free pathway where students ages 7–12 can train, grow, and envision themselves as artistic leaders.
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Talanta features a structured five-year curriculum, launching with an inaugural cohort of 15 participants and expanding into a sustained pipeline serving up to 30 young artists annually.​​​

CONTACT US
For Families and Students
If your child is 7-12 years of age, passionate about dance, movement, or curious to explore, we invite you to connect and learn more!
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For Schools and Community Partners
Interested in hosting us for a recruitment performance from Talanta leaders to your school? We’d love to collaborate and come in to learn more about interested students
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For Supporters
To support this transformative initiative, please reach out directly to the Artistic Director
info@creativeoutlet.org​
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Staff Members:
Jamel Gaines: Executive Artistic Director
Rayan Lecurieux-Durival: Artistic Coordinator, Choreographer & Teaching Artist
Shana Ricketts: Program Administrator
Rose Barbantan & William Feldon: Community Engagement, Recruitment & Teaching Artists
Ryan Greenidge: African Dance & Drumming Teaching Artist
Paris Fishback: Hip-Hop & Performance Teaching Artist
Dr. Sheila Tomlin-Reid: Educational Consultant
Naomi Townsend & Tommy Tran: Development Team
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