Check out our first newsletter!
SMAART Newsletter

Last year we were just a few days into the SMAART program when the Charleston community suffered a great loss. We coped together. We mourned together.  This Friday marks one year since the Mother Emmanuel shooting. We continue to honor our lost.  On June 17, our SMAART students will honor the greater community loss with a moment of silence.
We will be delivering all items collected to Emanuel AME tomorrow.  Please see below for more details.

SMAART 2016 is coming soon!

We have a few courses that have a few openings.  Do you know a GIFTED ARTS kid who might be in LOVE with our program (and can provide references)?
Parents of students hoping to fill these vacancies can contact the FINE ARTS OFFICE at 843-937-6586 or email zoe_roff@charleston.k12.sc.us for registration instructions.

Openings (and target audience):

• SMAART² Honor Band: High School and Middle School Band students (currently finishing 6th through 12th grade). Student must have at least 1 year on their instrument and must come with a recommendation from their Band Director
• SMAART² Hip Pop A Capella: High School and Middle School Vocal students (currently finishing 6th through 12th grade). Student must have at least 1 year in a vocal program and must come with a recommendation from their Choir Director or Music Teacher
• SMAART Dance MOVED TO MOVE: Students currently in 4th through 7th grade and either Gifted in Dance or with a recommendation from a Fine Arts Teacher recognizing a tendency toward giftedness in Dance.
• MOVED to Move: Have you ever seen a live performance, heard a song, or seen a movie and felt so moved by that performer’s emotion that for a split second, you felt like you were them? Investigate famous modern/contemporary choreographers & how they can show such strong emotions through their dance. Study great, famous dancers & spoken word poetry & ourselves! All of these things will inspire us to learn, perform, & choreograph dances in a completely new way!              Artist: Bridget Corrigan 
• SMAART Dance 21st CENTURY JAZZ: Students currently in 4th through 7th grade and either Gifted in Dance or with a recommendation from a Fine Arts Teacher recognizing a tendency toward giftedness in Dance.
• 21st Century Jazz:  In this class students will learn how jazz has become a contemporary style of dance. Many dances performed on the well-known dance show So You Think You Can Dance are performed in this style. These dancers who perform in this style use a combination of jazz and contemporary techniques in addition to adding a personal and emotional connection with the movement. During our time together we will grow in our contemporary and jazz technique, as well as learning more about how to perform contemporary jazz choreography. Artist:  Amanda Wingard
• SMAART Dance EXPLORATION OF DANCE: Students currently in 4th through 7th grade and either Gifted in Dance or with a recommendation from a Fine Arts Teacher recognizing a tendency toward giftedness in Dance.
• Exploration of Dance Students will explore modern dance technique and explore the creative process of choreography. You will learn about elements of dance as wells as weight sharing and partnering skills to create your own masterpiece! Nurture your love & passion for dance in this program & dance away with new appreciation for the artistic expression that is dance.    Artist: Desiree Sampson
• SMAART Music HANDS & FEET, RHYTHM & BEATS: Students currently in 4th through 7th grade and either Gifted in Music or with a recommendation from a Fine Arts Teacher recognizing a tendency toward giftedness in Music.
• Hands and Feet, Rhythm and Beats:  Shaking, scraping, singing, stomping, striking, drumming & moving….these are things you’ll be doing in our combination class where Percussion Playground meets World Drumming.  Our class will explore drumming techniques, barred instruments, boomwhackers, and found sounds as well as songs from Africa, Latin America and more! Students will discover how music is the perfect vehicle for teaching respect, team building, problem solving, listening, and other important life skills. We will put together an unforgettable final performance!         Artists: Renee Sim  & Hanna Mashburn 
• SMAART Music STEEL DRUMS: Students currently in 4th through 7th grade and either Gifted in Music or with a recommendation from a Fine Arts Teacher recognizing a tendency toward giftedness in Music.
• Steel Drum Band: Welcome to the   islands! You will learn to play traditional steel drums in an ensemble of 15-17 students. You will explore the history of the steel drum & learn about its construction while experiencing the music and culture of the islands of Trinidad & Tobago. You will conclude the program by presenting a jammin’ steel drum   concert! Artists: Julie Mathias &  Ian McMichael