VSA arts Start With the Arts Family Festival at Union Station

June 6, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 6 2005 – VSA arts today announced the Start With the Arts Family Festival will be hosted at Union Station on June 10 and 11, for children and families from all over the Washington, DC area.

A free preview outdoor concert at McPherson Square Park on Thursday, June 9 will feature performances by VSA arts artists: award-winning country music singer/songwriter, Laura Dodd, and famed recording artist Raul Midon. The concert times: noon to 2:00 p.m.

The Festival will open Friday, June 10, at 9:30 a.m. with art activities for area school children, teachers and parents. Then at 1:00 p.m., there will be a celebrity story hour. – Celebrities: Congressman James R. Langevin (D-RI); Ms. Wheelchair America, Juliette Rizzo; Ms. Wheelchair DC, Florence Rainey; Miss DC, Therese Lizardo, and actor Morris Chestnut -- Ladder 49, Boyz n the Hood, The Best Man, G.I. Jane, with starring TV roles in The Killing Yard and appearances in ER, and many others, will read stories and poems to children who come down to Union Station.

On Saturday, June 11, there will be a day of music and live stage performances by Joint Forces Dance Company, Peter Cook, Kids on the Block, Dave Biro and Imagination Stage performing “Perfectly Persephone.” Throughout the month “Discover What Art Is…” a children’s art exhibit – the result of a nationwide call for art -- will be on display. “Discover What Art Is…” will be on exhibit from June 6 - June 26.

This weekend celebration of children's imaginations will highlight the importance of the arts in learning, beginning in early childhood. Named for the VSA arts instructional resource that combines literacy and family involvement with arts based teaching, the Start with the Arts Family Festival will not only give children interactive art experience but also provide parents and teachers with ideas and instructional materials to help their children learn at home and in the classroom. Children will explore their creativity in drawing, painting, writing and performing projects. Families will experience interactive learning with the arts in music, drama, printmaking and collage.

“Start With the Arts has been engaging children, with and without disabilities, for over a decade.” said Soula Antoniou, President of VSA arts. “The Start With the Arts Family Festival is a two day celebration of access and the arts. I hope everyone comes down to Union Station and joins in the fun.”

Performers on June 10 –11 include:

Joint Forces Dance Company members Emery Blackwell and Alito Alessi explore new ways of communication between able-bodied people and people with disabilities through a fast-paced, acrobatic dance form.
Peter Cook, an internationally known Deaf performing artist, tells original stories in American Sign Language and through pantomime, acting, and movement. Dynamic and humorous.
Kids on the Block puppets will enlighten children on the issues of disability awareness, medical-educational differences, and social concerns. Entertaining, fun and unforgettable.
Dave Biro entertains with songs that range in style from Island Pop to Funk and Rock to Rap. An energetic performer, Dave has been called a taller Tom Hanks with the zaniness of Robin Williams.
Imagination Stage performs “Perfectly Persephone: Little Greek Myth” by Kevin Kling. This new musical play is a modern interpretation of the Greek story. Persephone, daughter of the gods, journeys to the underworld and discovers who she really is.

About VSA arts

VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts. Today as a leader in arts-based teaching and learning, working through a nationwide affiliate network and in over sixty countries, VSA arts serves more than five million people around the world, VSA arts' programs support key national education goals: literacy and school readiness, teacher training, and parental involvement in education.

Media Contacts

Marcia Rhodes, VSA arts, (202) 628-2800 ext. 3883
Matthew Coffman, VSA arts, (202) 628-2800 ext. 3898

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