I am in awe of creative artists. I’m talking about the artist who is willing to break boundaries. The ones that challenge us to widen our own view. It’s not only their vision I admire but their bravery. And while I’m talking about admiration, I also admire those who become a part of the vision. The people who make sure we have the opportunity to share in the creative endeavor.
Chicago artist and sculpture Nick Cave is exactly the kind of creative artist I am talking about. I’ve never met Nick Cave but I’d love to. Mr. Cave isn’t a household name celebrity like others that come quickly to mind but his body of work is exciting, provocative, and appealing. Born to a large family of modest means in Central Missouri and raised by a single mother, he began to create art out of found objects at an early age. He received his degree in art from the Kansas City Art Institute and later his MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. Trained as a dancer by Alvin Ailey, Nick Cave has combined his visual art with his love of movement into renowned performance art.
I first encountered Cave’s work in 2010 at an exhibit at UCLA’s Fowler Museum called “Meet Me at the Center of the Earth.” It defied description. Later I saw this blurb from the Seattle Museum of Art: “AMAZING creations that spring out of Nick Cave’s imagination. Cave calls them Soundsuits. We call them a beautiful, joyous, EXUBERANT, colorful opportunity to explore an ALTERNATIVE WORLD which challenges conventions and inspires new ways of thinking.”
Nick Cave has done it again. This time it’s dancing horses and the venue is Grand Central Station! I not only salute Nick Cave but also the Alvin Ailey dancers, the public arts group Creative Time and the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Arts for Transit for “stopping us in our tracks.” As the New York Times says, “Watch out for horses on your way to the train.”
US Performing Arts has the most incredible theater intensive this summer at Santa Fe University of Art & Design. Why? Because many years ago I had an epiphany. I was teaching in the St. Louis area and a colleague invited me to a performance of the visiting Santa Fe Opera Company. Looking back at it now, I’m more than a little embarrassed about my attitude. It wreaked of arrogance borne of having danced with some of the country’s leading opera companies back in my ballet performance days. My friend was insistent that I would really enjoy the evening and in fact put together a little impromptu get-together with a few of the members of the company so I agreed to go.
If you’re a young actor, or a parent or teacher of an emerging artist, guiding them towards making their dreams a reality, finding the right training programs can be a difficult task. If your child is between the ages of 11-18, US Performing Arts has the perfect summer camp experience for the student who dreams to act for the camera. The team of 
When you think of summer camp you certainly don’t think of Broadway or New York City but our very successful Broadway Conservatory, Musical Theater Camps, Acting Camp and Dance Camp attract students from all over the world. In all honesty they’re not camps in the outdoor “let’s build a bonfire type of camp” but they do fit the definition of camp and our students and parents tell us we’re the “real deal!” 
Today we received word that DNA Studios, located at 280 Broadway, a stone’s throw from our summer camp residence at Pace University, has the space we need. Not only do we have the appropriate and necessary studio space but we also have a really great performance space for our “work in progress” showings! We can now officially announce that our NYC program will be held this year at DNA. A good secure building within easy access of Long Island commuters, not bad for our Jersey families, and a dream come true for our residential students! And, as always, a place where professionals are rehearsing in studios adjacent to ours. So if you want to go to a pre-professional summer camp to be part of a like-minded group at a dance camp, musical theater camp, acting camp or a Broadway Conservatory, all taught by top Broadway professionals, come join us this summer in NYC. 
Now that 2011 is waning in our thoughts it seems that everywhere I go I hear people talking about their New Year’s resolutions. Mostly I’m hearing people talk about the same old changes that have plagued mankind for generations. Lose weight, stop smoking, get healthier, etc., etc. All good. All worthy. I’m certainly not suggesting that those life-style changes shouldn’t top their lists but as I was listening to others and thinking about their yo-yo approach to life I couldn’t help but think about the underlying factor that contributes to the need for those resolutions in the first place. Isn’t it generally true that most of us are driven to do the very things that we later want to resolve to change because we’re feeling unfulfilled?