Summer Fun at the Watchung Arts Center

The performance and exhibit season has ended at the Watchung Arts Center, but there is still lots of activity for children and adults. For children, there are two camp programs available: a threeweek Summer Art Camp in July, and two, two-week theatre camp programs in August. Adults can participate in both Yoga and Zumba during the summer months. Details and registration information for all programs can be found at watchungarts.org/Classes.htm.
Summer Art Camp, for ages 6-12, begins July 11th and runs until July 29th, from 10 AM to 3 PM Monday through Friday. The program, under the direction and instruction of Mrs. Monica Otero, focuses on Creativity, Imagination and Ingenuity, offering children a unique opportunity to acquire or improve artistic skills, learn new techniques, explore different media and get inspired by famous artists, in an atmosphere of fun. Surrounded by the beauty of the Watchung Mountains, students appreciate both Art and Nature as they draw and paint outdoor scenes and have picnic lunches at Best Lake.
The central theme for 2016 is “Masters of the Modern Age”. Students learn about Picasso, van Gogh, Matisse, O’Keeffe, Cezanne, Monet, Pollock, Reilly, Seurat, Mondrian, Kandinsky and others. Pieces based on the theme will be created daily (Projects vary each week!) In August, All Children’s Theatre will return to the WAC for its 21st season. The well-known and highly acclaimed Performing Arts Day Camps for boys and girls ages 6 to 17 “playfully” lives its motto “Where Every Child Is A Star.”
Two two-week sessions are offered, meeting Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Creative Dramatics Camp (August 1st – 12th) is geared for children who want to create, develop, write and perform in their own show.
The Broadway Kids Camp (August 15th – 26th) gives kids various facets of the theatrical experience. They learn about singing along with acting and dancing using music from a variety of Broadway musicals from the Rogers and Hammerstein classics to more contemporary shows such as “Grease” and others.
Yoga classes will be held on Thursday mornings at 10:00 a.m. during the month of July, and during the evenings, on Tuesday and Thursday, from July 12th through September 1st. The Thursday morning sessions will be taught by Susan Ahlstrom, Tuesday evening sessions by Mike MacDonald, and Thursday evening sessions by Renata Cardinal. All are Certified Yoga Instructors who teach at the Watchung Arts Center throughout the year.
Yuli Oliviera, the Center’s Zumba Instructor, will be extending the Spring Zumba session for three additional weeks in July. Wednesday evening classes will be held on July 6th, 13th and 20th at 6:00 p.m., with Saturday morning classes at 10 a.m. on July 9th, 16th and 23rd.
The Watchung Arts Center, located at 18 Stirling Road in Watchung on the Watchung Circle, is a multi-disciplinary arts facility serving Watchung, the surrounding communities and the Tri-State Area. For more information go to watchungarts.org or call 908-753-0190.