Educational performance series slated for Carson City

The Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department is partnering with the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts to bring a free educational performance series to the Carson City Community Center.

Pioneer Center Youth Programs (PCYP) is the educational outreach program of the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts geared toward children in kindergarten through sixth grade. According to a press release by Carson City, the program’s performances “are designed to educate, entertain and enlighten children through interactive presentations in a variety of artistic disciplines including music, theater and dance.”

The free PCYP performances will occur once a month from April through August in the Bob Boldrick Theater at the community center. The performances are one hour long, and advance registration is recommended.

Saturday, April 8, at 2 p.m. – Bruka Theatre for Children

This Reno-based theater company presents the original play “The Paramount & Sometimes Wildly Ridiculous History of Nevada.” In this “whimsical, wild, and abridged journey through the history of the State of Nevada,” children are invited to participate in each performance.

Saturday, May 27, at 2 p.m. – StorySongs

StorySongs celebrates the natural and cultural heritage of Nevada with musical tales. This interactive show combines outdoor images, music, audience participation and humor to demonstrate the importance of connecting with nature. Each show is tailored to the region where it is performed. Audiences can sing, laugh and stomp to the rhythms of the Buffalo hide drum and African djembe.

Sunday, June 4, at 2 p.m. – Collateral & Co.

Using dance to teach poetry and prose, Collateral & Co. enables children to understand language arts in a new, accessible way, according to event organizers. Children will learn about rhythm, rhyme, meter, verse, stanza and more by exploring the way poetry looks and feels on the body and how dance can be used to make sense of the written word and personal experiences.

Saturday, July 1, at 2 p.m. – Kantu Inka

Kantu Inka’s bilingual performance programs incorporate world language, fine arts and social studies. Children are encouraged to play instruments, dance to Peruvian rhythms and interact with the musicians.

Saturday, August 19, at 2 p.m. – Reno Taiko Tsurunokai

Reno Taiko Tsurunokai brings the ancient art of Japanese Taiko drumming to the children of northern Nevada. Tsurunokai performs traditional Japanese folk music as well as original compositions, and participants will be invited to take part in drumming and dancing during the performance.

For information and to register, visit www.carson.org/ccpr.