rootsnrhythms@yahoo.com
Roots & Rhythms
"Students aren't ever given an opportunity like this. First I have ever seen."
Vanessa Ibanez
Boys and Girls Club
"...(her) skill with managing diverse ages and musical ability/confidence is remarkable and engaging."
Terri Siegenthaler
Executive Director
Camp El Ranchito
"Sevylla understands how to translate her work to reach learners of all levels."
Katie Dawson
Adjunct Professor
University of Texas at Austin
HOUSTON ELEMENTARY
The Houston Elementary Roots & Rhythms program is our flagship program, which launched in 2008 thanks to an award from the City of Austin Cultural Contracts Division, and just completed its 4th year! Students in 4th and 5th grades attend once weekly throughout the academic year, at no charge to students, families, or the school. Children have had the opportunity to build drums from scratch, enjoy a private jazz concert and instrument "petting zoo," perform on stage, and take fields trips; including a 2-hour dance class with instructor Jean-Claude Lessou, of the Ivory Coast. For many students in the Dove Springs neighborhood, these performances and field trips are their first exposure to the greater Austin area.
OVERTON ELEMENTARY
ONE WORLD THEATRE CAMP
PAST WORKSHOPS
UT Austin, Teaching Artist Symposium
St. Edward's University
Casa Montessori
Austin Learning Academy
The Maverick School
21st Century Community Learning Center State-Wide Conference
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
Austin's New Year
The Overton program is entering its third year, and operates with the generous support of The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Austin Area (BGCAA). Currently, the program is offered to any 4th grader already enrolled in "The Club," and serves an average of 10-15 students weekly, with approximately 30 students served in academic year 2010-2011. These students had the opportunity to perform at the City-Wide Showcase, in which over 35 schools participated. Additionally, Roots & Rhythms funded a field trip, with transport support provided by BGCAA, to study dance with Jean-Claude Lessou, choreographer and dancer from the Ivory Coast, as well as to the Austin Dance Collective studios for dance class with members of Lannaya Drum and Dance Ensemble.
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Roots & Rhythms is proud to be a part of Mariposas Spanish School for Kids Summer Camp for four consecutive years! This 2-week intensive summer camp is for native English- speaking children ages 3-8, and includes a cultural arts component, cooking, history, and of course, music. Roots & Rhythms kids at Mariposas have learned fun songs in Spanish, traditional hand drums, and have made rain sticks, maracas, and guiros from found objects which were then used at their end of camp presentations!
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CAMP EL RANCHITO
MARIPOSAS SPANISH MONTESSORI
2012 marked the fourth year that Roots & Rhythms has been invited to facilitate drum circles at Camp El Ranchito. This camp is a collaboration between Shield Ranch, El Buen Samaritano, and the Westcave Preserve, and allows youth ages 13-21 to experience the beauty and importance of our natural areas. Drum workshops are held for 40-60 middle school and high school age youth, as well as summer interns.
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Austin music landmark, The One World Theatre, has been putting on an amazing summer camp through its non-profit arm since 2007. Sevylla del Mazo was fortunate to have worked with One World in developing its After-School Arts Program (ASAP), and was invited in 2010, and again in 2011, to facilitate an instrument building and playing class. 2012 marked the 4th consecutive year of workshops! The workshop pulls from elements of Dr. Craig Woodson's Roots to Rhythm curriculum, in addition to Roots & Rhythms standard programming.
for more info:
ONGOING CLASSES
SUMMER PROGRAMS
AVAILABLE PROGRAMMING
One-time workshops and classes
Multi-part workshops and classes
1-14 day summer camp sessions
Ongoing weekly programming
School-wide assemblies
Teacher training
When you make a charitable contribution to the Roots & Rhythms Fund through the Austin Community Foundation, you help support free and low cost programming to "at-risk" children and youth; bringing music, creativity, and inspiration to the communities that need it most.
COOK ELEMENTARY
The Cook Elementary program wrapped up academic year 2011-2012 school year in May, with the addition of Brock Roser as our new Artist in Residence! Thanks to the generous support of the Boys and Girls Club of the Austin Area, students were offered field trip opportunities to the Austin Dance Collective Studio, made small percussion instruments, and were invited to perform at Showcase!
MENDEZ MIDDLE SCHOOL
The Mendez Middle School Program in Dove Springs kicked off on October 12th, 2011, thanks to a partnership with The Boys and Girls Club, and financial support from the City of Austin Cultural Contracts Division. Programming at this site allows for continuity with students from Houston Elementary School, one of the Mendez feeder schools, and a deepening of our exploration of rhythm and sound. Students were invited to attend a field trip to the Austin Dance Collective, and had the opportunity to perform at the annual City-Wide Showcase along with all other campuses.
