Hey CityStep!

Hey  CityStep!    

  What  a  year  it  has  been!  We  hit  the  ground  running,  with  classes  beginning  in  early  October  and  a  visit  to  New  York  City  for  CityStep’s  30th  Anniversary  Gala  and  for  teaching  workshops  at  National  Dance  Institute.  We  then  put  on  our  dancing  shoes  for  our  second  annual  November  fundraiser,  Dizzy  Dancing,  a  chance  for  Harvard  students  to  learn  dances  from  CityStep  members  and  cultural  dance  groups—everything  from  MJ’s  Thriller  to  traditional  Indian  dance.  In  December,  we  finished  the  fall  semester  with  our  Mini  Performances,  an  opportunity  for  CityStep  students  to  show  off  their  moves  and  simulate  a  CityStep  class  experience  for  parents,  teachers,  and  peers.    

  Despite  record-­‐breaking  snow  threatening  to  slow  us  down,  our  CitySteppers  made  great  progress  in  February  and  March,  dazzling  at  the  All  Day  Rehearsal,  where  CitySteppers  choreographed,  rehearsed,  and  performed  for  each  other  on  Harvard’s  campus.  Before  we  knew  it,  the  stage  lights  were  up  for  our  Final  Show  in  April.  Each  CityStep  class  brought  the  audience  to  a  different  part  of  the  world,  showcasing  the  traditions,  holidays,  dances,  and  music  of  cultures  from  all  over  the  world.  Two  weeks  later,  we  met  again  for  our  end-­‐of-­‐the-­‐year  picnic  on  Harvard’s  campus  to  say  our  teary  goodbyes  for  the  year.    

  As  exciting  as  it  is  to  look  back  at  the  accomplishments  and  growth  of  our  students  and  our  CityStep  company,  we  cannot  wait  to  look  forward  and  see  how  CityStep  grows  in  the  next  year  as  we  pass  on  the  torch  to  our  new  and  energetic  leadership.  We  are  proud  to  join  the  ranks  of  an  alumni  group  that  continues  to  support  the  mission  of  CityStep  in  both  thought  and  deed.          

                   Ooh  Aah,    

                         Emelie  and  Jeremy                Heather  and  Erik          Outgoing  Executive  Directors                    Outgoing  Executive  Producers  

Hey

August 4, 2015

Summer  Newsletter  

CityStep Harvard Presents

CityStep!   Letter from the  Directors  

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Passport  to  CityStep  was  a  celebration  of  music,  dance,  culture,  and  art  throughout  the  world.  Each  was  inspired  by  a  country  or  region,  which  the  teachers  and  students  spent  the  year  exploring  and  studying.      The  final  show  was  an  incredible  culmination  of  our  year  of  learning  and  discovery—it  was  a  colorful,  exuberant  celebration  of  everything  CityStep  champions:  creativity,  self-­‐expression,  diversity,  learning,  and  joy.  We  started  the  show  in  “a  CityStep  classroom”  with  the  Uptown  Funk  warm-­‐up  that  begins  all  our  CityStep  classes.  We  then  buckled  our  seatbelts,  made  sure  our  seats  were  in  the  upright  and  locked  position,  and  began  our  journey  around  the  world.  We  started  in  Latin  America,  and  from  there  we  traveled  to  Carnivale  in  the  Carribean,  and  a  Chinese  New  Year  celebration,  before  cruising  around  the  Mediterranean.  After  intermission,  we  journeyed  to  the  Middle  East,  to  a  Bollywood  celebration  in  India,  and  finally  to  a  drum  circle  in  Africa,  returning  back  to  a  CityStep  classroom  for  the  Finale.  It  was  quite  a  journey!  

A  huge  shout-­‐out  goes  to  the  extraordinary  organizations  that  helped  enrich  the  children’s  experience  and  understanding  of  cultures  across  the  world.  We  were  so  lucky  to  get  to  work  with  dance  and  music  groups  on  campus,  including  the  South  Asian  Dance  Company,  the  Harvard  Caribbean  Club,  and  The  Harvard  Undergraduate  Drummers  (THUD).  

This Year’s CityStep Show!

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Other Happenings

CityStep  Picnic  Each  year,  we  have  a  picnic  

for  of  the  CityStep  classes  on  Harvard’s  Quad  Lawn.  It’s  a  time  for  CitySteppers  to  swap  stories  from  the  end  of  the  year  show  and  last-­‐minute  selfies  with  CityStep  teachers.  

 This  May,  we  had  a  beautiful  

day  on  the  lawn,  complete  with  home-­‐baked  goods  from  CityStep  parents,  chalk  drawings  (including  a  massive  game  of  hopscotch  with  over  50  steps)  and  a  collegiate  Quiddich  game  to  watch!  The  3YP-­‐ers  couldn’t  bear  the  thought  of  graduating  CityStep,  so  they  even  started  a  donation  fund  for  a  4YP  class.  Even  though  there  won’t  be  a  4YP  class  next  year,  we  have  a  feeling  we  won’t  be  seeing  the  last  of  these  CitySteppers!  

Natalie Portman’s  Shout-out!  CityStep  Alumna  Natalie  Portman  was  the  commencement  speaker  at  Harvard's  graduation  this  year.  Knowing  that  she  would  be  on  campus,  we  dropped  off  a  CityStep  sweatshirt  for  her,  hoping  to  remind  her  of  some  fond  memories.  We  had  no  idea  she  would  give  a  shout  out  to  CityStep  in  her  speech!    Here's  what  she  said:      "My  Harvard  degree  and  other  awards  are  emblems  of  the  experiences  which  led  me  to  them:  the  wood-­‐paneled  lecture  halls,  the  colorful  fall  leaves,  the  hot  vanilla  at  Toscaninis,  reading  great  novels  in  overstuffed  library  chairs,  running  through  dining  halls  screaming  'Ooh,  Aah,  CityStep,  CityStep,  CityStep,  CityStep!’”    We  were  overjoyed  that  Natalie  not  only  mentioned  us  so  prominently,  but  also-­‐-­‐as  is  the  case  for  so  many  of  us  in  the  company-­‐-­‐that  CityStep  had  made  such  an  impact  on  her.    

 Thanks for the shout-out, Natalie!

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Introducing… Next Year’s Board!  

Executive Directors Executive Producers

Music Directors

Classroom Directors

A note from the 2015-2016 Board

We  are  thrilled  to  be  coming  on  as  CityStep’s  2015-­‐2016  Board!  Each  of  us  has  gained  so  much  from  being  a  part  of  CityStep—an  on-­‐campus  community,  an  outlet  for  creativity,  and,  of  course,  an  excuse  to  spend  3  hours  a  week  with  some  truly  inspiring  kids.  We  feel  incredibly  fortunate  to  be  able  to  give  back  to  a  program  that  has  given  us  so  much,  and  we  cannot  wait  to  jump  right  in!    Until  then...  

Conor,  Emma,  Becca,  Jerry,  Alicia,  Alyyah,  Anali,  Lisa,  Michelle,  Sean,  John,  and  Sam  

Brought  to  you  by  CityStep  Harvard    

Conor Emma Becca Jerry

Alicia Alyyah Anali Lisa

Michelle Sean   John Sam