Ifetayo Youth
Ensemble (IYE) - Entrance by Audition Only
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The Ifetayo Youth Ensemble (IYE) is a
pre-professional training and performing program designed
for youth aged 11-21 which is dedicated to the emotional
and personal growth of youth primarily of African descent,
from throughout the Caribbean, Americas and Africa. Through
rigorous artistic training, peer support, and mentoring,
the Ensemble creates a supportive structure in which youth
can discover and celebrate their strengths.
Youth are stimulated as artists, scholars, and activists by researching and
creating new works that address pressing social issues. Research along with
interpretation of written texts, peer mentoring sessions, interviews with community
leaders, and visits to relevant exhibits and presentations are integral elements
of the group’s creative process. The Youth Ensemble meets weekly for
training, mentoring, and rehearsal all day Saturday for a total of 8-10 hours
per week. Additional activities include research and field trips that take
place after-school on weekdays, weekends and on holidays.
The group renders its interpretations of the works of major choreographers
and has worked with Donald Byrd, Bebe Miller, Abdel Salaam, Sarita Allen, Marilyn
Worrell, Walter Jones, Faybiene Miranda, Sarita Allen, Ronn Bobb-Semple and
Kevin Iega Jeff. Performances of such works serve to expand and diversify IYE’s
repertoire and also provide opportunities to build mentoring relationships
between IYE members and professional artists. The group performs at local community
schools, theaters, churches, special events, at Ifetayo concerts, and other
Brooklyn venues. Members receive full artistic scholarships for training and
rehearsals.
Program Goals:
* To provide training of the highest caliber to Youth Ensemble members by offering
professional-level training with nationally recognized choreographers, composers,
and playwrights.
* To teach technical skills in the arts that promotes articulate self-expression
through artistic expression.
* To prepare youth for ongoing study and careers in the arts.
* To engage youth as activists to identify important social issues and
to utilize the arts as a vehicle for self-liberation and a mechanism for
youth identified social issues.
* To build IYE into a top ranked pre-professional performance ensemble.
The resulting works are authentic, honestly and openly addressing issues that
are meaningful to young women and men, because they are real issues that teenagers
face. The students also use this medium as a means to express their opinions
about socio-economic and political issues facing them and their communities.
When they perform, IYE members share their skill, confidence, and growing
self-knowledge with other young people and audiences of all ages to create
awareness, provide opportunities for open dialogue and present solutions to
eradicate injustices and social inequities. The Youth use the arts as a tool
for social change and community development and allows them to become powerful
advocates.
