- Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts
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Center for Creative Arts Established 1874 Type Public secondary fine arts magnet Principal Debbie Smith Grades 6–12 Location Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA Website [1] The Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts is a dedicated fine arts magnet school for students grades six through twelve, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. Chattanooga High School was founded in the fall of 1874. Its seventh and final location, built in 1963, is now the Center for Creative Arts (CCA).
Contents
Arts
Students at the Center for Creative Arts major in one of the five disciplines: Communications, Dance, Music, Theatre, or Visual Arts.
- Communications majors focus on Creative Writing.
- Dance majors take classes in Ballet and Modern dance.
- Music majors choose a concentration in Instrumental or Vocal Music.
- Theatre majors choose a concentration in Acting, Musical Theatre, or Technical Theatre.
- Visual Arts majors take classes in various Studio Settings.
Events
In 2004, work by student artists from the Center for Creative Arts went on exhibit in the Mayor’s Office Conference Room for several months. This Art in Public Places program was sponsored and coordinated by Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga. [1]
In 2005, twenty-five students from CCA visited Gangneung, South Korea to perform at the Fourth Annual International Junior Arts Festival. Over 500 students, ages 12 to 20, from Russia, Germany, Mongolia, Japan, the U.S. and Korea took part in the event. [2]
In 2007, the Center for Creative Arts Dance Department hosted the Tennessee Association of Dance (TAD) annual statewide conference. This weekend of dance classes, seminars, lectures and performances brings internationally known master teachers to work with Tennessee students in ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop, African, dance conditioning, yoga, musical theater, tap, swing, and contact improvisation. [3]
Ongoing events include the annual Jazz Benefit at the Bessie Smith Hall with performances by students and faculty. [4] The annual Chattanooga Dances! Concert is presented in the Center for Creative Arts Auditorium. The program highlights the city’s non-profit dance companies along with those schools who maintain a full time Dance Department. [5] The Center for Creative Arts Theatre Department performs in the school’s Sandra Black Theatre. [6]
The Choo Choo Kids
The Choo Choo Kids are a division of the Musical Theatre major at CCA. Students audition for between 10-15 prestigious spots in this musical theatre troupe. The teenagers who are accepted are considered to be the most talented kids within the musical theater major. The Choo Choo Kids put together a show from songs from various musicals, centered around a theme. They then perform this show at conventions, schools, and festivals throughout Chattanooga, the Southeast, and around the world. The Choo Choo Kids often travel to other countries to participate in performance festivals as well. Travel higlights include Australia, South Korea, Germany, Italy, and Iceland. Most recently, during the summer of 2009, the "Kids" traveled through the sister cities program to performed in Hamm, Germany. The "Kids" have been featured in numerous local and national publications including Southern Living Magazine, The Choo Choo Kids are also featured entertainment at Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park throughout the summer season.They are extremely skilled in acting, dancing, and vocal. The middle school musical theatre majors are also amazing and strive to be choo choo kids! Current Choo Choo Kids: Aaron Stangarone, Kiona Reese, Colby Howell, Kristen Neal, Bobby Burkich, Kelseigh Garrett, Jay Echols, Brittni Rhodes, Damon Gillespie, Rava Stapp, David Couter, and Kiona Billings.
Project Motion
Project Motion is a division of the Dance major at CCA. Students audition for a select amount of spots in this prestigious dance troupe. Dancers must be extremely skilled in both ballet and modern. Students accepted into Project Motion are considered the best dancers within the dance major.
Awards
In 2006, the school was awarded the 2005-2006 Creative Ticket Award by the Kennedy Center. The Creative Ticket Award recognizes schools that have done an outstanding job of making the arts an essential part of the education of their students. Selection criteria at the national level included a review of the ways in which arts education is an essential component of the school curriculum; how the program creates and uses imaginative learning environments for teaching and learning in, through and about the arts; how the arts program provides opportunities for parental involvement in education; how the program provides opportunities for learning about other cultures through the arts; and how the program links arts education to community cultural resources. [7]
In 2007, Karen Wilson, Dance Department Chair at the Center for Creative Arts, received the Tennessee Association of Dance Outstanding Dance Educator Award. The award recognizes and honors excellence in the field of dance education. [8]
Admission and Auditions
Center for Creative Arts is a unique dedicated fine arts magnet school promoting academics and artistic excellence for students in grades six through thirteen.
The predominant pedagogy for integrating the arts in core curriculum is Discipline-Based Arts Education. In addition to meeting the Tennessee state requirements for graduation in the college track, students have the opportunity to elect Advanced Placement courses and dual enrollment. The school's curriculum is supported by more than 70 fine arts courses. The staff and faculty at the Center for Creative Arts were selected for their academic expertise and interest in the arts. They have exhibited this by amassing more than 10,000 collective hours in staff development. The dedication to excellence in education is at the heart of the success at the Center for Creative Arts.
The curriculum at CCA is college preparatory in its structure. The academic year features and A/B block schedule with year long classes meeting on alternate days. Students take four 90 minute classes each day and may earn eight credits per year. a minimum of 28 credits are required for graduation, but students can earn up to 32. The requirements include 4 credits in English, 4 in math, 2 in foreign language, 4 credits in laboratory science, 3 in social studies and 1 credit in lifetime wellness. Upper level students may take joint enrollment classes at UTC or on our campus through Chattanooga State. We also offer Advanced Placement classes in a variety of disciplines as well as honors classes.
Applicants interested in attending CCA must submit an application. A successful audition and application are required for acceptance.
CCA Audition Brochure[dead link]
References
- ^ "Student art goes on exhibit in Mayor’s Office". City of Chattanooga. 2004-12-16. http://www.chattanooga.gov/General_Government/62_StudentArtonExhibitinMayorsConferenceRoom.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
- ^ "News From Our Sister Cities: Gangneung". Sister Cities International. November, 2005. http://www.chattanoogasistercities.org/LatestNews/Newsletter%20November%202005.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-22.[dead link]
- ^ "Arts News". The Pulse. 2007-10-17. http://www.chattanoogapulse.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2007/10/17/4714f8b4d3051. Retrieved 2007-10-22.[dead link]
- ^ "Center For Creative Arts Jazz Benefit Is Nov. 11". The Chattanoogan. 2007-10-15. http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_115248.asp. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
- ^ "Allied Arts Community Calendar". Allied Arts. 2006-11-17. http://www.alliedartschattanooga.org/calendar/day.php?date=20061117. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
- ^ "Center For Creative Arts Performs To Kill A Mockingbird". The Chattanoogan. 2007-10-22. http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_115605.asp. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
- ^ "News from the Kennedy Center Education Department: Creative Ticket Award Winners". The Kennedy Center. November, 2006. http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/kcaaen/newsletter/NovNewsletter_2006.pdf. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
- ^ "CCA Teacher Wins State Award For Dance Education". The Chattanoogan. 2007-10-19. http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_115481.asp. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
External links
Categories:- Middle schools in Tennessee
- High schools in Tennessee
- Magnet schools in Tennessee
- Educational institutions established in 1874
- Schools in Chattanooga, Tennessee
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