Teaching Artist Cheyenne DeMille leads a CLARA Dance class in Natomas Unified School District
What is a Teaching Artist Residency?
CLARA’s Teaching Artist Residency program brings a professional teaching artist into your classroom for weekly lessons to deliver VAPA standards-aligned arts education in Music, Theatre, or Dance for grades TK-6.
10- or 15-week CLARA residencies qualify for AMS or Prop 28 funds using the 20% provision for arts education through Arts Partnership Programs or using additional Prop 28 funds if your District has submitted a waiver.
Interested in bringing Teaching Artist Residencies to your school?
Contact Robin Fisher, Education Program Manager: rfisher@claramidtown.org
Where does CLARA currently provide Teaching Artist Residencies?
Fall 2024 — 2,175 students served
* 87 classrooms per week in Natomas Unified School District
Spring 2025 — 3,575 students served
* 90 classrooms per week in Natomas Unified School District
* 43 classrooms per week in Sacramento City Unified School District
What VAPA content is taught by grade level?
Each 45-minute lesson plan, drawn from the Performers Ready! curriculum for elementary school Music, Theatre, and Dance, is specifically designed to develop and support students’ social and emotional learning needs, prioritizing self-expression and self-regulation through the performing arts. Our teaching artists may augment lesson plans with their own areas of specialization that reflect diversity, connections to cultural heritage, and innovative directions in performing arts education that align with learning outcomes and standards.
MUSIC
- TK-2 Foundations in Music
- 3rd Recorder and Music Notation
- 4th Basics of Singing and Advanced Notation
- 5th Drumming and Rhythmic Notation
- 6th Ukulele
DANCE
- TK-2 Foundations in Dance
- 3rd Dance + Culture: Social Dances
- 4th Dance + Music: A Common Language
- 5th Dance + Communication + Expression
- 6th Evolution of Dance in America
THEATRE
- TK-2 Foundations in Theatre
- 3rd Story + Character
- 4th Creative Collaboration
- 5th Monologues + Playwriting
- 6th Spoken Word + Scenes
CLARA Teaching Artists (TAs) are active performing arts professionals in our region who value how arts education for TK-6 students can change lives. Before each residency begins, our TAs have completed CLARA Teacher Training, a Live Scan report, a TB test, and Mandatory Reporter training, so that they are ready to lead 10- 15-week classes using the Performers Ready! Curriculum in regional schools. Many of our TAs have shared their teaching talent through CLARA’s programs for years, but as our outreach grows, we look forward to inviting new performing artists to join the team. We work to consider artists’ professional performing commitments in scheduling when possible, so that they can continue to bring their expertise and creativity back to the classroom.
Interested in applying to join the CLARA Teaching Artist Company?
Contact Robin Fisher, Education Program Manager: rfisher@claramidtown.org
