Travel
OC’s Best Kept Summer Camp Secret
06.03.11
By Sheryll Alexander
Ever heard of Costa Mesa’s Arts & Learning Conservatory? No? That’s because super impressive founder Debora Wondercheck (see more about her below) has been kept under wraps way too long. With super professional and talented teachers, this excellent organization takes its summer camps seriously and yet with lots of good-natured humor too.
Held at Costa Mesa’s Vanguard University, The Arts & Learning Conservatory has both half- and full-day summer theatre camps for kids ages 5-16. In addition, the conservatory features before and after extended child care as well as camps specifically for voice, dance, acting and orchestra.
Why theatre camp? Creating a professional musical production requires all kinds of skills, talents and lots of team work. Kids not only open their minds to creativity, but learn the value of confidence, laughter, singing, dancing, painting and even technical skills such as set construction, sound and lighting production.
For 2011, The Arts & Learning Conservatory summer theatre and music schedule features:
Rapunzel: June 27-July 1
Acting: June 27-July 8
Cinderella, July 5-8
Orchestra: July 11-22
Annie: July 11-15
Group Voice: July 11-22
Wizard of Oz: July 18-22
Toy Story: July 25-29
Stage Combat & Movement: July 25-Aug. 5
Peter Pan: Aug. 1-5
Camp Broadway’s Got Talent: Aug. 8-12
We recommend The Arts & Learning Conservatory because our family was recently involved in one of the organization’s school drama programs (at Woodland Elementary). My veteran film actor and director husband, who helped proctor the class, was highly impressed with conservatory drama teacher Chelsea Braverman’s style, professionalism and enthusiasm.
In fact, all 23 teachers at the conservatory not only have extensive acting, music, voice and theatre experience, but all have master’s or even doctorate degrees. They are also screened fingerprinted for security purpose and trained in CPR.
Ready to get your kid involved in a cool and highly memorable summer camp? For more information on all summer camps, including prices, visit their website.
More About Founder Debora Wondercheck
Debora Wondercheck is the executive director of The Arts & Learning Conservatory, which she founded seven years ago. Since then, her organization has production more than 40 productions. She is an adjunct professor of music at Vanguard University and also serves as the director of music at the Waldorf School of Orange County. While teaching in the Newport-Mesa School District, Debora was a recipient of the Teacher's of Excellence Award. Currently Debora serves on the Cultural Arts Committee for the city of Costa Mesa and is a member of the Arts Alliance of California. Debora has also instructed in the Irvine Unified School District where she was a master teacher of string pedagogy. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s of science in education administration from Cal State Fullerton.
Sheryll Alexander runs a news media agency based in Costa Mesa, California.
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