Husband and wife duo offer holistic performing arts classes to connect parents and children creatively

Husband and wife Ryan Dixon and Chanda Calentine have been working with children for years, using the performing arts to help parents and children connect with one another and “the creative vibrations of the world around them.”

The Brooklyn-expats’ forthcoming class series, “a holistic introduction to the world of music, dance and theatre, using poetry, percussion, singing, dancing and playing,” takes place on Saturday mornings at Asheville Community Theatre, from May 2 through July 11, at 10-11 a.m. Single class rates are $12 for one child or $20 for two. An entire season pass is $100 for one child or $160 for two, with a free CD of class music included.

For more information or to register for these classes, contact Chanda Calentine, ACT education director, at 828-254-2939 ext. 27 or at chanda@ashevilletheatre.org.

Here is the full release from co-founder Ryan Dixon:

In 2011, Ryan “Slim” Dixon and his wife Chanda Calentine (and dogs and guinea pigs) left Brooklyn, NY in search of new artistic adventures. That search (as it has for so many) brought them to Asheville, NC.

Being avid hikers and teaching/performing artists, they immediately began to explore the terrain WNC has to offer. “We spent the weekdays exploring the local arts and education communities and the weekends visiting the area’s amazing trails and waterfalls. We knew right away that this was a community for us,” he remembers.

At schools such as Rainbow Mountain Community School and ArtSpace Charter School, the couple quickly found environments where their holistic approach to the performing arts was welcomed. Another place they visited soon after arriving was the Asheville Community Theatre, where Chanda soon found employment, running their Education program.

It was at one of these waterfalls where Ryan found the inspiration for his album What’s Shaking? Volume 1. “I took my dogs up to the top of High Falls (in Dupont State Forest) and sat under the covered bridge. It was Thanksgiving day, 2012. As I opened my notebook, a dragonfly landed on my hand and looked at me for a moment. When it flew away, my brain almost exploded with lyrics. Within 30 minutes, I had sketched out 8 songs and poems, which became this album.”

While in Brooklyn, Ryan wrote and produced plays and music, fronting a band called The Waywords. He also worked in a number of afterschool programs with all ages, teaching everything from music, creative writing and improv acting to job readiness, conflict resolution and environmental Science. Still, it was when he began teaching Mommy & Me music classes with a curriculum called Music For Aardvarks that he found his true passion.

“I had a dear friend who taught the classes, and she convinced me to train with her company, AudraRox. Halfway through the first class, we’re dancing with 15 toddlers and their parents and I knew this was a place for me.”

During the next 4 years, Ryan taught these classes and did birthday parties all over Brooklyn, building his reputation and his unique style of connecting with children of this age. When he relocated to Asheville, he knew the classes would work, but he also knew he would need new songs.

“Music For Aardvarks was a great curriculum, but the songs are based on the experience of living in NYC. It’s for city kids. When I got here and started to catch the vibe of these mountains and these people, I realized that if I was going to teach classes here, I would have to write songs about being a kid here, in WNC. These tunes and poems attempt to capture the natural wonder, progressive ideals and spiritual vibrations of this town.”

The class experience itself is a holistic introduction to the world of music, dance and theatre, using poetry, percussion, singing, dancing and playing to connect children and their parents to the creative vibrations of the world around them.

“One of the reasons I love teaching these classes is, it’s not just about the kids. It’s about facilitating experiences that help the parents share the joy of rhythmic art with their children. And of course, the arts are a gateway to every subject a child will learn, from Math to Literacy to Science to Social Studies. It’s truly incredible how much ground you can cover while you’re playing.”

What’s Shaking? will be offered at the Asheville Community Theatre this spring. The class will meet in the lobby of the theatre each Saturday morning from 10:00-11:00 am, from May 2nd through July 11th.You can participate in the class in one of two ways. Drop in when you can and just pay by the class – it’s $12 for one child or $20 for two. Or, buy the entire class as a package for $100 for one child or $160 for two! The package price also includes a free CD so kids can listen to the music they’re learning at home! For more information or to register for these classes, contact Chanda Calentine, ACT education director, at 828-254-2939 ext. 27 or at chanda@ashevilletheatre.org.

In addition to these classes, Ryan can also be found directing music for ACT childrens’ productions such as Seussical, Jr. and Jungle Book, teaching Bricks4Kidz, a Lego-based STEM program at area elementary schools, or gigging with his new band (for adults), Record Prophets.

“I’ve found WNC to be unbelievably inspiring. After a few years of exploring the area, I’m excited to be sharing the music I’ve received from these mountains with the community that I’ve come to love.”

To contact Ryan for individual lessons, parties or classes, email him at rgnatureboy@gmail.com.