In the heart of midwinter, every year since 1886, our city cuts loose for the “coolest celebration on earth,” the St. Paul Winter Carnival. It’s the oldest winter festival in the nation and a fantastically, even ridiculously varied civic celebratory mish-mash: there are curling and snow plow competitions, as befits the season, as well as ice carving and a popular “medallion hunt” through the city, sponsored every year by the “Pioneer Press.” There’s a drag show and a cat show, geo-caching and ice skating; a marathon and even a special outdoor yoga class.

Runs from Jan. 26 through Feb. 5.

Our annual wintertime festival even comes complete with its own vaguely Teutonic legend and accompanying traditions — involving a certain King Boreas (ruler of the North Winds) and his icy queen Aurora and a full royal court, who vie for control of our fair city’s clime and culture with the god of fire, Vulcan, and his mischievous Krewe.

Ice carving is one of the highlights of the Winter Carnival.

There are loads of activities for kids,  of course— parades  and “coronations,” with lots of pomp and fanfare; although, sadly, because of our inordinately mild winter, our family’s favorite of these traditional events, the snow sculpture competition, has been cancelled this year for lack of the white stuff. Grown-ups will flock to the already-sold-out, third annual Beer Dabbler. There will, of course, be an abundance of live music in and around Rice Park, as well as dance and spoken word and various other performances.

The festivities and amenities (notably, food trucks) are most densely concentrated in Lowertown and downtown — particularly in and around Rice Park and in the vicinity of the Farmer’s Market. Even so, for the 10 days of the Winter Carnival you’ll find related happenings all over town. A calendar of events is available on the festival website, though, honestly, it’s kind of difficult to parse, especially if you’re looking for something specific. So, I’ve done a bit of poking around to point you toward the arts highlights of this year’s carnival:

Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar (the “official warming house” for the carnival), every year hosts the “Winter Carnival Annual Art Show,” a juried exhibition of work by local visual artists. Before you leave, be sure to head next door, to the AZ Gallery, where you’ll find the charming “ Elementary and Middle School Art Show,” which features work by St. Paul elementary and middle-school students.
Both art shows will be on view throughout the Winter Carnival, Jan. 26 – Feb. 5, at 308 Prince St., St Paul, Minn. Admission is free and open to the public.

If you’re a music lover, you won’t want to miss this year’s Deepwinter Bonfire, held at McNally Smith College of Music and the History Theatre. The college has an impressive line-up of improvisational music, spoken word and hip-hop dance, VJs and DJs; headlining the show is Coloring Time, a flexible roster of musicians, including Aby Wolf, Chastity Brown, Peter Pisano (Peter Wolf Crier), Michelle Kinney (Jelloslave), Kristoff Krane, Crescent Moon, Casey O’Brien (Face Candy), No Bird Sing, John Keston and others.
Deepwinter Bonfire will be held Jan. 28 at the McNally Smith College of Music and the History Theatre, 19 E. Exchange St. East, St. Paul, Minn., 55101 and www.mcnallysmith.edu. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with Improvestra performing at 6, Galactic Soul Arkestra at 8 and Coloring Time (with special guests) at 9 p.m. Dancers, DJs and VJs will perform throughout in the McNally Smith atrium, with food and drinks available. Admission is $5 (free with a student ID).

Poetry in Motion Dance Company will offer two full-length presentations of a new work, “The Ascent” —  it’s the first opportunity to see the production locally (although audiences saw a sneak peek at the Cowles Center opening in Minneapolis this fall); the show’s premiere staging was this November in Poland.
Poetry in Motion Dance Company will perform “The Ascent” on the Winter Carnival’s Rice Park stage, Saturday, Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. and Sunday, Jan. 29 at 1 p.m. with a shorter version to be performed on Feb. 4 at 1:30 p.m., 109 Fourth St. West, St. Paul, Minn.

The Euro Dance Party at the Germanic-American Institute sounds like a hoot. Shake your moneymaker to Euro-pop tunes all afternoon and evening on the grounds of the Germanic-American Institute. The institute’s all-ages “Winterfest” will include live music from Dale Dahmen and the Beats, authentic German Karneval Narren, family friendly activities, Glühwein, beer, brats and a variety of other German delicacies. In the evening, the dance party will head inside, down to the Ratskeller; you can warm up throughout the afternoon in the Winterfest Tent or around the bonfire.
The Euro Dance Party happens Jan. 28 from 3 p.m. to midnight on the grounds of the Germanic-American Institute, 301 Summit Ave., St. Paul, Minn. Admission is free.

The St. Paul Winter Carnival will feature events all over the city from Jan. 26 through Feb. 5. For detailed information on all this year’s events, visit the website: http://www.winter-carnival.com/.

Last month, just before the holidays, I spoke with Dance NOW! Miami founders and creative directors Diego Salterini and Hannah Baumgarten about Miami Open Stage, their new quarterly open stage series showcasing local talent at the Little Haiti Cultural Center.

Miami Open Stage.

The concept for Miami Open Stage comes from Salterini and Baumgarten’s decade-plus creative collaboration and their real-life performance exprience in front of and behind the curtain. “The minute you see something on stage, you sometimes see things vastly different than in a more casual setting,” Salterini says. “Miami Open Stage is set in a theater environment. Open for complete works by choreographers who want a theater experience without the cost of paying for a theater like the Colony.”

Unlike Inkub8′s wildly popular experimental open-studio series, Miami Open Stage is focused on dance and is more “theater scholarship” as opposed to a working space for works-in-progress. But this doesn’t mean Miami Open Stage isn’t open to works-in-progress. In fact, for now, Miami Open Stage is open to any local choreographer who wants to take a stab at showcasing their work, even works-in-progress, for the general public. The only limitations are logistics, age-appropriate material and lighting limitations.

Another important element of Miami Open Stage is the educational talk back section of the evening, when the audience and choreographers have the chance to discuss the work they’ve just seen. It’s an open discussion, Actor’s Studio-like by design, and serves as a conduit between audience and choreographer. “We hope the audience will feel comfortable to ask, to learn, to get to know the inside stories behind the creation of the pieces they’ve just seen.”

Miami Open Stage is a group show that serves a vital purpose for building and strengthening the local dance community. By providing a platform for audience cross-pollination, bringing audiences together from different parts of the community who come to see X or Y choreographer, it exposes the larger community to works by choreographers they may not have been exposed to before.

I asked Salterini and Baumgarten how do you foresee Miami Open Stage impacting the larger dance/theater community in South Florida. “If you live in Memphis or Nashville, you know you’re going to see great musical talent whereever you go. You’ll know you’ll hear something amazing,” says Salterini and Baumgarten. “We’re trying to open up the Little Haiti Cultural Center for the public to see the extraordinary local talent in Miami.”

Miami is full of talent. Miami Open Stage provides yet another opportunity for that talent to sing (or dance) beneath the spotlights. The Series may also encourage those dancers and choreographers working in the shadows on the periphery of the local dance scene to take the next step. It may also bring a wider audience to emerging and established choreographers. Without spending a dime, local talent can put up their next show. Showcase their work. Receive direct feedback from local audiences. And, most importantly, bring their vision to life as they see fit.

The next Miami Open Stage takes place on March 17, 2012, 7 p.m., $10. Performers interested in submitting work, please visit http://www.dancenowmiami.org/index.html. Little Haiti Cultural Center is at 212 N.E. 59th Terrace, Miami, Fla. 33137

We glide with ease through our homes. Run up and down stairs and across football fields without hesitation. Play catch with the kids. Some of us even hula hoop our hearts out whenever we get the chance. But each movement is a gift we sometimes take for granted.

Axis Dance, "Full of Words."

During the week of Jan. 23 through Jan. 28, 2012, Florida Dance Association and Tigertail Productions, a Knight Arts grantee, will present San Francisco-based Axis Dance Company during WinterFest as part of danceAble — a program that celebrates the gifts of dancers with and without disabilities. The week-long event features a Florida premiere, workshop and panel discussion.

The Florida Premiere of Axis Dance Company’s “Full of Words” by Marc Brew is a choreography based on the game, “You say a word, I say a word and we will make a sentence.” Instead of spoken word responses, dancers use their bodies to respond. Each movement is a bit of language — letters, words, assonant and consonant sounds, fragments, complete sentences and punctuation. The dancers create an intimate dialogue of movements that reflect the complexity of first encounters.

“Light Shelter,” by David Dorfman and “The Narrowing,” by Sebastian Grubb will also be featured as part of danceAble during WinterFest. In addition, a SERIOUS FUN! “Fundamentals of Physically Integrated Dance” workshop will be held at Inkub8. The workshop will focus on mixed-ability performance techniques and improvisations. To register, call 305-324-4337. Prices for single class are $15. A special deal for two classes is $45, which also includes one concert ticket.

AXIS Dance Company, Jan. 23rd through Jan. 28, 2012. Concert: Sat., Jan. 28, 2012, 8 p.m., Colony Theatre, 1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Workshops: Tue. and Wed., Jan. 24 and 25, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Inkub8, 2021 N.W. First Place, (Wynwood) Miami – SERIOUS FUN! “Fundamentals of Physically Integrated Dance.” Register for workshops by calling Tigertail at 305-324-4337. Panel: Thurs., Jan. 26, 7 to 8 p.m., Inkub8, 2021 N.W. First Place, Miami. “A Strategy: How to Enter the Life of a Dancer with AXIS” — Free. Purchase tickets: $30 general admission, $20 student/senior, 65 up (with I.D.). Artist tickets $20 at Box Office only. Tickets are on sale online at www.tigertail.org, by calling 305-324-4337 or at the Colony Theatre box office the night of the concert.

What makes this time of year a little extra special? Giving to others is great, but celebrating with a child can be a real treat. We are fortunate to have so much going on in Charlotte; lots of ways to celebrate the season through the arts and this goes for the younger audience, too.

To get you into the holiday spirit, here are just a few of the many events coming up in fun places for children (and families) to experience the transformative power of the arts.

ImaginOn, The Joe & Joan Martin Center — and main Children’s Library Uptown — always has cool things to do on a Saturday. Many of these events are free, like the “Family Storytime” for young ones and their caregivers, as well as the “ImaginOn House of Poetry” for teens. (ImaginOn is located at 300 E. Seventh St., Charlotte.)

The Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, also located in ImaginOn, has lots to offer, too. On Saturday, Dec. 10, catch its performance of “The Velveteen Rabbit” or, the following weekend, check out the super fun “Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells.” (All performances are sold out this weekend.)

Criss Cross Mangosauce, LLC. Photo courtesy of photographer Varanrat Torok

Another fun and affordable performance on Saturday, Dec. 10 is “iCelebra! Bilingual Holiday Concert” with Criss Cross Mangosauce. Together, with a group of talented musicians, it will bring to life its most popular holiday songs, called “villancicos” (traditional Latin American christmas carols) along with stories taking you on a virtual trip around Latin America, the U.S. and the world.

Its unique interactive performances make kids and adults move and sing in both English and Spanish. This performance is from 3 to 4 p.m. at Providence Day School at 5800 Sardis Road, Charlotte.

If making art is your child’s passion, consider Santa’s Secret Shop at FABO, located at 2820 Selwyn Ave., Suite 180 in Charlotte. FABO — which stands for “Fabulous Art Buying Opportunity” — is giving kids the chance to work with artist Carlleena Person. For a fee, they get to paint their own framed work of art under Person’s guidance. When done, this original work of art will be placed in a decorated bag ready to give. This time with an artist who loves working with kids is one-day only, Saturday, Dec. 10 from noon until 5 p.m.

Photo of Carlleena Person with children at last years’ Santa Secret Shop. Image provided by FABO

Of course, the holidays aren’t complete without seeing the “Nutcracker.” Mark your calendars for North Carolina Dance Theatre’s (a Knight Arts grantee) spectacular performance with live music from the Charlotte Symphony (also a Knight Arts grantee) and more than 100 performers. Experience the Nutcracker Prince’s triumph over the evil Mouse King as the Sugar Plum Fairy entertains Clara, her Nutcracker Prince, and the audience with dazzling dancing sweets.

You have two weekends to see why the Nutcracker is the most popular ballet in history. Performances will be held at the Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St. in Uptown Charlotte.

These are only a small cross sampling of holiday arts events especially for the little ones. Don’t forget to check the “Charlotte Culture Guide” — sponsored by the Arts & Science Council (a Knight Arts grantee) — to stay on top of what’s happening in and around our city.

Minnesota Hmong New Year celebration — Nov. 25 through 27 at St. Paul's RiverCentre.

Thousands of people from around the country will descend upon St. Paul’s vast downtown RiverCentre complex this weekend for the 36th annual Hmong New Year celebration. A significant majority of the more than 66,000 Hmong Americans who call Minnesota home live in the Twin Cities, making ours the largest urban Hmong population in the world. Both St. Paul and Minneapolis host their own iteration of the popular celebration in the late fall.

The St. Paul version of the Hmong New Year festival is more than 35 years old, established and run by the Lao Family Community. Their New Year’s celebration is a day rich with Southeast Asian culture and pageantry. Decked out in the vivid hues, bells and lavish textures of traditional Hmong garb, generations of families gather to celebrate both new and old traditions.

Against a backdrop of festive song and dance performances, you can watch an old-country courtship ritual-cum-ball toss flirtation among the community’s youth, or see lovely contestants vie for the coveted “Miss Hmong Minnesota” title. Browse through the cacophonous marketplace, where you can pick up anything from a huge bowl of pho to herbal medicines to videos and CDs of the latest hits from Thailand.

After all these years, St. Paul’s annual Hmong New Year celebration feels as Minnesotan as the State Fair or tater tot hot dish. If you’re in the cities and haven’t yet been, you’ll see: it’s a piquant, family friendly break from the usual, post-Thanksgiving, consumer-driven hubbub of this holiday weekend.

Photo courtesy of the Science Museum of Minnesota, taken during the New Year's ball toss in 1999. In this courtship ritual, young men and women stand in separate lines and each of the opposing pairs tosses a ball back and forth. By Laotian tradition, a missed catch requires the player to forfeit an item of clothing or jewelry, which may be recovered later by singing one love song per lost item.

The 31^st Annual Minnesota Hmong New Year celebration takes place Nov. 25, 26 and 27, 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. each day, at the RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minn. 175 W. Kellogg Blvd. Advance tickets are $5; $6 at the door (cash only). Children under 3 and seniors get in free.

… is bursting at the coastline with an almost overwhelming supply of art and cultural events to experience. This is a great thing, so long as one has a plan. Here are a few tips on what to see around town this weekend and the coming week.

"The Skin I Live In" promo.

This Friday, make sure you head over to the Little Haiti Cultural Center to experience its monthly Big Night in Little Haiti, featuring Papaloko and Loray Mistik, a Haitian vodou pop band that will set the vibe for the evening. Big Night in Little Haiti will also feature performances by a variety of musicians and dancers throughout the night, art exhibition in the gallery and, of course, great food. Also, District 5 Wheels of Hope/Christmas in Haiti Toy Drive will be collecting unwrapped toy donations for children in Haiti. The Little Haiti Cultural Center is located at 212 N.E. 59th Terrace in Miami. The cost is free. Contact 305-960-2969, or visit BigNightLittleHaiti.com for more info.

Thursday, Nov. 17 and Friday, Nov. 18, the Afro-Brazilian dance company Brazz Dance Theater will perform “Cordel,” a work developed during a month-long residency at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center. “Cordel” will be performed in the intimate South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center Lab Theater. Read my interview with Brazz Dance Artistic Director Augusto Soledade here. For ticket information, visit http://www.smdcac.org/brazz-dance.html. Cost $15. Located at 10950 S.W. 211 St. in Cutler Bay.

If you’re a fan of Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, then his latest film, “The Skin I Live In,” is required viewing. Held over for one more week at the Coral Gables Art Cinema, “The Skin I Live In” is, by most accounts, Almodóvar’s first psychological horror. It cuts and gets under your skin. “The Skin I Live In” is a radical shift from classic Almodóvar’s tragicomic films, such as “All About My Mother,” “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” and “Law of Desire.” Quintessential Almodóvar, maybe not, but “The Skin I Live In” stars Antonio Banderas, one of Almodóvar’s most adorable and quintessential stars from the ’80s and ’90s.

“The Skin I Live In” runs from Nov. 18 through Nov. 24. A free panel discussion, “All About Almodóvar,” will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave. in Coral Gables. For movie times and ticket information, visit http://gablescinema.com/.

Oh, and I almost forgot the Miami International Book Fair. I suggest a visit on Sunday to hear a little poetry from Florida poets and writers Michael Hettich, Les Standiford, Henry Cole and Patricia Engle. For a full listing of events, visit: http://www.miamibookfair.com/.

Inkub8‘s monthly Inkub8r Open-Studio Series continued last Saturday with a “wet” and “dry” performance of “To Do or Not To Do,” a multimedia, multidisciplinary collaboration with performer and choreographer Carlota Pradera and experimental electronic musician Nicole Martinez.

Nicole Martinez. Photo by Neil de la Flor

The first hour of the “dry” performance took place inside Inkub8′s white box studio space. Illuminated by pink and blue lights, the sparsely staged space featured Martinez set up on an L-shaped workstation in front of the studio’s rolling door. In front of Martinez, who wore black slacks and a white long-sleeve shirt, a constellation of women’s flats and high-heel shoes littered the floor. A small, white table with a drawer and black folding chair were the only props visible besides the shoes. The audience lined the south wall.

Pradera wore all black and executed a fantastic, non-stop collage of spontaneous, improvised movements that were erratic, electric and utterly manic. She hopped, jumped, ran, darted and shuffled around the space as if possessed. Her facial expressions at times reminded me of a deranged rabbit chomping down on a carrot.

Carlota Pradera. Photo by Neil de la Flor

Pradera performed barefoot, wearing a single high-heel shoe and wearing two high-heel shoes. She danced with the small white table and wrestled, danced, hugged and ran around the space with the black-folding chair. She even levitated for a moment on the chair’s seat. Pradera made me laugh, while Martinez’s guttural soundscapes grounded the performance in a serious, contemplative state.

Inkub8. Photo by Neil de la Flor

The second (“wet”) hour of the performance was an abrupt shift. Pradera moved to the exterior space, the parking lot, where a rectangular stage was set up next to a hose. Two blue lights, strategically located at each end of the stage, cast Pradera’s shadow upon the back wall. Pradera then performed a choreography with two-shadows. She wore a blue dress. She reminded me of a marionette. I didn’t want this portion of the performance to end, but I also wanted it to evolve beyond the choreography with the shadows.

Carlota Pradera. Photo by Neil de la Flor

While Pradera moved, Martinez performed electronic sounds with underwater effects, which made me feel like I was watching all of this take place inside Disney’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” ride. Martinez’s soundscape elevated Pradera’s movements during this section of the performance. At several points throughout the performance, Pradera was hosed by audience members. For the finale, Pradera slowly made her way off the stage, ascended the spiral staircase located near the entrance and vanished into the second floor offices of Inkub8.

For more information and schedule of upcoming performances during Inkub8′s open-series, visit www.inkub8.org.

Like many larger cities, Charlotte is comprised of a variety of people. Highlighting this diversity are many different festivals throughout the year. Our large Latino community is one that is culturally rich, and a great way to experience a slice of this is at the 21st annual Latin American Festival on Sunday, Oct. 9. This festival is best known for its rich and savory cuisine, international musical acts, breathtaking visual artwork and craftwork and vibrant dance presentations. This year will also have world-renowned Colombian rockers Aterciopelados playing their debut concert in Charlotte.

Members of the Carolinas Latin Dance Company at Latin American Festival. Photo courtesy of Tony Arreaza

The Latin American Festival — one of Charlotte’s signature cultural events — attracts thousands of individuals from our multicultural community to enjoy local, national and internationally known musicians, handmade arts and crafts, authentic Latin American cuisine, traditional folkloric dance performances and children’s activities and performances. This is a true cultural experience for all.

The 21st annual Latin American Festival is a cultural heritage celebration and fundraiser by the Latin American Coalition, Latin American Women’s Association and the Mint Museums (a Knight Arts grantee). These organizations offer direct social services, educational and informational initiatives and scholarship support, as well as arts and cultural programming, which improve and enrich the lives of families living in the greater Charlotte area.

The festival’s “Plaza de Artistas” will feature a dozen local Latino artists working in all kinds of media. The artists will be on site to show and talk about their work. Local artist Rosalia Torres-Weiner is being commissioned by the local Spanish newspaper Que Pasa Mi Gente to paint a 4 foot by 8 foot panel mural depicting the energy and fun “fiesta” spirit that embodies this festival every year. The cool part is the artist is leaving some of the silhouettes blank and will invite spectators to pose while she continues her painting during the festival.

Rosalia Torres-Weiner's mural detail, in-process. Photo courtesy of the artist

Its “Carnaval Stage” will feature folkloric dances and music from all over Latin America. There will be plenty of activities for kids there, too.

Finally, the “Rumba Stage” is where the bands perform. (It’s the same stage the symphony performs on outside SouthPark Mall.) Headliners this year are Colombia’s Aterciopelados. They’ve been making music for 20 years and are pop/rock en español trailblazers. Miami’s Xperimento feature a reggae/merengue mix, and N.Y.C.’s Jose Conde will perform his own blend of Cuban pop/funk. Also on the bill are Gersey Nicolas, Fusion Latina and Los Tarascos de Michoacán.

For those wanting to continue the celebration, the Neighborhood Theatre — in NoDa — is hosting a free after-party following the 21st Latin American Festival on Oct. 9. The party starts at 7 p.m. and includes live music performances by Miami funk reggae dance party group Xperimento and Charlotte’s own Bakalao Stars. Visit www.neighborhoodtheatre.com for more info.

2011 Latin American Festival is from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 9
at Symphony Park, SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Road, Charlotte
Admission is $5 (8 years or younger free, as are Mint Museum members)
Plenty of free parking around the mall
Visit www.festivallatinoamericano.org

This Friday, Sept. 2, Fourth Wall Arts will be hosting its 15^th Salon from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. There are a wide array of artists and performers making an appearance at this Salon event. From poets and sculptors to music, dance and magic tricks, there is certainly plenty to check out on Friday evening. This is Fourth Wall’s first event at the museum, and it promises a diverse and eclectic show at the iconic locale.

Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo courtesy the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Facebook page

Nina “Lyrispect” Ball, award-winning writer, poet and actress, will be the host for the Salon. Ball, a Baltimore native (with strong ties as a Philly resident) has been featured in national and local print, online publications and also represents one-fifth of the spoken word collective Spoken Soul 215 (SS215).

Spoken Soul 215.

Another Spoken Soul 215 member, Greg Corbin – aka “Just Greg” – will be performing, as well. You may also know Corbin as the founder of Knight Arts grantee Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement (PYPM), recent winners of Brave New Voices, the poetry slam competition that took place in San Francisco. Fortunately, some of the Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement poets will be on hand to share some of their rhymes on Friday night, too.

Other performances will include The Divine Hand Ensemble’s eight-piece classical compositions, dance by Shafeek “Mighty Mouse” Westbrook, Ernest Stuart on trombone, hip-hop group The Trees, magic from the one-man sideshow David Smith and DJ Supreme.

There will be visual arts on hand, as well, curated by the Center for Emerging Visual Artists. Simone Spencer and Darla Jackson will be displaying their sculptures at the Salon. Another familiar face, Jackson previously received a Knight Arts grant to open the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym.

Needless to say, there is a lot of great content packed into a short night down at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Friday. Between poets and musicians, sculptors and magicians, Fourth Wall Arts is poised to present another great event showcasing the explosive creativity alive in the Philadelphia area. The Salon is free after admission to the museum.

The Philadelphia Museum of art is located at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. To contact Fourth Wall Arts, visit fourthwallarts.org, or call 215-645-2424.

School’s starting up again around here, and for those with kids at home, I bet a fair number of kitchen-table conversations are underway about extra-curricular activities, like what to take on, how much to pay for them and where to find the right fit for each kid’s inclinations? Given the budget squeeze faced by St. Paul’s public schools, parents serious about arts education would be well advised to look beyond the classroom — when cuts-hungry administrators and legislators are desperate to balance their books, eliminating (or dramatically cutting) funds for arts instruction inevitably enters the conversation. The good news is Minnesota’s capital city offers a wealth of youth cultural programming, intriguing children’s classes and workshops covering a wide range of visual and performing arts. Browse around a bit, and you’ll find there are plenty of options, suited to just about any household budget and interest. Below are just a few ideas for some places your kids might start their cultural explorations.

Arty Pants: Your Tuesday Playdates at the Walker Art Center. (Photo by Gene Pittman)

If you’re thinking of beginning music lessons, the Minneapolis-based MacPhail Center of Music is an obvious and well-regarded choice for both class and individual instruction. But St. Paul’s McNally Smith College of Music also partners with local schools to provide topical faculty clinics for students — on, say, songwriting or improvisation, music theory or recording and production — in the classroom. Alternately, the college invites schools to bring students on-campus to find out more about professional artists at work: they can participate in artist-in-the-industry seminars or watch a performance, even witness a live recording session.

St. Paul School of Rock summer camp. (Photo courtesy of St. Paul School of Rock)

If traditional fare isn’t your budding musician’s cup of tea, why not check out what’s going on at the School of Rock? Like the one-off school-sponsored offerings of McNally Smith, School of Rock offers a number of opportunities for kids to dip a toe in without putting much on the line; rather than committing to a full series of lessons, the curious can attend a one-time workshop in slide guitar, maybe, or go to an open jam. (As the parent of a kid with intense but fickle interests, I know I appreciate the chance to ease in and test the waters before making a big investment of time or money.)

Circus Juventas production photo for "Grimm." (Photo by Dan Norman)

And what if the stage is calling? SteppingStone Theatre has an attractive and varied line-up of classes for young thespians, from 3 to 18 years of age, including “Fall Fun Days,” to keep kids creatively occupied during the annual three-day break from school in October, Saturday afternoon classes for the youngest enthusiasts and intensive training for the aspiring theater professional.

For those in pursuit of more physically active performance, why not look beyond the usual tumbling and gymnastics classes to the eye-popping dance and performing arts taught by Circus Juventas? If Cirque du Soleil captures your child’s imagination, consider the sense of accomplishment to be gained by learning for oneself how to walk the high wire, fly on the trapeze or twist in the aerial silks. Even better, there are a number of scholarships available for students interested in taking classes at Circus Juventas, making this incredibly cool performing arts resource accessible to children from families at all income levels.

Production photo for SteppingStone Theatre's "The Emperor's New Clothes."

Visual arts opportunities for children are well represented by the community and educational programming offered through area museums and galleries, of course, but parents should also be sure to check out the smaller, neighborhood-based organizations as well. For example, St. Paul’s ArtStart is a terrific nonprofit dedicated to providing hands-on cultural experiences, like the “ScrapMobile” community art-making workshops, classes combining art and ecology, special festivals, poetry readings and art exhibits.

For kids living in St. Paul’s Dayton’s Bluff and Payne/Phalen neighborhoods, the EastSide Arts Council offers ArtsYES, an array of free arts programs which aim to provide high-quality, interdisciplinary, skill-building arts classes for any child, regardless of means; there are a variety of professional artist-led after-school and summertime programs for those interested in pursuing visual arts, dance, spoken word, theater and music.

ArtSpark's annual EcoArts Festival on St. Paul's Harriett Island. (Photo courtesy of the City of St. Paul)

Of course, this is but a sampling of what’s available. St. Paul offers an abundance of arts programming for kids, with much of it being free or inexpensive. You just need to know where to look. In that spirit, I’d love to get tips from parents and families exploring such opportunities — for those of you raising children in the St. Paul area, what civic and educational arts and cultural resources for families and children have you come to rely on that you might recommend to your friends and neighbors?