What Stands Between Artists and Their Dreams?

In A One-Time Opportunity, Dr. Bill Crawford, Ph.D. and Professional Actor Dan DeLuca, Are Coming To Answer THIS and Other Questions You May Not Even Know To Ask

How do we handle the stress and anxiety that are part of the performing arts experience?  This is a question along the path of learning, teaching and performing in the arts that many of us do not always know how best to answer and  we may not even know how to ask, in order to prepare for success.

Sunday, October 21, is our opportunity.  Dr. Bill Crawford, Ph.D. (https://www.billcrawfordphd.com/performing-arts/), author of “Freeing the Artistic Mind,” will lead two master class seminars at Metropolitan School of the Arts to help us all.  Dr. Crawford is a highly- acclaimed expert, and also began his career as a musician, and his youngest son just graduated with a BFA in acting which means he has first-hand information on the challenges of being a young artist.  

Crawford will present two times in a lively dialog with Actor Dan DeLuca, best known for starring in the original role of Jack Kelly in Disney’s, “Newsies.”

FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS

Sunday , October 21

5:30 – 7:00pm

He will help you deal better with anxiety and stress (as well as fear of failure, the future, and just being a teenager).  Specifically, he will provide: 

1. A better understanding of the nature of emotions and reactions and how to shifting to the clear, confident, creative part of the brain.
2. How to stay/live in this more purposeful part of who we are so that it becomes a habit

This is new information on dealing with auditions, school, difficult people, relationships, the future… along with cutting-edge strategies for managing anxiety, anger, frustration, depression, worry and stress! 

What to expect: “Freeing the Artistic Mind” is just that…new information that frees students in the arts to be who they are and do what they love.  Going way beyond “stress management,” this master class teaches participants the science of becoming more influential in all aspects of your life.  Here is what students at Carnegie Mellon, Texas State, Elon, Otterbein, and other prestigious performing arts programs have said about this experience.

“This master class was simply life changing”  • “I came with no expectations & left with pages of notes” • “I was completely surprised by the information you presented & by the personal discoveries this lecture allowed me explore.” •  “This was the best master class we’ve ever had.” •   “Listening to Dr. Bill Crawford speak was four of the most valuable hours I’ve spent in college to date.” • “It felt as if it were meant for me to hear & I cannot even express how much I’ve taken away from this experience.” • “Dr. Crawford was such an amazing speaker & made everything really entertaining. It is definitely a master class that I will never forget!” • “It was so different than anything we have been exposed to, and it is really pertinent to students in the arts!”

FOR FACULTY AND ARTS PROFESSIONALS

Sunday, October 21st

 3:30 – 5:00pm

Crawford will provide a more in-depth training experience he calls, “Stress & the Young Artist: The Perfect Storm.”

If there is one thing that teaching professionals in the performing and visual arts understand better than most, it’s the level of stress our students are under.  In addition to the normal stressors of being a kid (the pressure of grades, homework, issues with parents, peers, alcohol, drugs, etc.), there are the additional stressors of auditions, constant rejection, body image and self-esteem issues, the workload and vulnerability required of students in the arts, and the knowledge that their future is far from guaranteed.  Add to this the fact that many of these young students are still searching for their sense of identity, and without some of the basic coping skills necessary to navigate their lives, and it’s easy to see why so many young artists report being “stressed out” much of the time. (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/theory-knowledge/201402/the-college-student-mental-health-crisis)

In other words, we have the perfect storm. We are dealing with a population that is under tremendous stress, and facing often overwhelming decisions in all areas of their lives, but has yet to fully develop the higher-order thinking areas of their brains.

Therefore, if you have found your students to be increasingly anxious about life, and want to learn cutting edge material on how to “keep your head when all about you are losing theirs.” as well as how to help your students dealing with their stress and anxiety please join us for a lively 90 minute session on “Freeing The Artistic Mind.”

Here is what other students and faculty have said about this master class (https://www.billcrawfordphd.com/performing-arts/)

About Dr. Crawford

In addition to holding a doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Houston, Dr. Crawford is a licensed psychologist, author of seven books, organizational consultant, and speaker. Over the last 30 years, he has created over 3600 presentations for such organizations as Sprint, The American Medical Association, PBS, Texas State University, Carnegie Mellon, Elon, and Rider Universities, as well as many other organizations and professional associations, both nationally and internationally. In addition, his two PBS specials have been seen by over 15 million people, and he has been quoted as an expert in such diverse publications as The New York Times, Entrepreneur, The Chicago Tribune, Self Magazine, The Dallas Morning News, and Working Mother, just to name a few.

About Dan DeLuca 

Originated the role of Jack Kelly on the First National Tour of Disney’s “Newsies.” Regional: Jimmy- “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (Goodspeed Opera House), John- “Meet Me in St Louis”, Lucas- “The Addams Family” (The Muny), Ethan- “The Full Monty” & Charlie- “Brigadoon” (Pittsburgh CLO), Claude- “Hair” (Patchogue Theater), Gabe- “Next to Normal” & Sky- “Mamma Mia!” (Weston Playhouse), Emmett- “Legally Blonde” (Lexington Theater Company), Young Max- “The Grinch” (The Old Globe), Cain/Japheth- “Children of Eden” (CAP21). Various: 54 Below, Joe’s Pub, Barrington Stage, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade & Radio City Music Hall. Dan serves as the Visual Director and Key Speaker for The Field Consulting specializing in Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness.  

Social Media: @DDeLuca15

EVENT DETAILS: 

Sunday, October 21, 2018

-Faculty and Arts Professionals, 3:30 – 5pm (free)

-Parents and Students, 5:30 – 7pm ($20)

The Black Box Theater at Metropolitan School of the Arts

5775 Barclay Avenue, Suite 4

Alexandria, VA 22315

Register HERE 

Space is limited.

Hosted by Metropolitan School of the Arts and its Academy Parent Council