Triangle Family magazine – May/June 2023

STATE of the ARTS

IRISH DANCING IN THE TRIANGLE 13 LOCAL MUSEUMS TO EXPLORE

IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

I grew up in Athens, Georgia, where music students attending the University of Georgia often taught lessons for extra income. When I was 10, my mother introduced me to a strings student teacher who suggested I learn to play the viola. We rented a “starter” instrument, and every Wednesday for four years, I took lessons at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. When I outgrew my rental, we purchased a nicer, slightly larger viola.

The summer after seventh grade, my mother remarried and we moved to a small town north of Roanoke, Virginia, where strings teachers were few and far between. I carefully packed up my viola and turned to sports, which, truth be told, I had more success with. But those viola lessons helped me build confidence, improve my academic performance and develop a lifelong appreciation for music.

Fast-forward to 2007. History repeated when my son, Ben, also at age 10, decided to give viola lessons a try using my childhood instrument. Now almost 26, Ben has been playing the viola ever since. He took private lessons for seven years at the Cary School of Music, played in Apex High School’s orchestra and joined the Raleigh Civic Chamber Orchestra while attending North Carolina State University. He now lives in Charlotte and is a member of the Charlotte Civic Orchestra.

Both of my sons were members of Apex High School's marching band. Ben played the clarinet and my younger son, Connor, played the trumpet—not only for Apex High, but for the Marching Virginians at Virginia Tech, where he made lifelong friends. Connor cherishes those experiences above all others from his college years.

Whether your child enjoys music, dance, theater or visual arts, the Triangle is literally bursting with ways to nourish their talents. This issue shines a spotlight on some of those resources. Discover how local public school systems are encouraging arts education in “State of the Arts in Public Schools” on page 10. Explore museums across the region in “Works of Art + Roads to Adventure” on page 16. Get an inside look at the world of competitive Irish dance in “Jigs, Wigs and Hard Work” on page 20. In “Voice and Vision” on page 24, you’ll meet KK Fritsch, who grew up singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at every home Carolina Hurricanes game.

On that note, be sure to read “Compositions of Change” on page 30 to learn about the Raleigh Boychoir’s recent name change to the Raleigh Youth Choir as part of an effort to welcome girls to its ranks. Check out the Triangle Rising Stars program on page 36, local cultural arts centers on page 38, and the fascinating connection between music and math on page 40. Discover how play therapy can alleviate childhood anxiety on page 42, and read expert advice on how much postpartum depression is considered “normal” on page 43.

We’d like to thank the overwhelming number of you who read our debut issue, and were curious enough to pick up our second issue as well. We remain committed to enhancing your parenting experience, and hope these pages offer inspiration for how you can enrich your children’s lives with art.

Beth Shugg, Executive Editor

PHOTO BY BRUCE DEBOER

PUBLISHERS

Ronny Stephens

Kent Braswell

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Beth Shugg

ART AND WEB DIRECTOR

Sean Byrne

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Erica de Flamand-Shugg

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Dathan Kazsuk

SECTION EDITORS

Janice Lewine

Calendar, Education and Technology

Melissa Wistehuff

Travel and Entertainment

Kurt Dusterberg

Health, Wellness and Youth Sports

Mandy Howard

Parenting, Growth and Development

COPY EDITOR

Cindy Huntley

CONTRIBUTORS

Alisha Cleveland Photography

Samantha Gratton, Writer Dr. Alyssa Williams George, MD

Mike Krogh, OneFinePhoto.com

SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Melissa Wistehuff

SALES DIRECTOR

Sherry Braswell

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Laura Morgan

Stefanie McClary

Paige Gunter

DISTRIBUTION

Joe Lizana

Berry Media Group DistribuTech.net

Triangle Family magazine is published six times annually. Any reproduction in part or in whole of any part of this publication is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.

Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

Triangle Family magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or art. Unsolicited material is welcome and is considered intended for publication. Such material becomes the property of the magazine and is subject to editing. Triangle Family magazine will not knowingly accept any real estate advertising in violation of U.S. equal opportunity law.

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4818-204 Six Forks Road

Raleigh, North Carolina 27609

Phone: 919.782.4710

Fax: 919.782.4763

ON THE COVER. From left to right: Ainsley Crump, Ali Patalano, Luiza Basana and Mary Martin star in "Seussical the Musical" at Apex High School.

Photo by Mike Krogh of OneFinePhoto.

BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF (Photos

Mia (4) of Raleigh plays dress-up at Fred G. Bond Metro Park in Cary.

Elinor (12) and Marian (10), both of Cary, hone their marketing skills selling Girl Scout cookies.

Westley (2) of Cary catches up on the latest children’s book at the library.

courtesy of families, unless noted)

Ben (10) of Raleigh, Patrick (10) of Cary, Nash (9) of Raleigh and Brooks (10) of Apex head into PNC Arena to cheer on the Carolina Hurricanes.

TAKE A HIKE

North Carolina’s Year of the Trail is celebrating every kind of path—greenways, hiking, biking, paddling and horseback riding trails across the state. The greattrailsnc.com calendar and social media will promote trail events hosted by municipalities, tourism groups and outdoor advocates. Hike to Russell Gold Mine in the Uwharrie National Forest on Sunday, May 21, 2–4 p.m. Visit the site where hundreds of miners lived into the early 1900s. The following month, Durham Parks & Recreation hosts the Summer Solstice Sunset Hike on Wednesday, June 21 on West Point on the Eno at 8 p.m.

GAME DAY FUN

Professional baseball season is in full swing, and the Durham Bulls and Carolina Mudcats have busy home schedules. The Bulls host a six-game homestand May 16–21. Then in June, enjoy 16 home dates at Durham Bulls Athletic Park that cover three weekends. The Bulls host Camp Out Nights on Saturday, June 17 and Saturday, July 29, giving kids and parents a chance to spend the night in tents on the field. Check out the full schedule at milb.com/durham

In Zebulon, the Mudcats host two six-game homestands in May at Five County Stadium. On Saturday, May 13, the team will give away bucket hats with their Pescados de Carolina fish emblem. Souvenir Saturdays continue on Saturday, June 10 with a Mudcats red alternate replica jersey giveaway for the first 1,000 fans. View the Mudcats’ schedule at milb.com/carolina-mudcats

GET YOUR KICKS

North Carolina FC is underway with another season of soccer at WakeMed Soccer Park. The club hosts Forward Madison FC on Saturday, May 13, and the Richmond Kickers on Wednesday, May 17. Both games start at 7 p.m. NCFC welcomes Lexington Sporting Club on Sunday, June 18, and Charlotte Independence on Friday, June 30. Visit northcarolinafc.com to see the game schedule.

GOLF GOALS

If your child is an aspiring golfer, the Tarheel Junior Golf Tour hosts events throughout the year across North Carolina. The tour provides young players the chance to play in a competitive environment that promotes honesty, integrity and respect. Many of the tournaments are held on weekends at North Carolina’s top golf courses. Players compete for individual tournament championships as well as season-long scoring leader competitions. The Future Stars Junior Open for boys in grades 1–6 will take place at Treyburn Country Club in Durham on Wednesday, July 19 and Thursday, July 20. Learn more at tarheelgolf.org

GO KART FUN

Rush Hour Karting has opened a second Triangle location at the Wake Competition Center campus in Morrisville. The facility offers electric go-karts and a multi-level track. In addition, guests can enjoy stock car racing simulators, golf simulators, ax throwing and arcade games. Two on-site restaurants offer burgers, pizza and more. While much of the kart racing is geared toward adults, lower-speed options are available for ages 13–15. Learn more at rushhourkarting.com

PHOTO BY JENNY MIDGLEY

PHOTO BY VGAJIC/GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO BY GREG NG

PHOTO BY SDI PRODUCTIONS/GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DURHAM BULLS

DUKE LEMUR CENTER OFFERS VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP TO MADAGASCAR

Join Duke Lemur Center/SAVA Conservation Program Coordinator James Herrera, Ph.D. on a virtual field trip to the incredible island lemurs call home. Herrera spent much of 2022 in Madagascar conducting research, overseeing conservation activities and searching the rainforest for lemurs. Families can enjoy a recorded version of Herrera’s 45-minute talk, which also features footage of Madagascar’s flora and fauna. Watch the virtual field trip at lemur.duke.edu/virtual-field-trip-to-madagascar

BOOKS & BOOGIE PROGRAM KICKS OFF

Stage Door Dance Productions has launched a program titled Books & Boogie for ages 2–4 that expands on themes in the BabyLit book series, which tells stories of classical literature in a format young children can understand. Books & Boogie classes will also incorporate physical, educational and social development. The program is available at both of Stage Door Dance Production’s locations in Raleigh. Choose from Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:30–11:30 a.m., at the Lake Boone Trail location, or Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2–4 p.m., at the Brier Creek location. Learn more at stagedoordance.com

DISCOVER PUBLIC ART IN THE TRIANGLE

The Triangle boasts hundreds of public art displays that dazzle young minds:

• Apex: apexnc.org/1558/public-art

• Cary: townofcary.org/recreation-enjoyment/arts-culture/public-art/all

• Chapel Hill: visitchapelhill.org/listing/murals-%26-public-art/344

• Durham: durhamnc.gov/3245/public-art-collection

• Hillsborough: visithillsboroughnc.com/press/public-art-in-hillsborough

• Raleigh: downtownraleigh.org/explore/public-art

• Wake Forest: wakeforestnc.gov/advisory-boards/public-art-commission/public-art

CAROLINA THEATRE OF DURHAM RECEIVES $10,000 GRANT

Carolina Theatre of Durham recently received a Challenge America award of $10,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts. The grant, which will support the theater’s Family Saturday Series, is one of 262 Challenge America awards totaling $2.62 million that were announced by the NEA as part of its first round of fiscal year 2023 grants. Carolina Theatre’s Family Saturday Series is an educational program that provides high quality, affordable arts experiences and introduces young audiences to the excitement of live performances, music, storytelling and magic. Learn more at carolinatheatre.org/education-series/family-saturday

$5 MILLION GIFT FUNDS DIX PARK RESTORATION PROJECT

Dorothea Dix Park’s historic Stone Houses began a journey in January that will transform them into vibrant hubs at the scenic campus in Raleigh. The restoration and repurposing of the 100-year-old Superintendent’s House, Physicians’ House and Gatekeeper’s Cottage is made possible by the State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) and the SECU Foundation via a combined gift of $5 million. The dwellings served as the entry point for patients and guests to the former Dix Hospital, then a landmark mental health facility. The restoration will offer a visitor’s center, office and education space, outdoor seating and classroom space, gardens, and connection to Rocky Branch Greenway. Learn more at dixparkconservancy.org.

PHOTO COURTESY OF STAGE DOOR DANCE

RIVERPARK ARCH BY JONATHAN BRILLIANT; PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT HILLSBOROUGH

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROLINA THEATRE OF DURHAM

PHOTO COURTESY OF OF DIX PARK CONSERVANCY

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DUKE LEMUR CENTER

THE WORLD’S SAFEST CAR SEAT

This summer, Babyark will launch what it is calling the world’s safest car seat. Designed by an aeronautical engineer who became a parent, the car seat revolutionizes safety for babies. “I was surprised to learn that the most important people in our lives—our children—sit in safety seats primarily made out of plastic and styrofoam,” says Shy Mindel, CEO of Babyark. “While safety features for adults have evolved dramatically over the past 10 years, child passenger safety technology has remained stagnant.”

Babyark is approaching safety through its hardware (the actual seat) and software (safety sensors that communicate with the app, for example). The result? “A car seat that takes a holistic approach to safety,” Mindel says. Thanks to sensors embedded in the seat, the driver is alerted to whether the car seat was installed correctly, if the child is fully buckled in, or if the child has been left behind in the vehicle. The app then provides instructions on how to correct these issues. Learn more at babyark.com

CHECK YOUR SUNSCREEN, BUT ALSO WEAR IT!

In 2022, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration updated its sun safety guidelines to include a caution against using aerosol spray sunscreen products that contain high levels of benzene. Benzene is a carcinogenic that has long been linked to leukemia, lymphoma, anemia and other health problems. After a number of lawsuits filed against the makers of sunscreens containing benzene, several products were recalled in September 2021. These included several Coppertone and Johnson & Johnson products. The FDA encourages consumers to check sunscreens they may still have at home. While these concerns are important, parents are reminded that the risk of not wearing sunscreen is still greater Find more summer sun safety tips at fda.gov, as well as a full list of recalls by searching fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts

TANTALIZING TREATS FOR A COMPASSIONATE CAUSE

Cooking for the Kids crowned its latest top chef in March. Over the course of four first-round events, eight chefs faced off head-to-head and created six delectable courses. Food lovers and culinary experts had the tastiest job ever, helping decide which chef advanced to the next round. The third and final round of the bracketed event took place on March 15 and Kyle Teears of Craften Neighborhood Food & Drink in Knightdale was declared the winner. The biggest winner, however, was Overflowing Hands, which received all proceeds from the event. Overflowing Hands is a 100% volunteer-led 501(c)(3), which fights food insecurity and provides clothing, shelter and healthcare to children. Learn more at overflowinghands.org

HAVE YOUR CARROTS AND SHARE THEM, TOO!

The Produce Project, a 501(c)(3) with a mission to ensure that everyone has access to affordable vegetables, is partnering with Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources to provide pickup/share locations at four community centers throughout the city. How does it work? Order a $20 share at produceproject.org, pick up your share at the designated day and time, take what you want, and leave the rest to be donated locally. Every week, hundreds of pounds of fresh produce are donated to local families struggling with food insecurity. Learn more at produceproject.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF BABYARK

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FDA

PHOTO BY LAURA MORGAN

PHOTO BY HINTERHAUS PRODUCTIONS/GETTY IMAGES

STATE of the ARTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

North Carolina commits to nourishing artistic minds

BY JANICE LEWINE

Arts education is essential for student success. Nationwide studies show that exposure to the arts not only supports development of cognitive, social-emotional and multisensory skills, but also improves academic outcomes and graduation rates, and enriches cultural understanding. Communicating through artistic expression also enables young people to empathize with others, improves greater social tolerance and increases civic engagement.

Arts courses also teach valuable life and job skills, says Freddie Heath, director of arts education at Wake County Public School System. “In an arts class, you learn to create, communicate, collaborate and take critique. Those are skills people need in their careers, regardless of what their jobs are.”

In July 2020, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law Senate Bill 681, which went into effect this past fall and requires that students (beginning with those starting sixth grade this school year) complete one arts credit between grades 6 and 12 in order to graduate from high school.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction provides support for public school teachers regarding a multifaceted “Comprehensive Arts Education” approach to arts education. This framework includes arts education, instruction of an arts discipline according to the Standard Course of Study to develop the student as an artist; arts integration, instruction designed to show students how non-arts content connects to arts content in both areas; and arts exposure, which gives students the opportunity to experience the arts as presented by professionals on a stage, in a gallery, or as a teaching artist in residence.

While arts programs across the nation often fall victim to budget cuts, public school districts in the Triangle—such as Chapel Hill–Carrboro City Schools, Chatham County Schools, Orange County Schools, Durham Public Schools and Wake County Public School System—offer a healthy variety of courses in music, visual arts, theater arts and dance that are supported by local funding.

Here’s how these five school districts implement arts teaching, partner with community organizations and showcase student works.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Apex High School students perform in "Seussical: The Musical" for their spring 2022 performance. Photo by Mike Krogh of OneFinePhoto.com. THIS PAGE: Young artists enjoy a field trip to Artspace in Raleigh. Photo by Sanjé James of Artspace.

Chapel Hill–Carrboro City Schools

chccs.org

Chapel Hill–Carrboro City Schools’ 12,000 students are spread among 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools, a school for young people being treated at UNC Hospital and an alternative high school. Music and visual arts are offered to all elementary students. Classes are taught by specialists who are licensed in the content area, and all teachers have dedicated classrooms.

Each elementary school offers a variety of clubs and special interests groups based on teacher and student interest. Some of these include art clubs, chorus, guitar club, steel drum club, drumming ensemble, musical theater, and Orff ensemble, which is named after Carl Orff. Orff developed this approach to music education in the 1920s as a way to combine music, speech, movement and drama into music lessons that are similar to how a child plays naturally.

All middle and high schools offer sequential, standardsbased instruction in band, orchestra, chorus, theater and visual arts. Each school boasts a wide variety of co-curricular opportunities, such as community performances, field trips and traveling trips, and extracurricular opportunities allow students who are not enrolled in arts courses to take part. The district provides performance opportunities throughout the year for its students and regularly displays student artwork, with all schools contributing to the district-wide Visions Art Show each year.

Chatham

County Schools

chatham.k12.nc.us

Chatham County Schools expose students to visual arts, music, band, theater and dance. Several of the district’s arts programs have earned state and national recognition. The arts program at Northwood High School in Pittsboro has been honored three times with the Kennedy Center School of Excellence Award. In Siler City, students from Jordan-Matthews High School have been honored as Triangle Rising Stars in the regional competition that brings together high school musical theater students from central and eastern North Carolina. (Learn more about that program on page 36.)

The district’s newest school, Seaforth High School in Pittsboro, opened in fall 2021 and offers marching band, dance (including honors choreography and honors ensemble) and theater arts. During its first operational year, Seaforth High School students presented the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

Orange County Schools

orangecountyfirst.com

“An arts education makes a person very well-rounded,” says Shannon Braxton, director of cultural arts and career and technical education at Orange County Schools. “We have arts education in every grade level because we value the arts and the whole child.”

OCS, a smaller district with 7,356 students, provides children in its seven elementary schools a formal arts education in music and visual arts. The school system’s three middle schools offer visual arts, band and vocal music; and the two high schools also offer theater classes. “For the last few years, we have hosted the regional MPAs for band and chorus,” Braxton says, referring to the Music Performance Assessment competitive events hosted by the district for high schools to compete in. Discovering the joys of a live music performance starts early, with fourth graders traveling to Raleigh to watch the North Carolina Symphony perform as part of its educational outreach program.

Visual arts are also highly regarded. Each school has a kiln so students can explore ceramics and pottery. Both the Margaret Lane Gallery in Hillsborough and the Hillsborough Arts Council—which provides artists in residence at four OCS elementary schools—feature student works in their galleries.

Theater students get in on the act as well, performing plays throughout the year at their schools. It’s not unusual to find them elsewhere in the community. “They’ve done mini performances at a downtown street corner and in a parking garage connected to Weaver Street Market,” Braxton says. “We’re allowing students to express themselves through the arts, and it’s important to support them.”

PHOTO COURTESTY OF KEVIN LORD

Durham Public Schools

dpsnc.net

“We approach the arts as a fundamental need for every student, and we understand how important the arts are to developing better humans,” says Jeremy Tucker, director of arts education for Durham Public Schools.

All PreK–fifth grade students explore music and visual arts. At the middle school level, students can take music and visual arts classes; some schools also offer dance and theater. “Every high school in Durham Public Schools has dance, theater, visual arts and music courses offered to their students,” he says. “We’re an urban school district, and we’re going to want our kids to have way more access to those opportunities in the public schools during the school day because they’re not going to have access to them outside of the school day.”

The district’s Growing Together initiative will advance arts education for students in PreK–fifth grade. “Part of the initiative is, by next year, every elementary school in Durham Public Schools will have a full-time music teacher and a full-time visual arts teacher, and they will have their own dedicated space at that school,” Tucker explains.

DPS partners with the Durham Arts Council to provide teaching artists for in-person residencies at every school. Students also enjoy stage productions as part of Carolina Theatre of Durham’s Arts Discovery Educational Series.

Throughout the year, students display their talents for the community, such as in Destination Dance, a performance show at the Durham Arts Council; the DPS Art Show, a monthlong display of visual art creations at The Streets at Southpoint in Durham; and in numerous band, orchestra and chorus performances.

Coinciding with Arts in Our Schools Month held annually in March, “An Evening to Shine,” which is funded by DPS and the Durham Public Schools Foundation, showcases 700 of the district’s K–12 choral and dance students at the Durham Performing Arts Center. “We value equity and accessibility, so we’re making sure every school has participants who are given the opportunity to perform on the DPAC stage,” Tucker says.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Students can participate in a variety of art activities at Raleigh’s Artspace. Photo by Danny Peña. THIS PAGE: “An Evening to Shine” annually showcases 700 Durham Public School choral and dance students at the Durham Performing Arts Center. Photo courtesy of DPS.

Wake County Public School System

wcpss.net

Wake County Public School System is the largest public school system in North Carolina, with 158,412 students spread across 198 schools. Staffed by more than 625 visual and performing arts teachers, the district provides music and visual arts classes to all elementary students. Middle and high school students can pursue arts courses that focus on creativity, technical skill development and artistic appreciation. Magnet schools offer additional electives in dance, instrumental music (band and strings) and theater.

“Our arts programs are so vibrant,” Heath says. “We’re showcasing the kids’ work all over the district, all the time.” These include music performances and art displays at individual schools, and larger extravaganzas such as “Pieces of Gold,” which takes place annually during Arts in Our Schools Month and features more than 100 Wake County students, ranging from kindergarteners to high school seniors, delivering performances at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium that support the curriculum and entertain an audience.

“Gifts of Gold,” the visual component of “Pieces of Gold,” celebrates two- and three-dimensional artworks in the auditorium’s lobby. Both shows, now in their 30th and 40th years respectively, are a collaboration between the United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County, Raleigh Arts and WakeEd Partnership.

Across WCPSS, the value of an arts education is evident: A 2019 study conducted by the district showed that 95% of its seniors who took an arts class graduated from high school.

“We’re creating really good citizens and people who enjoy art. They’re able to go into other professions by taking the skills they learned in arts classes and transferring them over,” Heath says.

HOW TO HELP

Arts programs in public schools are most successful when parents and the community support them. Attend a school play, band concert, chorus performance or arts exhibit. Volunteer your time or talents to inspire creativity, or donate art supplies. Promote your school’s upcoming events on social media. Support your local PTA and its “Reflections” program, which provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts that boost student confidence and future success. When the arts are part of a child’s life, the rewards are priceless.

BELOW: An Orange County middle school student sketches an eye. Photo courtesy of Shelby McVey.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Apex High School cast members perform in "Seussical: The Musical" this past spring. Photo by Mike Krogh of OneFinePhoto.com.

ABOVE: Student art is displayed at Artspace in Raleigh. Photos by Hannah Costner.

Works of Art + Roads to Adventure

MUSEUMS IN THE TRIANGLE AND BEYOND

BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF

FFrom art museums to historic homes, the Triangle offers a rich supply of cultural experiences for local families to explore together. Here are some we recommend checking out.

ART MUSEUMS

North Carolina Museum of Art

2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh ncartmuseum.org

Discover art for all ages with familyfriendly tours, explore sculptures outdoors at the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park and create your own works of art in the Family Studio workshops. View the permanent collection and a variety of traveling exhibits. The North Carolina Museum of Art has something for everyone.

Nasher Museum of Art

2001 Campus Drive, Durham nasher.duke.edu

Located on the Duke University campus, Nasher Museum of Art presents leading-edge contemporary exhibitions that travel worldwide, with an emphasis on diverse artists who have been historically underrepresented by mainstream arts institutions. The museum also offers performing arts events, lectures, gallery talks and social gatherings.

CAM Raleigh

409 W. Martin Street, Raleigh camraleigh.org

CAM Raleigh is a “non-collecting contemporary art museum.” In addition to bold exhibits by living artists, the museum offers educational programs and cultural experiences for a wide range of ages. The museum is located in the Warehouse District, within walking distance from Raleigh’s Union Station and Morgan Street Food Hall.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Photo of a dinosaur skeleton on exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences by Karen Swain. THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE: The exterior of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences by Eric Knisley; a young girl dresses up like a firefighter, courtesy of Marbles Kids Museum; the “Hideaway Woods” exhibit courtesy of the Museum of Life and Science.

CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS

Kidzu Children’s Museum

201 S. Estes Drive, Chapel Hill kidzuchildrensmuseum.org

Located inside University Place, Kidzu Children’s Museum is a handson children’s museum inspiring kids to learn through play—and play is not in short supply! Your littles can climb a rock wall, shop for menu ingredients and then make a meal in the Millhouse Kitchen, explore their inner Picasso in the Makery, and learn about plants outdoors in the Learning Garden. Ask about cooldown kits for children who have specific sensory needs.

Marbles Kids Museum

201 E. Hargett Street, Raleigh marbleskidsmuseum.org

A kid’s paradise, Marbles Kids Museum allows your child’s imagination to run wild. Drive a bus, work as a banker, captain a pirate ship or skate into hockey stardom. If you can dream it, it can happen at this colorful museum that also offers yearround track-out and summer camps, birthday parties and field trips. Stay for lunch at Bean Sprouts and watch a movie at Marbles IMAX, Raleigh’s only certified giant screen. Also, reimagined water play is coming to Marbles Kids Museum in June 2023 through the support of generous donors and community members. The new water table will provide one-of-a-kind play and exploration for kids of all ages and abilities.

SCIENCE + AGRICULTURE MUSEUMS

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

250 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill moreheadplanetarium.org

Located on the UNC–Chapel Hill campus, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is truly out of this world. Fully immerse yourself in a screening of a space program on the 360-degree dome movie screen while reclined in your seat. Attend the Magic Treehouse Space Mission, based on the beloved book series, and join Jack and Annie while they solve a mysterious riddle.

Museum of Life and Science

433 W. Murray Avenue, Durham lifeandscience.org

Randleigh Dairy Heritage Museum

301 Dairy Lane, Raleigh howlingcow.ncsu.edu

Learn about how milk gets from the farm to the table at this North Carolina State University agritourism site and interactive museum. Discover how a typical North Carolina dairy operates— how cows are raised and produce milk, and how that milk is used to make products like delicious Howling Cow ice cream, which you can try on-site at the Howling Cow Creamery—or purchase at local Harris Teeters.

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

11 W. Jones Street, Raleigh naturalsciences.org

With four floors to scout, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is paradise for burgeoning scientists. Research labs offer insight into the life of nature analysts—and a chance for kids to test out their investigation skills—all while donning white lab coats and goggles. The “Dueling Dinosaurs” permanent exhibition will open this year, uncovering a remarkable paleontological discovery: the most complete fossils of a tyrannosaurus and triceratops ever found, locked together at their time of death.

Explore the great outdoors—and indoors—at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, which sits on an 84-acre campus and includes a two-story science center and one of the East Coast’s largest butterfly conservatories. The museum’s newest exhibit, “Play to Learn,” opened in March and features a range of interactive activities for children ages 5 and younger. Examine Apollo-era space artifacts, dig for dinosaur fossils, escape in a “Hideaway Woods” treehouse and make animal friends at this Durham gem, which is an Association of Zoos and Aquariums–accredited zoo that also offers a home to rescued black bears, lemurs, endangered red wolves and 60-plus species of live animals.

LEFT: Photo courtesy of Kidzu Children’s Museum in Chapel Hill.

ABOVE: Photo courtesy of the Museum of Life and Science.

HISTORY MUSEUMS + HISTORIC SITES

COR Museum

(formerly Raleigh City Museum) 220 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh cityofraleighmuseum.org

Located in the historic Briggs Hardware building, COR Museum showcases what COR stands for: the City of Raleigh. With the goal of preserving Raleigh’s people, places, resources and history, visitors learn about the city’s fascinating history and role in the Civil War, World War II and civil rights movement. Come for the beautiful architecture; leave with a deeper appreciation for the City of Oaks.

Joel Lane Museum House

160 S. Saint Mary’s Street, Raleigh joellane.org

Built in 1769, the Joel Lane House is considered Wake County’s oldest existing home, and has been nicknamed the “Birthplace of Raleigh.” Joel Lane, a prominent statesman and soldier, sold 1,000 acres of his plantation for the formation of the new state capital in 1792. Take a tour of the fully restored and authentically furnished house and its period gardens as costumed tour guides lead the way.

North Carolina Museum of History

5 E. Edenton Street, Raleigh ncmuseumofhistory.org

Walk through the history of our state, venturing through traveling and permanent exhibits. Sit in a 1920s drugstore or meander through “The Story of North Carolina,” which spotlights American Indian life through the civil rights movement. Sports fans won’t want to miss the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, which features 200-plus relics of the state’s sports history—from Tobacco Road rivals to NASCAR legends.

North Carolina Railway Museum and New Hope Valley Railway

3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill triangletrain.com

A quick trip to New Hill (near Apex) connects train aficionados with a historic railroad. Visitors can chug along on a one-hour ride in a real locomotive, then learn about railroad history inside the museum. The trains operate April through December. If your kid really loves trains, consider a birthday celebration inside the Birthday Party Caboose. Look for tickets to the railway’s popular Track or Treat and Santa’s Reindeer Roundup train rides, which go on sale in July. (Both sell out quickly.)

Cultural Fun Beyond the Triangle

AMOS (Asheville Museum of Science)

Asheville | ashevillescience.org

Battleship North Carolina Wilmington | battleshipnc.com

Cameron Art Museum Wilmington | cameronartmuseum.org

Catawba Science Center Hickory | catawbascience.org

The Children’s Museum of Wilmington Wilmington | playwilmington.org

Discovery Place Charlotte | discoveryplace.org

Fascinate-U Children’s Museum Fayetteville | fascinate-u.com

Hands On! Children’s Museum Hendersonville | handsonwnc.org

International Civil Rights Center and Museum

Greensboro | sitinmovement.org

Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum Greensboro | mbcmuseum.com

NASCAR Hall of Fame Charlotte | nascarhall.com

North Carolina Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame Asheboro | ncamhof.com

North Carolina History Center at Tryon Palace New Bern | tryonpalace.org/ north-carolina-history-center

North Carolina Maritime Museum Beaufort | ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com

North Carolina Transportation Museum Spencer | nctransportationmuseum.org

Wright Brothers National Memorial Manteo | nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm

THIS PAGE: Photo of New Hope Valley Railway by Casey Thomason.

ABOVE AND OPPOSITE PAGE: PEYTON SHAHEEN OF RALEIGH, WHO JUST FINISHED HER FRESHMAN YEAR AT NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, BEGAN IRISH DANCING AT AGE 5.

PHOTO ON THIS PAGE BY MELISSA SHAHEEN

PHOTO ON OPPOSITE PAGE BY BLISS ALEXANDER-SMITH

Jigs, Wigs & Hard wo work

The world of competitive Irish dance

By Mandy Howard

When Alyssa Andersen of Wake Forest was 7 years old, she saw an Irish dance performance at a school talent show. From the dresses to the beautifully rhythmic steps, she was hooked. “I had no idea what I was getting involved with when she first started,” says Alyssa’s mom, Beth Andersen. “Unless you know someone, I don’t think there’s any way you can know what’s about to happen.” Like most Irish dancers, Alyssa started with lessons and local performances. Then, she became interested in competition. “They see the dresses—and earn the dress—and next thing you know, you’re in heavy and there’s no escape,” Beth laughs.

GETTING STARTED

When students begin in Irish dance, they step out in soft leather-laced slippers called ghillies. Similar to ballet flats, ghillies form to the feet and allow for elegant toe points and soft, graceful movements. As students progress, they are introduced to their first set of “hard shoes.” Hard shoes are often likened to tap shoes, but in Irish dance, the shoes are heavier, and the heel and ball of the feet are constructed of fiberglass instead of metal.

Different shoes complement different styles and time signatures of music, and for each shoe there are several dances that Irish dancers are expected to master. When most people hear the word “jig,” they conjure a hopping dance motion consisting of a kick or skip. When Irish dancers hear the word, they understand it as a time signature. From the first few notes, an experienced Irish dancer can discern between a treble jig, slip jig and single jig, and can perform steps suited for that specific signature.

Once students master the shoes, music and first steps, they can register for their first Irish dance competition, or feis (pronounced “fesh”). There, judges give marks based upon rhythm, technique, mastery of steps and, at more advanced levels, styling.

Beginning dancers wear “school dresses” or simple, traditional dresses. When dancers reach an advanced level of competition they “earn” their “solo dress”—a one-of-a-kind dress that features intricate embroidery and a plethora of crystals. These dresses can cost anywhere from $500 to several thousand dollars each.

WORLDLY SUCCESS

With each successive win, dancers continue to advance in levels and earn more opportunities. “I danced at my first regional competition (called “oireachtas,” pronounced O-Rock-Tus) at 9 years old. The following year, I qualified for Worlds in Glasgow, Scotland,” Alyssa says.

“She won’t tell you this, but she’s the only girl in the state of North Carolina in her age group who has qualified for Worlds in every year of eligibility,” Beth adds proudly.

In order to qualify for the World Irish Dancing Championships, a feat Alyssa has achieved seven times, a dancer must place in the top percent of a regional or national competition after being adjudicated in three dances by nine separate judges. Approximately 1% of Irish dancers ever qualify to dance upon the “Worlds” stage as solo dancers.

There are other opportunities to dance on the sport’s largest stages outside of solo dancing, however. Teams can compete in intricate figure dances judged on synchronicity and precision. Also, categories such as choreography (similar in actuality to “Riverdance”) and dance drama—in which Irish folk tales are told through dance—allow for more creative expression and costuming.

Peyton Shaheen, a Raleigh native who just finished her freshman year at North Carolina State University, began Irish dancing when she was 5 years old. She went to hundreds of feiseanna (the plural form of feis), including trips to the North American Irish Dance Championships (referred to as “Nationals”). But some of her most cherished memories come from team competitions. “My favorite was when our team placed second in the world in dance drama. We worked so hard, and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience I will never forget,” Shaheen says.

No matter the competition style, technique is always vital. Moves like rocks, batters, birds and cuts must be performed in perfect timing, with turnout, on toes, all while keeping the upper body still and shoulders relaxed. And, don’t forget, the wig and smile should stay put at all times. “I wish people realized that it takes just as much effort, dedication and athleticism as any other high school sport,” Alyssa says.

PHOTO COURTESTY OF KEVIN LORD

ABOVE LEFT: ALYSSA ANDERSEN BEGAN IRISH DANCING AT AGE 7. PHOTO BY EMILEE LEGGE. ABOVE RIGHT: DELANEY DEMIDOVICH AND ALYSSA ANDERSEN PREPARE FOR COMPETITION AT THE 2021 SOUTHERN REGIONAL OIREACHTAS; PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ANDERSEN FAMILY.

A CRYSTALLIZED BOND

Considering the intensity of training (which can be 15–20 hours a week), the cost of some ‘blinged-out’ dresses, the oft-ridiculed, pageant-like side of the sport, and a very public judging scandal in 2022 that allegedly involved “feis-fixing” (giving out false scores), it might be easy to write Irish dance off as a complicated pursuit. But to keep any of that as the focus does the sport a disservice, because the beauty of Irish dance comes not from its wigs, false eyelashes or Swarovski crystals. It comes from the community.

“You’re competing with the same group of girls the whole time. You get to establish friendships with people from all over the country and all over the world as you continue to grow as a dancer,” Alyssa says.

Shaheen, who readily admits she doesn’t miss wig headaches or the smell of fake tanner, agreed, saying, “I’d hang out with my dance friends three to

CAN YOU MAKE THE CUT?

four times a week and we’d travel the world together, and all of a sudden, that just ends. It’s a really special community, and hard to live without.”

That impactful bonding leads to what may be the most crucial life skill Irish dancers learn. From the earliest competitions, where winners are listed on a piece of paper in a hallway, to the championship level, where podium placements are announced publicly, dancers typically receive their results alongside friends. They quickly learn to handle both winning and losing with grace, empathy, love and humble gratitude. They learn to celebrate others, even when they are disappointed.

“In the case of Worlds, you travel thousands of miles across the ocean just to ‘fail.’ Then you come back the

next year and do it again. And you just have to keep going, and learning how to work harder and accept defeat as a chance to grow as a person,” Alyssa says. “It helps you understand failure in a different light.”

Alyssa, who is currently a high school senior, says she sees the benefit of this growth as she and her friends are receiving admission decisions from colleges, especially in light of how people may choose to respond to unwanted news. “In Irish dance, oftentimes when you’re receiving disappointment, it’s in the spotlight, on a stage, and you have to keep a brave face the whole time,” she says. “I think that growth has helped me manage disappointment in different aspects of my life, too.”

Local Irish dance schools and programs offer beginning classes for toddlers through adults. Here are a few to check out.

Connick-Reid Academy connickreidacademy.com

704.703.2441

6520 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh

Triggle Academy of Irish Dance triggleacademy.com

919.949.0877

8320 Litchford Road, Suite 134, Raleigh

3462 Apex Peakway, Apex 143 Chatham Downs Drive, Chapel Hill

Inis Cairde School of Irish Dance iniscairde.com

919.871.5660

6166A Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh

Kilpatrick Irish Dancing School kilpatrickirishdance.com

919.628.4473

1333 Buck Jones Road, Cary

134 S. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina

You’re competing with the same group of girls the whole time. You get to establish friendships with people from all over the country and all over the world as you continue to grow as a dancer .

"

"

~ Alyssa Andersen

ABOVE: SOPHIE LASSITER, MAGGIE HOWARD, EMMA BUYTING AND TESSA KELLER AT THE NORTH AMERICAN IRISH DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN MONTREAL. PHOTO COURTESY OF MANDY HOWARD.

THIS PAGE: KK Fritsch started singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at home Carolina Hurricanes games at age 7.

Photo courtesy of the Carolina Hurricanes.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Now 24, KK Fritsch works as a nurse in WakeMed Raleigh’s neurointensive care unit. Photo by Alisha Cleveland Photography.

VOICE +VISION

After years of singing the national anthem for the Carolina Hurricanes, KK Fritsch settles into her adult career

BY KURT DUSTERBERG

Raleigh’s KK Fritsch spent her childhood in the spotlight. At the age of 7, she debuted her sweet and cheerful version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a Carolina Hurricanes game. For the next seven seasons, she served as the hockey team’s game-night national anthem singer, delighting crowds at the RBC Center (now PNC Arena) with not only her rendition, but also her signature pink boots, a beaming smile and an endearing post-anthem wave to the crowd.

Now 24 years old, Fritsch looks back and realizes she was born for the role. “I have a very extroverted personality,” she says. “My parents always said, ‘Wherever there was a microphone, you just got up and sang.’ I think I just found so much joy in doing that. It just developed into something bigger as I got older.”

The Hurricanes gigs led to NFL game opportunities, where she sang to crowds of 50,000-plus for teams such as the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears. “Those were really big appearances for me, and I enjoyed every single one of them,” Fritsch says.

The anthems were just part of her growing resume. She landed roles in North Carolina Theatre’s productions of “Annie” and “Peter Pan” at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts (newly renamed the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts), while taking voice lessons and advanced dance classes. But mostly, there was always a song in KK’s heart. “I think I always wanted to be a singer,” she says. “But I’m a very realistic person.”

So when she graduated from St. David’s School in Raleigh, Fritsch left herself some wiggle room. She enrolled at Belmont University in Nashville, a school known for nurturing the careers of aspiring musicians. That’s where the realist stepped forward. Today, Fritsch is a nurse in the neurointensive care unit at WakeMed in Raleigh, one dream having made way for another. In August, however, she will enroll at the University of Tennessee to become a nurse anesthetist. She still sings the national anthem a couple of times per year at Hurricanes games, where the fans often remember her with words that make her smile, like “You look the exact same, only bigger,” she says with a laugh. “Everyone has really sweet things to say. I don’t think I can explain how appreciative I am of my time there, and the people I met.”

Singing the national anthem to crowds of 18,000 people is a pretty scary job, especially for a 7-year-old. Did you feel any pressure in that role?

I never did. The Carolina Hurricanes is an awesome organization. Everybody who works there is really great. Because I started so young, I don’t think I really grasped what was happening when I was 7 years old. By the time I did understand it, I had a few years under my belt. It was like, well, this is just kind of what I do, this is my thing—and I loved doing it. I really enjoyed my time there.

When you graduated high school, you went to Belmont, right there next to Music Row in Nashville. Did you still have in mind that you might pursue a career in music?

Belmont University is a huge music school, but even throughout high school I was thinking music was kind of a stretch. It’s a hard industry to crack. As I was getting older in high school I wanted something that I knew was stable, but I also didn’t want to make a job of something I loved doing. I feared it would take the excitement out of it.

Did you participate in the music scene there?

I did sing with friends of mine, or groups. I always laugh because the normal college experience is people go out on the weekends and party. But at Belmont, you went out and you sang. You played music together, and that was your weekend. I did in that capacity, but I didn’t do much performing in front of crowds. But if you had a house party, I would get up and sing with people. That brought a lot of joy and happiness and excitement.

Author’s note: After one year at Belmont, Fritsch returned to Raleigh and took classes at North Carolina State University before getting her nursing degree at Barton College in Wilson.

What has your experience in nursing been like?

I don’t know what normal nursing looks like because I walked into nursing in the middle of a pandemic. That aspect has been tough. It was a lot of learning very quickly. It is a neurointensive care and neuro trauma unit. We have people who might have strokes or an aneurism or a brain bleed. And we have neuro trauma—like car accidents, gunshot wounds—anything that can affect the spine or the brain.

Is that kind of exposure difficult to process?

Everyone says you can’t take it home, but it’s very hard to leave at the door. You get to know patients’ families if they’re there for a long amount of time. It’s not just about the patients, it’s about the people they would leave behind.

How is your personality suited to making that adjustment?

I think I do have a tough personality in terms of being able to put my thoughts and feelings to the side to get a job done. In order to find joy in a profession like that, you have to be able to process the bad aspects of it. So I’ve had to get tough over time by just accepting that this is life. But there are a lot of good moments—the patients who do really well, the patients who are super thankful.

But your path is about to change. You’re going to graduate school in August?

CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist) was always my goal, but you have to be a nurse before you can be a CRNA. I knew I wanted to be in ICU, and I love neuro. I’m really thankful for the time I’ve had there. I think God puts you exactly where you’re supposed to be, and those lessons become clear as time goes by. I think I’ve had that with the Canes—and I’ve had that with my job—and I’m looking forward to seeing whatever He wants to show me in this next step of life.

With graduate school ahead, does that make it harder to figure out where music might fall into your life?

I’ve thought about that. Now that I’m going to school and it’s three years, I guess it will be put on hold even longer if I were to want to pursue something. I hope it never goes away. I hope I never lose that aspect. Even if it means coming back and singing for the Canes a couple times a season, then that’s great. I’m really thankful they’ve let me do that. My priority is getting my feet under me, making sure that I’m on the right track in terms of what I want my future to look like.

A lot of children go through performing arts programs with hopes of being a singer or performer. What would you say to those parents who have a 7-year-old at home who wants to pursue that track?

I would say not to push them. I think my parents did a great job of letting me kind of navigate it. If it was something I was passionate about, then we did it, but my parents never, ever pushed me to do any of the performing arts. They gave me a lot of responsibility in making my own decisions, which helped me mature in a way. To anyone who has a younger child who wants to do that, let them do it and support them through that journey. As soon as they don’t want to do it, don’t try to live vicariously through them. Don’t be a theater mom. If they want to pursue other things, then let them.

What do you think when you look back at your childhood self?

Just because my life looks a lot different now, I look back and I think it’s so cool. I babysit a lot and I see kids that are that age, and I think, I cannot believe that I was that young. I was performing in front of 18,000 people when I was a little nugget. It’s crazy to me. Honestly, I’m really grateful. I think back to my younger self and I don’t know why it was me who was chosen, but I’m so glad it was. I’m so thankful for the opportunity, the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had. It was really a once-in-a-lifetime type of gig.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Even though KK now works as a nurse, she returns to sing for Hurricanes games from time to time, and still wears her signature pink boots.

THIS PAGE: KK says her parents allowed her to navigate her singing career, which helped her to mature and make her own decisions.

Photos courtesy of the Carolina Hurricanes.

ON S TAGE!

BY SAMANTHA GRATTON

Compositions of Chan g e

The Raleigh Youth Choir welcomes new voices

On Monday evenings after school, boys and girls excitedly trickle through the doors of the Church of the Good Shepherd on Hillsborough Street in downtown Raleigh. This is where the Raleigh Youth Choir meets each week. Formerly known as the Raleigh Boychoir, the group changed its name to Raleigh Youth Choir in 2022 so girls could join in the fun.

“I saw this great music education offering and also this social offering that I felt really strongly needed to be expanded—to have a place where all youth could come experience high-caliber learning, the communal part of the organization, but also have fun,” says Jeremy Tucker, who is not only the choir’s artistic director, but also conductor of the Capital Choir and Sibley Singers, and director of arts education for Durham Public Schools.

The Raleigh Youth Choir consists of six choirs: the Acorn Choir, Oak Choir, Capital Choir, Mosaic Choir, Page Singers, and Sibley Singers. Each name has local significance or ties. The Sibley Singers choir, for example, is named after Thomas E. Sibley, who originally founded the choir in 1968. Age-appropriate instruction is taught by a diverse staff of highly trained and talented choral conductors.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Members of the Raleigh Youth Choir perform their 2022 Christmas concert. Photos courtesy of Ken Demery Photography.

Preserving Its S t r e n g t h s

Historically, boychoirs were intended for boys prior to their voice changing during puberty. Over time, many boychoirs have adapted to include older boys, as well as girls. The Raleigh Youth Choir’s Capital Choir specifically supports the changing of the male voice. Instead of being asked to leave the choir, as the tone and deepness of their voice changes, choir members are surrounded by other members going through the same experiences.

“I have found a lot of value, especially for our boys who are in middle school, to have a space where you can be around voices that are changing, and you can continue to sing,” says Tucker, who has a bachelor’s degree in music and master’s degree in music education. While the younger choirs now consist of a mix of boys and girls, the middle and high school choirs are separated by gender in order to preserve that safe space.

Where The C H O I R Performs

The choir has a long history of 55 years in Raleigh, and has been asked to perform at North Carolina governor inaugurations, Duke University basketball games and assisted living facilities. Its “Carols of Christmas” performance is an annual tradition. The Raleigh Youth Choir will also host next year’s Piedmont Invitational Children’s Choral Festival, which welcomes six to seven choirs from across the state each spring. The variety of performances provide ample opportunity for members to learn different styles of music, from traditional to modern.

“A lot of the music is really fun, and I’ve made a lot of friends,” says Christopher, age 9, who is a member of the Capital Choir. Some of his favorite experiences have been singing music from the movie “The Polar Express” with the North Carolina Symphony, and learning the music from the “The NeverEnding Story.”

Travel becomes a bigger part of the high school choirs’ performance schedule, as singers rotate between out-of-state and international trips every year. This schedule has included places such as Washington D.C., New York City, Ireland and England. In 2024, the Page Singers and Sibley Singers will spend two weeks on a European tour, performing throughout Germany and in Prague.

ABOVE: The Raleigh Boychoir changed its name to the Raleigh Youth Choir in 2022 so girls could join in the fun. Photos courtesy of Ken Demery Photography.

BELOW: Jeremy Tucker conducts the Capital Choir and Sibley Singers. He is also director of arts education for DPS. Photo courtesy of Ken Demery Photography.

Join the F u n

The Raleigh Youth Choir believes every voice has a place to sing and perform. Both boys and girls—from kindergarteners through high school seniors—are welcome. In an effort to become more accessible, monthly tuition costs were recently cut in half from what they used to be, and the choir now meets in the Church of the Good Shepherd, a location along Raleigh’s public transportation bus route.

“We really love it,” says Caroline Jeb of Cary, whose 11-year-old son, Matthew, has been in the choir for the past couple of years. “It’s very structured. They really pour their heart into teaching kids.”

The choir aims to complement and expound upon what a student is learning in school through quality instruction and

unique performance opportunities. Those who are interested in trying it out can visit a rehearsal, participate in a week of summer camp, or contact the choir for a placement audition— which are held throughout the summer for the August–May season. But new members of the choir are also welcomed on a rolling basis throughout the year. While all voices can join, auditions help the conductors place children in the choir that is most suited to their voice. “I just like to sing and it helps me express the way I feel,” says Jaylen, 11, who sings with the Capital Choir.

To those singers who are thinking about joining the choir, Jaylen says, “It’s pretty fun. You have to practice a lot, do lots of vocal exercise, and drink lots of water.”

THIS PAGE: The Raleigh Youth Choir is made of of six choirs: the Acorn, Capital, Oak and Mosaic choirs; as well as the Page Singers and Sibley Singers. Photos courtesy of Ken Demery Photography.

To learn more about the choir’s upcoming performances, summer camps and auditions, visit raleighyouthchoir.org

DEPARTMENTS EXPLORATIONS

TAKING CENTER STAGE

Triangle Rising Stars program showcases local talent

BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF

There’s no business like show business! Durham Performing Arts Center’s Triangle Rising Stars program annually celebrates outstanding achievements in high school musical theater as part of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. The program honors local performers and teachers, as well as costume designers, orchestras, and lighting and set designers. This year, stars from regional high schools will converge on May 18, when 20 finalists will compete to win two main awards: Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor.

Winners of Triangle Rising Stars move on to the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, known as the Jimmy Awards, which were named for the late Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander. Administered by The Broadway League Foundation since its inception in 2009, the program has awarded more than $5 million in educational scholarships—not to mention national exposure—to deserving young performers. The program inspired a PBS documentary called “Broadway or Bust” in 2012, which follows students on their journey from hometown competitions—such as Triangle Rising Stars—to their debut on a Broadway stage at Minskoff Theatre in New York City.

LOCAL SHOWSTOPPERS

Last year’s winners of Triangle Rising Stars, Symoné Spencer of Enloe Magnet High School in Raleigh and Joshua Thompson of Weaver Academy in Greensboro, will perform at this year’s Triangle Rising Stars competition. Both Spencer and Thompson went on to become Jimmy Awards finalists last year, ranked in the top four nationally for their respective categories. Thompson was also named winner of the “Spirit of the Jimmys Award” for embodying the spirit of musical theater.

“Being announced as one of the top finalists for Best Performance by an Actor last spring is a memory I will cherish, and I’m grateful that the exposure gained me respect for my art,” Thompson says.

“I’d been praying for that moment, and getting to perform my solo on a real Broadway stage for thousands of people made my dreams come true in ways I never knew they would.”

Spencer echoes Thompson’s sentiments. “Winning Triangle Rising Stars allowed me to remember that, as an artist, the connections you build and the process you allow yourself to have throughout each chapter of your life defines who you become in the end,” she says.

Elena Holder of Durham School of the Arts was the 2021 Triangle Rising Stars Best Actress. She went on to become the Jimmy Awards winner of Best Performance by an Actress. “Being involved in Triangle Rising Stars changed my life in more ways than I can count,” Holder says. “It allowed me to become so much more involved in the North Carolina theater community, and I was able to find an even bigger community at the Jimmy Awards,” she continues.

Winners of the Jimmy Awards receive $25,000 in scholarships, and are invited to audition for multiple Broadway shows. After winning “Best Performance by an Actress” at the Jimmy Awards, Holder had multiple opportunities to network professionally and audition for projects across the nation. “I can’t emphasize enough how important programs like Triangle Rising Stars are,” she says. “They do so much for arts education and for the future careers of young artists.”

Local celebrity and Leesville Road High School theater alumnus Clay Aiken has been the Triangle Rising Stars ceremony host since 2019. “Growing up in Triangle schools, the school theater department was really my only opportunity to perform or to learn about performing,” he says of his Raleigh high school. “Had it not been for these incredible performing arts programs, I don’t think I would have ever even realized how much I love singing.”

With the success of recent winners, this year’s ceremony will surely be thrilling. “I guarantee you there are future Grammy, Tony, Oscar and Golden Globe winners coming through the Triangle Rising Stars program,” Aiken says.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRIANGLE RISING STARS

North Carolina Theatre Clinics

North Carolina Theatre’s in-school clinics are a way for school theater directors to bring in professional teaching artists who use personalized rubrics and adjudication sessions to assist students. The clinics connect student performers to professional acting directors, music directors and choreographers who offer valuable perspectives on the various elements of theater. These clinics have assisted school theater programs competing in Triangle Rising Stars, the Junior Theater Festival, the NCTC High School Play Festival and the NC Thespian Festival.

Learn more at nctheatre.com/page/schools

To me, the secret of the show is for the audience to identify with Scrooge and make the emotional transformation with him by the end of the play. It’s always my hope that everyone will rediscover the spark of magic that Christmas brought them as a child and carry it with them throughout the season.

Ira David Wood III, actor, author, singer, playwright and executive director of Theatre In The Park in Raleigh

A lot of people do theater, but not many people actually make it to Broadway. It is something that is truly special. It’s the thing you say to yourself when you’re out there in that moment, like, ‘Oh my God, I’m living my dream.’

Kennedy Brady, Broadway star and Theatre Raleigh founder

Lauren

In my senior year, I directed the Sightless Rhythm Tap Project at the Governor Morehead School for the Blind. I had gotten grant funding for it so I was able to buy the school tap shoes and put on a show. The joy that dance gave them showed me that I could take this art and we could change the world with it.

Chasta Hamilton, choreographer, author, nonprofit founder, TEDx speaker, and founder and CEO of Stage Door Dance Productions in Raleigh

PHOTOS SHOW VARIOUS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND WINNERS FROM 2018–2022, INCLUDING THE 2022 TRIANGLE RISING STAR S WINNERS JOSHUA THOMPSON OF WEAVER ACADEMY IN GREENSBORO AND SYMON É SPENCER OF ENLOE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL IN RALEIGH (SEE MIDDLE PHOTO ON LEFT). PHOTOS COURTESY OF TRIANGLE RISING STARS

SIDE BAR: IRA DAVID WOOD PHOTO BY CATHERINE DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY LAUREN KENNEDY BRADY PHOTO COURTESY OF THEATRE RALEIGH CHASTA HAMILTON PHOTO BY ALISHA CLEVELAND PHOTOGRAPHY

ENRICHMENT HOUSES AND CULTURAL ARTS CENTERS IN THE TRIANGLE

BY JANICE LEWINE

From Clayton to Carrboro, the Triangle boasts numerous facilities and venues where kids of all ages can explore the arts and STEAM (science/technology/engineering/art/math) opportunities, unleash their creativity and develop their imagination. Here are 13 enrichment houses and cultural arts centers to check out with your kids.

Artmosphere Community Arts Center

3919 Raleigh Road, Clayton 919.938.8015

artmospherecac.com

Housed in the historic Walter R. & Eliza Smith Moore House, the Artmosphere Community Arts Center offers a variety of art classes for ages 3 and older.

Artspace

201 E. Davie Street, Raleigh 919.821.2787

artspacenc.org

Talented local artists teach a diverse range of classes for all ages and abilities at Artspace, which also hosts creators who can work in Artspace studios, and exhibitions featuring national and community artists. Summer art camps are offered for students in grades 1–12.

ArtzHub

Carrboro and Chapel Hill 919.401.6001

artzhub.com

ArtzHub is an independent nonprofit that provides weekly after-school art classes, virtual art classes and art camps for grades K–8 at various locations in Carrboro and Chapel Hill.

Arts Together

114 Saint Mary’s Street, Raleigh 919.828.1713

artstogether.org

Arts Together specializes in year-round arts education programs in visual art, dance, drama and music for toddlers through adults. Its preschool features an arts-integrated curriculum developed to meet Head Start outcomes and North Carolina Department of Education standards for kindergarten readiness.

The ArtsCenter

300-G E. Main Street, Carrboro 919.929.2787

artscenterlive.org

The ArtsCenter hosts theater presentations, concerts, family programs and visual art exhibits. It also offers after-school arts programs for grades K–5 and summer camps for grades K–9 in a variety of mediums.

Cary Arts Center

101 Dry Avenue, Cry 919.469.4069

carync.gov/recreation-enjoyment/ facilities/cary-arts-center

The Cary Arts Center’s Arts Education Program offers classes and camps for all ages. The classes focus on acting, dancing, drawing, painting, pottery, woodworking, fiber arts and sewing, and technical theater and design.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARTSPACE

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARTSPACE

PHOTO BY ADAM CAVE

Carolina Theatre of Durham

309 W. Morgan Street, Durham 919.560.3030

carolinatheatre.org/education-series/ family-saturday

Carolina Theatre of Durham’s Family Saturday Series presents high-quality, affordable arts experiences to introduce young audiences to the magic of live performances, music, storytelling and magic.

Durham Arts Council

120 Morris Street, Durham

919.560.2787

durhamarts.org

The Durham Arts Council provides year-round arts programs and exhibitions for all ages. Classes and camps feature visual and performing arts activities, including drawing, painting, mixed media, dance, theater and more. The Durham Arts Council also hosts year-round exhibits and CenterFest, an annual arts and crafts festival in downtown Durham.

Hayti Heritage Center

804 Old Fayetteville Street, Durham 919.683.1709

hayti.org

Hayti presents quality cultural arts programs related to the African American experience, promotes cross-cultural understanding between isolated communities, and fosters intercultural support. Its enlightening cultural arts programs feature visual art exhibitions, performing arts presentations and classes throughout the year.

Lune Spark

3651 Green Level W. Road, Suite 102, Apex 919.342.0568 lunespark.com

Lune Spark is a creative center for children and adults in the Cary-Apex area. Classes for youth include drama, creative writing, drawing, movie making, photography, voice, video game design and more. Lune Spark also offers weeklong and one-day camps in a variety of art forms, including animation, acting, movie making, painting and drawing.

Kramden Institute

5010 NC Highway 55, Durham 919.293.1133

kramden.org

Kramden Institute provides technology tools and training for kids and adults. Summer STEAM camps for students in grades 3–12 feature coding, electronics, digital creativity, game design, and instruction on building and disassembling computers.

Mad Science of the Triangle

919.858.8988

triangle.madscience.org

Mad Science fosters a love of science, technology, engineering and math through year-round K–5 camps held at various locations across the Triangle.

Science Fun for Everyone!

1859 Evans Road, Cary 919.460.5800

sciencefun.org

Science Fun for Everyone’s instructors provide interactive science programming through track-out camps and summer camps, as well as free online science experiments.

Be sure to visit the parks and recreation websites in your city or town to discover additional programs that focus on visual arts, performing arts and music education being offered at local community centers and cultural arts centers.

BELOW PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAROLINA THEATRE OF DURHAM

THE MATH-MUSIC CONNECTION

Will studying music help your child succeed in STEM subjects?

BY MANDY HOWARD

While there has been debate around it, the answer seems to be undoubtedly and consistently, yes. For decades, scientific studies and anecdotal evidence has shown a strong positive correlation between musical training and increased success in STEM subjects and standardized test scores. The connection is universally accepted, but because students do not exist in a vacuum, the debate becomes whether this relationship is correlation or causation

Correlation or Causation?

A correlation would mean the connection, while present, is not cause-and-effect.

For example, a student who plays a musical instrument may be more likely to have financial means, engaged parents, or a more robust school curriculum and, therefore, would also have more support academically. It’s not the music that causes success, it’s the presence of the other factors.

On the other hand, a causation argument insists studying music, in and of itself, causes students to simply become “smarter.”

Martin J. Bergee, a professor emeritus of music education and music therapy at the University of Kansas School of Music, originally stood firmly on the correlation side. In his “Multilevel Models of the Relationship Between

The results were not what he expected. “My intention was to show that the relationships are probably spurious, meaning the background influences are the main drivers of the relationships, and once those outside influences like demographics, etc., are controlled for, the relationship essentially disappears,” he wrote for a University of Kansas news release. However, much to his surprise, he wrote, “not only did they not disappear, but the relationships are really strong.”

After his findings, Bergee looked at the connection differently. “Music achievement, math achievement, reading achievement— there are probably more generalized processes of the mind that are brought to bear on any of those areas.” In other words, his study led him to believe music may help the brain develop in a holistic way, which improves success in all areas.

Computational Thinking

Scott Laird is the chair of fine arts and the orchestra director at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. Prior to coming to NCSSM in 2001, he served as a music instructor at Eleanor Roosevelt High School near Washington, D.C. For 30-plus years, he has witnessed the strong connection between musical fluency and high achievement in advanced science/technology/ engineering/math (STEM) areas.

Music

Achievement and Reading and Math Achievement” study, Bergee eliminated factors like demographics, income and setting, which, he believed, were likely reasons for the positive correlation. The 2020 study, published in the Journal of Research in Music Education, examined over 1,000 students and sought to negate causation.

He knew there was a link, but it took a conversation with NCSSM chemistry instructor Robert Gotwals to give structure to the anecdotal evidence. Gotwals, who has developed the largest high school computational sciences program in the country, introduced Laird to the idea of computational thinking: the mental ability to apply problem-solving techniques and logical reasoning skills.

PHOTO BY JOSE LUIS PELAEZ INC /GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO BY JOSE LUIS PELAEZ INC /GETTY IMAGES

It is based upon four pillars:

1. Decomposition: Taking something complex and breaking it into simpler parts to understand it better.

2. Pattern recognition: Recognizing patterns—whether musical, linguistic or mathematical—then mastering them and being able to build upon them.

3. Abstraction: Taking a specific element of a problem and being able to zoom out or zoom in to see it in another light.

4. Algorithmic thinking: Creating logical steps or processes to complete a task or solve a problem. Laird instantly saw the connection. “Each of these pillars are what we ask students to do in an orchestra classroom every day,” he says. “The kind of thinking we are doing in an arts classroom is the same kind of thinking we are encouraging students to do in the math classroom, in the computational classroom and in the hard sciences classroom.”

In arts training, the four pillars of computational thinking are inherent. Students are asked to decompose orchestral movements or paintings and consider them part by part. They are taught to build upon patterns like scales and brush strokes. They consistently work in abstraction and algorithmic thinking as they zoom in and out, while creating a process to work toward larger masterpieces and productions. When students train in fine arts, their brain is creating and strengthening patterns of thinking, observation and problem-solving that will be utilized in other areas.

These neural connections have, in fact, been visually observed. In December 2021, researchers from the University of Tokyo used an MRI to observe the brains of students during a music-focused task. As published in ScienceDaily , they witnessed higher brain activity in students who were trained to play music at a young age. They also made a groundbreaking discovery. For the first time, they observed a specific

link between musical processing and language processing.

“It’s hard to put your finger on, because the product is different,” Laird says. “But as I’m learning about these pillars of computational thinking, I realize there’s something I can articulate in a very clear way to get us closer to understanding why an arts program is so important to a STEM education.”

Gotwals and Laird shared their findings at the 2023 American String Teachers Association National Conference. While Laird says he hopes this new understanding will increase efforts to keep and increase arts education, he hopes people remember that the benefits go beyond success in STEM. “Music and the arts are so much more,” he says. “In this era, with a more realistic view of what wellness is, and knowing there are some students who, simply from an aesthetic perspective, need music, need art, need theater to feel whole as human beings … that is equally important.”

PHOTO BY HILL STREET STUDIOS / GETTY IMAGES

CHILDHOOD ANXIETY Solving trauma in the sand

BY KURT DUSTERBERG

It is no secret childhood anxiety is a growing concern for parents. Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the conditions that interfere with a child’s healthy development, along with obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder and social phobias. The need for clinical evaluation of children in this area is so great there is a waitlist at Horizon Integrated Wellness Group in Raleigh and Cary, a practice that serves children, teens and families.

“A perception is what creates anxiety. It’s the fear of the unknown,” says licensed clinical social worker Mary Affee, the founder and clinical director at Horizon Integrated Wellness Group. “Where is it coming up from? Where are they feeling it in the body? … They’re not used to that overwhelming feeling that comes in like a tidal wave.”

Affee specializes in sand tray therapy for both children and adults. Patients can run their hands through the tray and choose from a variety of small objects to place in the sand, thereby creating a story of their concerns. “It actually mirrors the nervous system,” says Affee, who also treats patients using expressive art and play therapy. “[Because you are]

picking up the sand and letting it flow, your nervous system is going to respond to that.”

Affee says some of these pieces are “bizarre,” but represent the real world. “You might have needles in there, beer cans,” she says. “It looks like toys— like a playroom—but really it’s the child’s ability to take these pieces and construct their world without even having words. They still get the healing component, and you get there faster to meet the treatment goals.”

Affee says steering clear of direct conversations allows her patients to communicate in a less stressful manner. “You’re not staring at each other,” she says. “There’s the human judgment—the bias of, ‘I don’t know

if I want to tell her all of this, so maybe I’ll filter it this way.’ You’re now looking at the piece in front of you— the object—and it creates an emotional distance.”

Some childhood anxiety stressors are predictable—like the pressures caused by social media and participating in the digital world. Affee recommends not giving a child a mobile phone until they are at least 12 years old due to the access they provide to social media— which, she says, “creates that constant dopamine hit.”

Affee sees another cultural shift with eating disorders and body image. Once most common among teenage girls, Horizon Integrated Wellness Group now works with a growing number of boys—some as young as 10 years old—with these types of issues. The signs, however, aren’t always clear. “They start to restrict food or they’re anxious, or maybe there’s increased irritability, poor sleep,” Affee says. These signs can be very hard to recognize, especially in boys, she adds.

Regardless of the cause of anxiety, there is an appropriate time to reach out for help. “When a child gets very aggressive, it’s an anxiety, where they’re trying to control something,” she says. “You might see more of that when there is a transition from one activity, or a parent has to leave.”

The bottom line, Affee stresses, is that anxiety represents fear, and a child experiencing anxiety could express it in a physically aggressive or verbal way. “It’s all on a spectrum,” she says. “Every child is different.”

If you believe your child may need mental wellness therapy, consider making an appointment with a practice such as Horizon Integrated Wellness Group. Learn more about services that are available at horizonintegratedwellnessgroup.com

PHOTO BY AQUAARTS STUDIO /GETTY IMAGES

POSTPARTUM ANXIETY

How much is 'normal' and when should you get help?

BY DR. ALYSSA WILLIAMS GEORGE, MD

Most new parents are anxious, and all new parents have expectations. When a baby is born, those expectations make a real experience feel like something is wrong. New parents are tired. They snap at each other over bottle-washing or diapering techniques. To be occasionally tearful, and sometimes fearful, is all normal. What is not considered “normal” is when feelings of anxiety, fear, depression or anger become predominant and disruptive. In these cases, a parent may have a diagnosable mental health condition.

Research suggests as many as one-third of postpartum women have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorder is a broad term, as anxiety has many “flavors.” It can consist of worry, panic, obsessing, phobias, social anxiety and more. A common manifestation of anxiety in the postpartum period is having intrusive thoughts. These unwanted and distressing thoughts can suddenly pop into a new mother’s head. An example is when a mother carrying her baby down the stairs suddenly has a vivid thought of traumatically falling.

Nearly every new parent I treat has had intrusive thoughts, and many of them fear it means they are “going crazy”

or are unfit to parent. Having intrusive thoughts means neither of those things. In postpartum anxiety, these thoughts represent their brains releasing a pop of anxiety. A parent who is having constant intrusive thoughts, however, should see a mental health provider.

Other signs that your anxiety may have reached a problematic level is if you are unable to sleep when your baby is sleeping, are experiencing appetite changes, or feel anxiety consistently enough that it is affecting your relationships with your family, friends or baby. Of course, if you have thoughts of suicide or of harming your baby or other people, you should seek emergency help right away.

What makes postpartum anxiety (and depression) unique is that it presents as a trifecta consisting of a major life change, sleep disruption and the most drastic hormonal shift of your life. Women who have a personal or family history of an anxiety disorder are at higher risk for postpartum anxiety. When a mom or baby has medical complications, the risk is higher still.

Treatment Options

There are various treatment options for anxiety. Many anxiety medications are compatible with breastfeeding. Talk therapy or counseling can feel rather challenging to make time for, but therapy is an evidence-based, gold standard treatment for anxiety disorders of all types. Research studies using brain imaging have shown that talk therapy actually changes your brain!

What about Dad? Parents who did not give birth are just as susceptible (minus the hormone crash) to anxiety and depression, and their mental health often gets less attention. All parents can benefit from extra support. One of my most important roles is reassuring my patients that their struggles are common and that mental health treatment works. Postpartum anxiety is extremely common and treatable.

Local Resources

Postpartum Support International: postpartum.net

Anchor Perinatal Wellness (Raleigh): anchorperinatal.com

UNC School of Medicine

Department of Psychiatry’s Perinatal Psychiatry Inpatient Unit (Chapel Hill): med.unc.edu/psych/wmd/patient_care/ perinatal-inpatient

Raleigh Psychiatric Associates: raleighpsych.com

Dr. Alyssa Williams George, MD, is a psychiatrist and mother of two who practices at Raleigh Psychiatric Associates and specializes in perinatal psychiatry.

PHOTO BY FATCAMERA /GETTY IMAGES

POPUP STORYWALK CARY: “TISHA AND THE BLOSSOMS”

May 5–30

Walnut Street Park

1420 Walnut Street, Cary townofcary.org

Combine the joy of reading with the outdoors in the Town of Cary’s PopUp StoryWalk, a community program showcasing reading adventures in local parks. Skip, run or stroll down a trail to come upon child-height pages from “Tisha and the Blossoms” by Wendy Meddour. As you continue walking, you’ll be reading the entire book—one page at a time—to discover how Tisha and her mother take time to slow down and enjoy the little things in life.

CENTRAL PARK SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

May 6, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Old North Durham Park 724 Foster Street, Durham cpscnc.org

Affectionately called “a berry special day for kids,” the Central Park School for Children’s Strawberry Festival is an annual fundraiser that features live music, activity booths, an inflatable slide and obstacle course, arts and crafts, strawberry treats, a silent auction, community vendors and more. Admission is free.

FEST IN THE WEST

May 6, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Thomas Brooks Park

9008 Green Level Church Road, Cary festinthewest.com

Saddle up for a day of country fun in Cary! Enjoy live bands, food trucks, a vendor village and a Kids Corral bursting with family-friendly activities and a petting zoo. A pie eating contest, which challenges a dozen festivalgoers to eat a pie in the quickest amount of time, takes place at 2 p.m. near the mainstage.

“SLEEPING BEAUTY”

May 18–21

Raleigh Memorial Auditorium

2 E. South Street, Raleigh carolinaballet.com

Carolina Ballet closes out its 25th anniversary season with a favorite storybook ballet based on the work of the Brothers Grimm. “Sleeping Beauty” shines as a testament of good triumphing over evil and features live music by the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle.

GOT TO BE NC FESTIVAL

May 19–21

North Carolina State Fairgrounds

4285 Trinity Road, Raleigh gottobencfestival.com

North Carolina shines in this three-day, country-style festival featuring carnival games and rides, live music, animal and agricultural displays, antique tractors and more. Gate admission and parking are free, but there are fees for some of the activities.

BREWSTER KALEIDOSCOPE SOCIETY EXPO: “FLIGHTS OF IMAGINATION”

May 20, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; May 21, noon–4 p.m.

Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley

4500 Marriott Drive, Raleigh brewstersociety.com

Journey into the colorful world of kaleidoscopes at this expo featuring artists who design and create kaleidoscopes, and the galleries and shops that sell them. Admission fees are $5 per person.

PHOTO BY SUNSHINE SCOVILLE

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOODTREE STUDIO

ARTSPLOSURE: THE RALEIGH ARTS FESTIVAL May 20–21 | Downtown Raleigh | artsplosure.org

Artsplosure features 180 juried visual artists showcasing works in a variety of mediums. Browse the eclectic Art Market, watch live music performances on the main stage from emerging national and regional artists, and experience one-of-a-kind art installations. Kids can let their imaginations run wild at Kidsplosure, which offers free art projects, musical performances, a magic show and more. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARTSPLOSURE

HERITAGE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY PRESENTS

“HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, JR.”

May 25–27

Fuquay Arts Center

123 E. Vance Street, Fuquay-Varina heritageleadershipacademy.com/arts

Heritage Leadership Academy’s performing arts students present this popular Disney musical for three nights at 5 and 7:30 p.m. General seats costs $10; box seats, which seat seven, cost $100.

EVER AFTER: FAIRYTALES, FOOD & FLOWERS

June 3, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

820 Clay Street, Raleigh eventbrite.com

Fairytale adventures await at this garden party in Fred Fletcher Park. Enjoy food and flower crafts, character meet-and-greets, a scavenger hunt and a storywalk. History workshops highlight butter making, natural dyes and flower pressing. Grownups can get their home and garden ready for summer with plants and produce from local farms. Admission is free, but reservations are requested.

BRICKUNIVERSE RALEIGH LEGO FAN EXPO

June 23, 4:30–7 p.m.; June 24–25, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Raleigh Convention Center

500 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh brickuniverseusa.com

Join thousands of LEGO fans for the BrickUniverse Inspire Tour featuring LEGO exhibits and creations built by expert artists, building zones, brick merchants and more. Purchase tickets for timed admission slots.

TRIANGLE VEGFEST

June 25, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Durham Central Park

501 Foster Street, Durham trianglevegfest.com

Discover the health benefits of a plant-based diet. Hear from local experts, sample plant-based foods and learn about helping animals and the Earth. Kid-friendly activities include life-size games, face painting and coloring activities.

Be sure to check the websites for these events before you head out to ensure they are still taking place.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRICKUNIVERSE

COME HUNGRY

New treats to taste, opportunities to learn and recipes to try

TASTE

Bartaco

4121 Main @ North Hills, Raleigh

201 S. Estes Drive, Suite E3, Chapel Hill bartaco.com

Bartaco invites families to escape for a fresh, healthy meal in a bright, open atmosphere. Adults come for the margaritas and creative taco recipes, which include roasted duck, chile-lime shrimp and oyster. But thanks to an a la carte kids menu, it’s also the perfect place to bring your little foodie. Order a crispy fish taco, pineapple skewer, cheese quesadillas and corn wheels— separately or all together—for under $10!

Sassool

9650 Strickland Road, Raleigh

1347 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary sassool.com

Family-owned Sassool offers Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine, as well as fresh bread and baked goods. While your heart and taste buds will thank you for coming to the restaurant any day or night to feast on the healthy, fresh hummus, tabouli or stuffed grape leaves, your wallet will thank you for bringing the family on Tuesdays after 4 p.m., when a kids meal is free with the purchase of an adult meal. Kids kabobs, a cheese pizzette and a turkey sandwich are among the kid-friendly options.

Kanki

4325 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh

4500 Old Wake Forest Road, Raleigh

3504 Mt. Moriah Road, Durham kanki.com

Kanki family night is all about food, fun and fire! Did you know Kanki has a kid’s food and beverage menu? In addition to enjoying a delicious hibachi dinner, kids can choose from a Kanki Smoothie, Panda Punch or Ninja Turtle.

TRY

Easiest Summer Smoothie Makes 4 servings

Created by Mandy Howard, Little Foodies Editor

During the hottest Carolina summer night, it’s tempting to cool down with popsicles, ice cream and other cool treats that taste amazing. But smoothies—cool, delicious and (depending on what you put in them) absolutely nutritious—are the perfect healthy alternative. Of course, the best smoothies are the ones your kids can make themselves. Check out this Howard family favorite, perfected by our fifth-grader.

Ingredients

All quantities can vary … the more liquid you put in, the more sippable your smoothie will be. The more berries, the more sorbet-like your smoothie will be!

• 4 cups of frozen berries (mixed berries, strawberries, etc.)

• 2 cups of fresh spinach leaves

• 2/3 cups of orange juice

• 2/3 cups of another juice of of your choice (apple, cranberry, etc.), or water

*We sometimes add sprinkles of chia seeds and flaxseed prior to blending to offer added benefits that don’t change the smoothie’s delicious taste.

Directions

When making a smoothie, always pour the liquids into the blender first to assist with the blending process. Add the spinach and berries, then blend everything together until the consistency is perfect for you. For thinner and straw-sippable smoothies, add more juice or water. For a richer sorbet, add more berries. Enjoy!

Wynton’s World | 969 N. Harrison Avenue, Cary | wyntonsworld.com

“Hurry up and book!” says one Google review of Chef Wynton’s increasingly popular cooking classes. Wynton’s World offers a wide variety of themed nights, date nights and specific recipes to learn. But you’ll also find an incredible amount of opportunities for young chefs. From parent and teen nights to events created for scout troops, Wynton’s World focuses on family. Check out summer camp options including The Joy of Baking, Teen Culinary Boot Camp, The World Cuisine and The Food Network camp, where each day, the camp brings to life food competition TV shows like “Chopped Junior” and “Nailed It.”

PHOTO BY MIEKE DALLE/GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO BY SRDJANPAV/GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF

PHOTO COURTESEY OF SASSOOL PHOTO COURTESEY OF KANKI

Leading On and Off the Field Panther Creek softball standout continues her record wins

Myah Burt remembers sitting in the dugout at Cary’s Panther Creek High School in the midst of a strong sophomore season. She turned to her her coaches, Bryan Cromer and Jill Smedley, and said “I am so passionate about softball right now. I want to play in college,” she recalls.

Two years later, the senior will fulfill her dream at Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, where she earned a softball scholarship. The Division II school is designated as an historically black university, which attracted Burt right away.

“What I’ve always looked for in a college is HBCU (historically black college and university) culture, and that was everywhere,” she says. “I felt so at peace, and everybody was so welcoming. And the softball team won the conference champs last year, so I am going to a winning program.”

Smedley has watched Burt’s game grow since meeting her at a softball camp a decade ago. She later played travel softball for Carolina Elite Triangle. “Even back then, she stood out,” the Panther Creek head coach says. “She’s an outstanding center fielder and a powerful hitter with incredible speed. She’s smart, athletic and hard-working. Myah has developed into a confident leader who others want to follow.”

Burt brings a record of academic achievement to her college career, after earning academic all-conference honors in each year of high school.

“I’m going to do the honors college,” Burt says. “You work in the community, you have to speak a lot. I feel like that would make me more of a leader. So that’s a good opportunity for me.”

Do you know a Good Sport who deserves recognition in our next issue? Email editors@trianglefamilymag.com to share your news.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BURT FAMILY

cre·a·tiv·i·ty

[kree-ey-tiv-i-tee]

The state or quality of being creative.

Ryan (18) performs the lead role of Belle in a performance of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” at Trinity School of

Want to be in the Tfam Club? Go to trianglefamilymag.com to submit a photo and description that includes your child’s first name, age, town or city, and location where the photo was taken. By submitting your photo, you’ll also receive special Tfam Club deals and discounts.

Durham and Chapel Hill.

Photo courtesy of Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill