The goal of A Class Act - Acting for Young People & Adults, Inc. is to provide actors of all ages with professional-level training in a supportive and fun environment. Classes such as Creative Play, Musical Theater, Improv, and Acting for the Camera, are offered on Saturdays, and Summer Arts Camp is offered in one-week increments from the end of June through the end of July. All the young actors participate in a performance piece for families and friends on the final day of each camp session.

Abrakadoodle inspires the artist in every child. The national mobile arts education program meets both the National and State Standards for visual arts education. Classes are developmentally appropriate and introduce kids to color, texture, shape, and creativity. Abrakadoodle programs are broken into age-appropriate groupings, including Twoosy Doodlers, for children age 20-36 months; Mini Doodlers, for children age three through Kindergarten; Doodlers, for children in grades one through six.

A summer camp, Camp Abrakadoodle, is offered for children ages three through 12. Abrakadoodle Parties are led by an art teacher and feature age-appropriate activities and art lessons, plus each party guest leaves with a framed piece of their own original art.

Abrakadoodle inspires the artist in every child. The national mobile arts education program meets both the National and State Standards for visual arts education. Classes are developmentally appropriate and introduce kids to color, texture, shape, and creativity. Abrakadoodle programs are broken into age-appropriate groupings, including Twoosy Doodlers, for children age 20-36 months; Mini Doodlers, for children age three through Kindergarten; Doodlers, for children in grades one through six.

A summer camp, Camp Abrakadoodle, is offered for children ages three through 12. Abrakadoodle Parties are led by an art teacher and feature age-appropriate activities and art lessons, plus each party guest leaves with a framed piece of their own original art.

Abrakadoodle inspires the artist in every child. The national mobile arts education program meets both the National and State Standards for visual arts education. Classes are developmentally appropriate and introduce kids to color, texture, shape, and creativity. Abrakadoodle programs are broken into age-appropriate groupings, including Twoosy Doodlers, for children age 20-36 months; Mini Doodlers, for children age three through Kindergarten; Doodlers, for children in grades one through six.

A summer camp, Camp Abrakadoodle, is offered for children ages three through 12. Abrakadoodle Parties are led by an art teacher and feature age-appropriate activities and art lessons, plus each party guest leaves with a framed piece of their own original art.

Abrakadoodle inspires the artist in every child. The national mobile arts education program meets both the National and State Standards for visual arts education. Classes are developmentally appropriate and introduce kids to color, texture, shape, and creativity. Abrakadoodle programs are broken into age-appropriate groupings, including Twoosy Doodlers, for children age 20-36 months; Mini Doodlers, for children age three through Kindergarten; Doodlers, for children in grades one through six.

A summer camp, Camp Abrakadoodle, is offered for children ages three through 12. Abrakadoodle Parties are led by an art teacher and feature age-appropriate activities and art lessons, plus each party guest leaves with a framed piece of their own original art.

Abrakadoodle inspires the artist in every child. The national mobile arts education program meets both the National and State Standards for visual arts education. Classes are developmentally appropriate and introduce kids to color, texture, shape, and creativity. Abrakadoodle programs are broken into age-appropriate groupings, including Twoosy Doodlers, for children age 20-36 months; Mini Doodlers, for children age three through Kindergarten; Doodlers, for children in grades one through six.

A summer camp, Camp Abrakadoodle, is offered for children ages three through 12. Abrakadoodle Parties are led by an art teacher and feature age-appropriate activities and art lessons, plus each party guest leaves with a framed piece of their own original art.

The longest-running children's theater in the DC area, Adventure Theatre presents fully staged live productions of fables, fairy tales, musicals, and children's classics.

A free book club encourages kids to read books the plays are about before seeing them performed. Children who register receive a membership pin, a book club passport - stamped for each play seen, name recognition on a lobby display, and a certificate of completion. Special book club performances (for which members get two discounted tickets) are offered for each production, and include post-show discussions and activities.

The theater is climate-controlled and has a capacity of 193 in comfortable, tiered, stadium-style seating.

Classes are offered in the Fall, Winter, and Spring, in all phases of the dramatic arts, for both children and adults.

During the summer, teen and kid workshops are offered from 9am to 3pm.

The Arlington Arts Center is a private, nonprofit contemporary visual arts center dedicated to presenting and supporting new work of regional artists from the Mid-Atlantic States. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and subsidized studio spaces, the center serves as a bridge between artists and the public.

Classes are offered year-round for children ages four and up, including week-long summer classes.

art.smart.kids is an art curriculum based on art history and specifically designed for young children. In each session, children discover art through learning the history of art; exploring various artistic techniques, methods, and mediums; and creating their own works of art. art.smart.kids offers classes for children ages 18 months to 10 years at various venues in the area. Currently classes are held at At Play Cafe in Reston, VA and The Story Tellers in Occoquan, VA. Summer camps are held out of the director's home studio in Herndon, VA.

Artworks Fine Art Studio is dedicated to teaching the fundamentals of fine art; classes focus on the fundamentals of drawing and painting. Instructors at Artworks use a step-by-step teaching process which helps children produce beautiful works of art, while at the same time, building self esteem. Students begin by learning basic drawing and pastel techniques, and once this level has been mastered, they move on to watercolors, and eventually oils. Classes are offered after school and on Saturdays.

Summer camp, for children ages five to twelve, is a weekly day camp exploring many different art mediums hands-on, such as painting, sculpture, candy making, t-shirt decorating, and more.

Birthday parties consist of one hour of teaching, followed by half and hour for refreshments and an art show. Artworks provides decorated studio space and an art lesson with a finished piece each child can take home.

Artworks Fine Art Studio is dedicated to teaching the fundamentals of fine art; classes focus on the fundamentals of drawing and painting. Instructors at Artworks use a step-by-step teaching process which helps children produce beautiful works of art, while at the same time, building self esteem. Students begin by learning basic drawing and pastel techniques, and once this level has been mastered, they move on to watercolors, and eventually oils. Classes are offered after school and on Saturdays.

Summer camp, for children ages five to twelve, is a weekly day camp exploring many different art mediums hands-on, such as painting, sculpture, candy making, t-shirt decorating, and more.

Birthday parties consist of one hour of teaching, followed by half and hour for refreshments and an art show. Artworks provides decorated studio space and an art lesson with a finished piece each child can take home.

Ballet Petite's specialized curriculum is designed specifically for younger children, and is an intermediate step between natural movement and formal classical ballet training, progressing from creative movement to pre-primary ballet through age five. Ballet Petite brings together fundamental dance instruction with costumes, props, music, and acting, and the enchantment of fairytales and ballet stories. Ballet Petite also offers classes in Kindermusik Sign and Sing and Musical Theater. The Youth Performing Arts School provides more advanced instruction in ballet, musical theater, jazz, tap, acting, and voice for children six and older.

Classes are grouped by age at first, with the younger two- and three-year olds dancing with their parents or caregivers. Four- and five-year olds progress to pre-ballet and tap classes on their own. Classes for children six and up are based on ability. New students can call to arrange a free trial class.

Summer camps are offered for kids two and a half and older (half days for the little ones), with themes ranging from Dr. Seuss to American Girls to Broadway.

Budding ballerinas can also have a birthday party in one of the studios. Call for more details.

Ballet Petite's specialized curriculum is designed specifically for younger children, and is an intermediate step between natural movement and formal classical ballet training, progressing from creative movement to pre-primary ballet through age five. Ballet Petite brings together fundamental dance instruction with costumes, props, music, and acting, and the enchantment of fairytales and ballet stories. Ballet Petite also offers classes in Kindermusik Sign and Sing and Musical Theater. The Youth Performing Arts School provides more advanced instruction in ballet, musical theater, jazz, tap, acting, and voice for children six and older.

Classes are grouped by age at first, with the younger two- and three-year olds dancing with their parents or caregivers. Four- and five-year olds progress to pre-ballet and tap classes on their own. Classes for children six and up are based on ability. New students can call to arrange a free trial class.

Summer camps are offered for kids two and a half and older (half days for the little ones), with themes ranging from Dr. Seuss to American Girls to Broadway.

Budding ballerinas can also have a birthday party in one of the studios. Call for more details.

Ballet Petite's specialized curriculum is designed specifically for younger children, and is an intermediate step between natural movement and formal classical ballet training, progressing from creative movement to pre-primary ballet through age five. Ballet Petite brings together fundamental dance instruction with costumes, props, music, and acting, and the enchantment of fairytales and ballet stories. Ballet Petite also offers classes in Kindermusik Sign and Sing and Musical Theater. The Youth Performing Arts School provides more advanced instruction in ballet, musical theater, jazz, tap, acting, and voice for children six and older.

Classes are grouped by age at first, with the younger two- and three-year olds dancing with their parents or caregivers. Four- and five-year olds progress to pre-ballet and tap classes on their own. Classes for children six and up are based on ability. New students can call to arrange a free trial class.

Summer camps are offered for kids two and a half and older (half days for the little ones), with themes ranging from Dr. Seuss to American Girls to Broadway.

Budding ballerinas can also have a birthday party in one of the studios. Call for more details.

Ballet Petite's specialized curriculum is designed specifically for younger children, and is an intermediate step between natural movement and formal classical ballet training, progressing from creative movement to pre-primary ballet through age five. Ballet Petite brings together fundamental dance instruction with costumes, props, music, and acting, and the enchantment of fairytales and ballet stories. Ballet Petite also offers classes in Kindermusik Sign and Sing and Musical Theater. The Youth Performing Arts School provides more advanced instruction in ballet, musical theater, jazz, tap, acting, and voice for children six and older.

Classes are grouped by age at first, with the younger two- and three-year olds dancing with their parents or caregivers. Four- and five-year olds progress to pre-ballet and tap classes on their own. Classes for children six and up are based on ability. New students can call to arrange a free trial class.

Summer camps are offered for kids two and a half and older (half days for the little ones), with themes ranging from Dr. Seuss to American Girls to Broadway.

Budding ballerinas can also have a birthday party in one of the studios. Call for more details.

Ballet Petite's specialized curriculum is designed specifically for younger children, and is an intermediate step between natural movement and formal classical ballet training, progressing from creative movement to pre-primary ballet through age five. Ballet Petite brings together fundamental dance instruction with costumes, props, music, and acting, and the enchantment of fairytales and ballet stories. Ballet Petite also offers classes in Kindermusik Sign and Sing and Musical Theater. The Youth Performing Arts School provides more advanced instruction in ballet, musical theater, jazz, tap, acting, and voice for children six and older.

Classes are grouped by age at first, with the younger two- and three-year olds dancing with their parents or caregivers. Four- and five-year olds progress to pre-ballet and tap classes on their own. Classes for children six and up are based on ability. New students can call to arrange a free trial class.

Summer camps are offered for kids two and a half and older (half days for the little ones), with themes ranging from Dr. Seuss to American Girls to Broadway.

Budding ballerinas can also have a birthday party in one of the studios. Call for more details.

The mission of the BlackRock Center for the Arts is to inspire the community to become involved in the arts. To this end, it has several theaters - with a performance arts season featuring music, dance, and theater; an exhibition gallery; and an education program featuring classes and summer camps for children (ages three and up) and adults. Classes are also available for children with developmental disabilities.

Classes include piano, creative movement, ballet/tap, hip hop, musical theater, guitar, music studies, art (painting, printmaking, paper collages, and more), and songwriting. Summer camps are half day, art exploration sessions for ages three to six, and full day for children entering grades two through eight. The older kids focus on the arts, creating a performance piece by the end of the camp.

The C2HI Summer Camp is a four-week summer musical theater camp for children of all abilities in grades one through eight. Kids can go for the full day, which includes the tech side of the production in the morning and rehearsals in the afternoons, or just in the afternoons. The staff to camper ratio is excellent. Extended care is available as well.

Camp Arena Stage is a multi-arts summer day camp for young people ages eight to 15, located on the campus of the Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School.

In a two- or four-week program, campers explore, discover and create in a nurturing, hands-on environment. The camp focuses on process over product and allows campers to choose their own schedules from a host of both introductory and advanced classes in music, dance, and visual arts, as well as theater. Campers go on a field trip to the Arena Stage for a matinee and behind the scenes tour, and have daily opportunities to join in or watch performances at camp.

Campers bring their own lunches; snacks are provided daily.

Need-based scholarships are available.

Camp Jam is a summer program that brings together young musicians and teaches them band dynamics, secrets of the trade, performance skills, and rock history, and provides them with the opportunity to interact with industry professionals.

Camp Jam Rock 'n' Roll Summer Day Camp, for kids ages 11 to 17, provides a place for teens to convene with other aspiring musicians, bands, and vocalists. Participants can hone their musical chops by learning from - and performing with - professional musicians with experience in the music industry, in an environment that promotes skills such as teamwork and communication. The five-day camp offers instruction in guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, and vocal performance, as well as a songwriting clinic, an open mic showcase, a class on performance skills, and a course in audio engineering and production.

Camp Jam Kidz is for pint-sized rockers ages seven to 10. This unique program offers a fun, interactive musical experience for younger kids, giving them the chance to play the instrument of their choice under the watchful eyes of the camp counselors. Camp Jam Kidz offers an experience that's similar to that of older campers, but with a more hands-on focus from instructors. Participants play their very first gig at the end of the week, performing on stage with a real rock band.

After-camp care is available until 5:30pm for an additional $20 per week. Advance registration is required and discounts are available for early registration and multiple session enrollment. Registration forms are available online.

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) offers families a multitude of ways to learn to express themselves through the visual arts, dance, music, and theatre. CHAW offers classes for children and adults in many artistic disciplines, as well as tumbling and tae kwon do. Infants and toddlers can shake maracas with their mamas in the popular toddler music class.

CHAW offers an after school arts package for kids ages five to 12, which consists of a jam packed arts curriculum every afternoon of the week. Parents can arrange to have children picked up from school and taken directly to CHAW.

Each summer, the workshop offers a series of two-week summer camps, building the arts curriculum around a greater theme, such as the environment or different cultures.

CHAW sponsors a theatre company, music and dance performances, and art shows that feature local artists. Affiliates include the Capitol Hill Youth Chorus, which provides professional instruction in vocal musical performance for kids in grades one through three and four through eight. The Youth Chorus is an open, inclusive community chorus. There are no auditions.

Theatre classes for children begin as young as four at Classika Studio, which shares space with Classika Theatre. An ongoing, progressive program that develops and builds fundamental skills that enable children's imagination to thrive and self-confidence to blossom, classes at Classika are a great choice for your budding thespian.

Classes are generally held on weekdays, after 4pm, and on Saturday mornings, with sessions running for eight or 12 weeks.

If you are interested in individual instruction, Classika offers specialized classes in the visual and the dramatic arts, voice, movement, dance, and piano, as well.

The Classika Summer Camp program runs in two-week sessions in July and August. Camps are divided by age: 4-6, 7-9, 10-13, and 14 and older. Each camp is also divided into groups of no more than 10 to make sure each child gets enough direct attention.

Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts' (CCTA) mission is to educate through the arts by creating theatrical experiences that inspire thought, action, creativity, and change.

CCTA's Conservatory offers several performance arts based programs designed to nurture and develop the whole child. They include a professional student ensemble - The Young Columbians, musical theatre classes, after school drama programs at area schools, summer performing arts camps, and the nationally-recognized Teen Professional Theatre Workshop that provides a unique theatrical experience to highly motivated and talented young actors.

CREATE Arts Center is a non-profit organization offering arts classes, camps, parties, and special events for the general population, as well as art therapy and other art related activities for special needs clients.

CREATE's varied arts programs include such classes as Potluck Art, Cartooning, Drawing and Painting, Stone Carving, Teen Art Club, Bead & Jewelry Making, Stichery & Hand Sewing, and Pottery.

During school vacations CREATE offers spring, summer, and winter arts camps. Children participate in art, music, theater, and recreational activities, lead by professional artists/teachers who are experts in their field. Classes include such activities as clay, drawing, painting, stone carving, mask making, paper mache, sculpture, music, drama, book making, textiles, collage, and more.

Art therapy resources include arts classes for families with autistic children, after school arts programs for children at risk; and art therapy for patients in psychiatric and other facilities.

Dance Place offers a Family Series on Sundays that features professional companies and young artists performing a variety of dance styles, including Modern Dance, Tap, West African, Step, Kuchipudi Classical Indian Dance, and Jazz.

In addition to its dance theatre division, Dance Place houses Kids On the Move, a dance program for children and teens ages three to 18 offering classes in various disciplines - tap, hip hop, jazz, ballet, creative movement, and more. Classes are offered in eight to 12-week blocks, with options to take one or more classes per week, plus summer camp. Performing opportunities are also available.

The DAR Museum has several programs for families and children. A free interactive Family Guide is available to children visiting the exhibition.

The museum features 32 period rooms, depicting life in early America, and two galleries with permanent and rotating exhibits.

The Museum Shop includes adaptations and reproductions of obects inspired by objects in the DAR Museum collection. All proceeds help support the museum.

The main draw for kids is on the Third Floor, where the New Hampshire Toy Attic houses a wealth of early American children's toys and furniture. The strictures against touching are relieved by a stop at the Touch of Independence area.

On the first and third Saturdays of each month from September through May, children ages five to seven can sign up to take a tour through history. Offered from 1:30pm-2:30pm and 3pm-4pm, Colonial Adventure gives kids a peek at a one-room house, and the chance to play old-time games, enjoy a make-believe tea party, and more. Call to reserve in advance; this is a popular program.

The DAR hosts two camps for children. Colonial Camp is for children ages 8-12, and offers them a chance to step back in time. Camp participants have the opportunity to wear historically accurate costumes, meet 18th century characters brought to life by costumed interpreters, learn to fence and throw a tomahawk, play colonial games and learn period dances, and prepare and serve 18th century foods.

Quilt Camp is for children ages 10-17, and teaches the essentials of hand quilting. Campers are taken through the entire process as they craft their project, including choosing fabrics, making templates, hand appliqué, and hand quilting. Campers also have the chance to learn more about quilting and other American folk arts by studying quilts in the DAR Museum's collection and visiting nearby museums. Some basic sewing experience is recommended.

The DAR Constitution Hall shares the same address and has been hosting special events and concerts in DC since 1929.

DayJams is a rock music day camp program for beginners and experienced musicians ages nine to 15. Participants write an original song and perform it live, record a CD, design a poster, T-shirt, and CD cover for their band, make a music video, and, yes, spend a little time pursuing outdoor activities as well.

Applications should be sent to the main office (not the host schools):

DayJams

P.O. Box 222

Lakeside, CT 06758

DayJams is a rock music day camp program for beginners and experienced musicians ages nine to 15. Participants write an original song and perform it live, record a CD, design a poster, T-shirt, and CD cover for their band, make a music video, and, yes, spend a little time pursuing outdoor activities as well.

Applications should be sent to the main office (not the host schools):

DayJams

P.O. Box 222

Lakeside, CT 06758

The Duke Ellington School of the Arts was founded in 1974 and is the only DC public high school that provides professional arts training and college preparation to talented DC public school students. Each student takes a full academic courseload and, additionally, majors in one of eight arts disciplines (Dance, Literary Media, Museum Studies, Instrumental or Vocal Music, Theater, Technical Theater, and Visual Arts).

To attend Duke Ellington School of the Arts, students must schedule an audition with Ellington's Office of Admissions by calling 202.282.0515 or emailing toniah.colson@k12.dc.us. Applications are available on the day of the scheduled audition. Auditions are held before a panel of Ellington staff members. Prospective students may audition for multiple departments; however, if accepted into multiple departments within the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, students must select one discipline as their major.

The school also offers a summer arts camp, "Journeys!," for students ages 10-14. Children interested in the arts participate in four workshops each day - dance, theater, vocal music, and visual arts - and learn about building sets, designing costumes, developing script material, and more. Call 202.333.2555 for more information.

A dance studio offering instruction from caring and highly trained dance teachers. Classes at Elite Dance Studio and Supply are offered for children ages three and up in ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop (ages eight and up). Twirly Twos, a special class for two-year-olds, introduces little ones to dance through creative movement. Several summer camps are also offered for kids ages four and up.

The goal of the Gaithersburg Arts Barn is to promote the enriching experience of participation in the arts as well as to provide a nurturing environment conducive to the creative development of local visual and performing artists. Visitors to the Arts Barn can participate in workshops and classes, attend musical and theatrical performances, and observe the creative process as artists work in their studios.

Originally built in 1900 as a stable, the renovated Arts Barn now includes two artists-in-resident studios, a teaching studio, an art gallery, and a museum shop on the first floor. The former barn loft has been transformed into a 99-seat theater for the performing arts.

Various art, music, and theatre classes, for children ages three and up, include puppetry, drama, painting, sculpture, and more. Summer camps for the performing and visual arts are available for children in 1st through 6th grades.