In the Schools

“Music is important in my life because it keeps me off the streets. The performance motivated me to keep trying.”
–Jonathan, 6th grade, Naylor Middle School                      

Students dancing at a Wildcat School performance. 

SambaDá performing at Santa Rita High School.

UApresents' In the Schools Program

In the Schools brings professional dancers, musicians, and theatre artists to Tucson to perform shows for local K-12 students. There is no cost to the schools or students for the In The Schools performances. Partners include the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD), Sunnyside Unified School District (SUSD), the Wildcat School, City High School and San Miguel High School. The majority of students served come from low-income families. Now in its fourth year, the program will reach nearly 8,000 students this season.

View the UA News story about In the Schools  "UApresents Brings Samba to K-12 Students"

“This was my first time being in a live performance. I will never in my life forget this beautiful day.”
–Alejandra, 6th grade, Naylor Middle School

The In the Schools program helps ensure that arts education is kept alive. The program addresses diminished arts education programs and decreased funding for field trips and bus transportation. A wide range of artists and performances enables students to learn about countries, cultures, stories, geography, languages, art forms and genres. In the Schools performances can be connected to nearly all academic subjects. UApresents creates an online study guide for teachers for each In the Schools show including information about the artists, history of the genre, lesson plans, and classroom activities.

The In the Schools program is free for schools; there is no other professional performing arts organization providing free in-school performances in the Tucson area.

New this year! With the support of the Arizona Commission on the Arts, UApresents has engaged Arts Integration Solutions (AiS) to strengthen curriculum content & teacher resources for the In the Schools program.

2012-2013 Schedule 

TBA

How to Register

TUSD teachers: The district will take reservations for all shows. Contact Carole Marlowe, the district’s Performing Arts Specialist, at Carole.Marlowe@tusd1.org or (520) 225-4911.

SUSD Teachers: Each school will take reservations for shows at their school. Desert View High School teachers, contact Assistant Principal Raul Hodgers at RaulH@susd12.org or (520) 545-5134. Sunnyside High School teachers, contact Maria Armenta,  Administrative Assistant in the Athletics and Activities Office at MariaEA@susd12.org or (520) 545-5306.

Wildcat School: All 3^rd-8^th grade students at Wildcat School are invited to attend. Please contact Lina Susee, Director of the School at 520-294-5473 or susee@thewildcatschool.com.

In the Schools Sponsors

In the Schools is sponsored by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, BBVA Compass, Joan Brown Diamond Charitable Trust, David C. and Lura M. Lovell Foundation, William L. and Ruth T. Pendleton Memorial Foundation, Donald Pitt Family Foundation, Mountain Room Foundation, and the Zuckerman Community Outreach Foundation.

Performance History of In the Schools

The UApresents In the Schools program began in 2009.  More than 12 artists have performed over 20 shows for Tucson area students.  Please scroll down for the performance history and links to study guides.

2011-2012