At CHAW, kids build confidence, creativity and community. Sign up for classes to experience the magic of CHAW today!

Youth Arts Program

Overview

The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) Youth Arts Program is a dynamic curriculum of classes, performance, and exhibition opportunities emphasizing arts as a way of life for a lifetime. Students in the Youth Arts Program (YAP) develop a unique artistic voice as they explore and create dance and art in community with their peers.

Program Dates

Fall Semester: 9/5/2023- 12/9/2023

Final Showcase: Saturday, December 9, 2023

No classes on:

10/9/23, 11/7/23, 11/22-23

Class Pricing

Pricing is per semester and is prorated for holidays.

Mondays: $545 

Tuesdays: $545

Wednesdays: $545

Thursdays: $545

CHAW never turns a child away for inability to pay. Sliding scale registration and payment plans are available for all registrants. Please contact Brian Washington at brian@chaw.org for more information. Request forms may be picked up at the front desk or online.

Studios

Each studio teaching artist tailors lessons and projects to student age and skill level. Returning students build on previous concepts and knowledge. All classes teach and reinforce arts fundamentals while nurturing personal artistic growth through foundational skills building, creative exploration, critique demonstration and performance history, independent projects and community building

Village Time

When a student enters CHAW for the after school arts program, they are welcomed into a community of artful thinking, creativity, and collaboration.  When not in class, students are invited to participate in village activities ranging from games to homework help to drop-in art projects. Village time offers an opportunity for students to engage with peers who are not in their classes at school, allowing for new connections, friendships, and perspectives to be formed in a safe and nurturing environment where every voice matters and every child is celebrated for his or her unique creative contributions.

COVID Safety

If you haven’t been in our building in the past year you’ll notice some updates when you walk in the door. Hand sanitizers are located in each room and entrance. Social distancing is observed where possible. Frequent hand washing is encouraged. Masks are optional in the building at this time and cleaning and disinfecting are done on a regular basis. Learn more about our COVID-19 resources here. 

Van Service

CHAW van service is operating to various local schools in and around Capitol Hill. Sign up is available on the following page. $100 for each sign up day for the semester. For example: Monday and Tuesdays for Fall semester will total $200. 


Teen Arts Classes

Cool and Unusual Art

Teaching Artist – Elise Richardson

09/22/2023 – 12/08/2023

Fridays, 4:30-6:00pm

Tuition – $250.00

Students will transform everyday objects them into unique and interesting pieces of art. They will use various methods from painting, mixed medium, 3D collages and more to create art pieces in a way they’ve never imagined. Students will learn to redefine what “art” means to them and put their personal perspective into each piece they create. *No class on 11/10 or 11/24.

Traditional Cartooning 

Teaching Artist – Blas Goncalves-Borrega

10/18/2023 – 12/07/2023*

Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00pm

Tuition – $225.00

Each student will create one continuous comic, featuring themself as the star of the story. During the first 45 minutes of each class, the instructor will teach a drawing skill; during the second 45 minutes, students will work on their individual comics. This class is designed for students 12-17 years old. All materials is provided. *No class on 11/22.

Applied Dance

Ballet Foundations: Pre-K-1st

Teaching Artist – Rachael Coad

09/11/2023 – 12/04/2023

Mondays, 3:45-4:40pm

Tuition – $260.00

CHAW dance classes are designed to grow with your child and give dancers an opportunity to learn and build on foundational skills. All students perform in demonstrations or recitals held in conjunction with CHAW-wide performance festivals at the end of each session. Class instruction includes dance technique, steps, and sequences that develop strength, stamina, and focus. *No class on 10/9.

Ballet Foundations: 2nd-5th

Teaching Artist – Rachael Coad

09/11/2023 – 12/04/2023

Mondays, 4:50-5:45pm

Tuition – $260.00

CHAW dance classes are designed to grow with your child and give dancers an opportunity to learn and build on foundational skills. All students perform in demonstrations or recitals held in conjunction with CHAW-wide performance festivals at the end of each session. Class instruction includes dance technique, steps, and sequences that develop strength, stamina, and focus. *No class on 10/9.

Adaptive Dance

Teaching Artists – Meredith Griffin & Rachael Coad

11/07/2023 – 12/12/2023

Tuesdays, 6:30-7:15pm

Tuition – $130.00

In Adaptive Dance, children with special needs are not only welcome, but truly supported and celebrated. CHAW dance chair and instructor, Rachael Coad, partners with licensed occupational therapist, Meredith Griffin, for a creative movement/dance class focussed on expression, joy and overall well-being. We will connect our bodies to the music and to our breath, have a consistent structure and repetition to encourage muscle memory and a sense of building, and end the 6 week session with an in-studio showcase for our family and friends to celebrate our dancing journey. This class will be geared towards students ages 3-6, but please call and inquire as exceptions can certainly be made for older students, as well.

NOTE: Capitol Hill Arts Workshop is in a 130-year old building which is not fully accessible; there are stairs into the building and more stairs to our 2nd floor dance studio.


Music

Violin Ensemble

Teaching Artist – Megan Yanick

09/09/2023 – 12/02/2023

Saturdays, 3:00-4:00pm (Book 1) and 4:00-5:00pm (Book 2)

Tuition – $270.00

Book 2 + violin ensemble

Our spring violin ensemble was such a hit that we are back at it again this fall! The Book 2 + violin ensemble is for more experienced violin students in Suzuki book 2 and up. We will focus on ensemble and performance skills, sight-reading, music vocabulary, and more! Students will prepare throughout the semester for a final performance in December. 


Music Mind Games

Teaching Artist – Irene Chow

09/09/2023 – 12/02/2023

Saturdays, 3:00-4:00pm (ages 9-12) and 4:00-5:00pm (ages 6-9)

Tuition – $270.00

Music Mind Games is a multi-sensory, game-based method of teaching music literacy to children. Games are a fun, motivating way to learn music notation, rhythm, sight-singing, and many other musicianship skills. This class is suitable for students of any instrument or no instrument at all. 

Saturdays, 3:00-4:00pm (ages 9-12)

Saturdays, 4:00-5:00pm (ages 6-9)


Pre-Piano

Teaching Artist – Cora Lee Khambatta

10/11/2023 – 12/06/2023

Wednesdays, 2:00-3:00pm

Tuition – $170.00

Students will learn rhythm, singing, finger dexterity, music reading skills, and piano techniques through fun, age-appropriate activities. In addition to piano, students will be introduced to several other musical instruments. By the eighth lesson, students will have a positive comfort level approaching the piano, and potentially be able to play a song on the piano. This class is recommended for students 4-6 years old.