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Winter/Spring Arts Academy Semester
Sankofa Acting: Intermediate (Ages 14-18)
For students with previous experience, this class deepens scene study, character analysis, and performance techniques. Rooted in Black storytelling traditions, Sankofa Intermediate sharpens the actor’s craft through ensemble building, critical reflection, and rehearsal rigor that supports artistic growth.
Class Day: Mon & Wed
Time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Program Dates: September 29 – December 13, 2025
Performance Dates: Friday, December 12, 2025
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Location: Karamu House, 2355 East 89th Street Cleveland, OH 44106 | Concert Hall
Required Materials: Comfortable movement clothing and sneakers
Annual Registration Fee: $25.00 (non-refundable)
Full Tuition & Sliding-Scale Financial Assistance Available
To request financial aid for class, use promo code ROOTED at checkout to pay only the $25 registration fee at the time of enrollment. Do not select a payment plan. You will be contacted by Karamu's finance office with next steps.
A member of our finance team will contact you to collect documents such as paystubs or tax returns to assess your family's financial aid eligibility. We will then provide a tuition award and create a personalized payment plan that meets your needs.
Please Note: The $25 annual registration fee is required for all students, regardless of tuition option.
Contact our Arts Education Department:Maya Nicholson, Arts Education Manager Email: misrael@karamuhouse.org Phone: (216) 795-7070 ext. 228
To request financial aid for the acting class, use promo code ROOTED26 at checkout to pay only the $25 registration fee at the time of enrollment. Do not select a payment plan. You will be contacted by Karamu's finance office with next steps.
Sankofa Acting: Novice (Ages 10-13)
Sankofa Acting: Novice honors the past while planting seeds for future performers. This beginner-level course teaches acting fundamentals—character, voice, body, and ensemble work—through culturally relevant stories and scenes. Students build confidence, creative empathy, and performance readiness.
Class Day and times: Wed 5:00-6:30 pm AND Sat 11:00 am-12:30 pm
Program Dates: September 14 – November 7, 2026
Performance Dates: Nov 6th and 7th of 2026
Location: Karamu House, 2355 East 89th Street Cleveland, OH 44106 | Upper Drama Studio
Required Materials: Comfortable movement clothing and sneakers
Annual Registration Fee: $25.00 (non-refundable)
Full Tuition & Sliding-Scale Financial Assistance Available
To request financial aid for class, use promo code ROOTED26 at checkout to pay only the $25 registration fee at the time of enrollment. Do not select a payment plan. You will be contacted by Karamu's finance office with next steps.
A member of our finance team will contact you to collect documents such as paystubs or tax returns to assess your family's financial aid eligibility. We will then provide a tuition award and create a personalized payment plan that meets your needs.
Please Note: The $25 annual registration fee is required for all students, regardless of tuition option.
Contact our Arts Education Department: Maya Nicholson, Arts Education Manager Email: mnicholson@karamuhouse.org Phone: (216) 795-7070 ext. 228
To request financial aid for the acting class, use promo code ROOTED26 at checkout to pay only the $25 registration fee at the time of enrollment. Do not select a payment plan. You will be contacted by Karamu's finance office with next steps.
Littles Griot Acting (Ages 5-9)
with Sydney Smith
Welcome your young performer into the world of theatre through storytelling, play, and performance. Littles Drama is designed to introduce children ages 5–9 to the foundations of acting while fostering creativity, empathy, and collaboration. Through games, improvisation, and age-appropriate scene work, students gain confidence on and off the stage.
Class Day: Saturdays
Time: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Program Dates: September 14 – November 7, 2026
Performance Dates: Nov 6th and 7th of 2026
Location: Karamu House, 2355 East 89th Street Cleveland, OH 44106 | Upper Drama Studio
Required Materials: Comfortable movement clothing and sneakers
Annual Registration Fee: $25.00 (non-refundable)
Full Tuition & Sliding-Scale Financial Assistance Available
To request financial aid for the LITTLES Dance and/or LITTLES Acting class, use promo code RISE26 at checkout to pay only the $25 registration fee at the time of enrollment. Do not select a payment plan. You will be contacted by Karamu's finance office with next steps.
A member of our finance team will contact you to collect documents such as paystubs or tax returns to assess your family's financial aid eligibility. We will then provide a tuition award and create a personalized payment plan that meets your needs.
Please Note: The $25 annual registration fee is required for all students, regardless of tuition option.
Contact our Arts Education Department: Maya Nicholson, Arts Education Manager Email: misrael@karamuhouse.org
Phone: (216) 795-7070 ext. 228
To request financial aid for the LITTLES Dance and/or LITTLES Acting class, use promo code RISE26 at checkout to pay only the $25 registration fee at the time of enrollment. Do not select a payment plan. You will be contacted by Karamu's finance office with next steps.
Adult Urban Ballroom Dance
with Duane Johnson
Karamu House is proud to introduce Adult Urban Ballroom Dance, a vibrant and welcoming class designed for adult life-long learners of all experience levels." ...a social, mature, and soulful partner dance experience that merges the structured elegance of traditional ballroom with the smooth, rhythmic, and improvised styling of 1970s Detroit club dancing. It is often referred to as "Detroit Ballroom" or "Urban Contemporary Ballroom," focusing on fluid movement to mellow R&B, soul, and jazz music, prioritizing connection, sophistication, and a "glide" across the floor rather than high-energy, high-impact movements. - LA Times, 2012
Participants will build coordination, balance, confidence, and partner connection while exploring movement that feels both grounded and expressive. Whether you are stepping onto the dance floor for the first time or returning with experience, this class emphasizes joy, community, and personal style.
Adult Urban Ballroom Dance honors Karamu’s legacy as a home for cultural expression and artistic growth, offering adults a space to stay active, build community, and celebrate movement in an uplifting, culturally connected environment.
ATTIRE:
Comfortable clothes, shoes with a smooth bottom for dancing or sock covers over rubber soles.
Sock covers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKNDFY7P?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
This year’s program proudly aligns with Karamu House’s year-round theme:
ROOTED in LEGACY and RISING in PURPOSE in honor of celebrating Karamu's 110th anniversary.
Class Day: Tuesdays
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Program Dates: September 14 – November 7, 2026
Performance Dates: November 6th and 7th of 2026
Location: Karamu House, 2355 East 89th Street, Cleveland, OH 44106 | Pavilion
Required Materials: Comfortable movement clothing and tap shoes
Contact our Arts Education Department: Maya Israel, Arts Education Manager Email: misrael@karamuhouse.org Phone: (216) 795-7070 ext. 228
Senior Tap (Adults)
with Jailyn Harris
Senior Tap keeps legacy alive through rhythm and motion. Designed for older adults, this joyful class strengthens mobility, memory, and musicality while honoring the Black roots of American tap. Whether returning to dance or stepping in for the first time, students move with pride and purpose.
Class Day: Wednesdays
Time: 5:30 PM – 6:45 PM
Program Dates: September 14 – November 7, 2026
Performance Dates: November 6th and 7th of 2026
Location: Karamu House, 2355 East 89th Street, Cleveland, OH 44106 | Lower Dance Studio
Required Materials: Comfortable movement clothing and tap shoes
Contact our Arts Education Department: Maya Nicholson, Arts Education Manager Email: misrael@karamuhouse.org Phone: (216) 795-7070 ext. 228
Sankofa: Acting for Adults (Ages 18+)
This course offers adults a challenging yet welcoming space to develop acting skills through progressive training in voice, movement, character, and scene work. Using texts that reflect cultural identity and social relevance, students sharpen their technique while engaging in personal and artistic transformation.
Class Day: Tues & Thurs
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Program Dates: September 14, 2026 -November 7, 2026
Performance Dates: November 6th and 7th of 2026
Location: Karamu House, 2355 East 89th Street Cleveland, OH 44106 | Concert Hall
Required Materials: Comfortable movement clothing and sneakers
Annual Registration Fee: $25.00 (non-refundable)
Full Tuition & Sliding-Scale Financial Assistance Available
To request financial aid for class, use promo code ROOTED at checkout to pay only the $25 registration fee at the time of enrollment. Do not select a payment plan. You will be contacted by Karamu's finance office with next steps.
A member of our finance team will contact you to collect documents such as paystubs or tax returns to assess your family's financial aid eligibility. We will then provide a tuition award and create a personalized payment plan that meets your needs.
Please Note: The $25 annual registration fee is required for all students, regardless of tuition option.
Contact our Arts Education Department: Maya Nicholson, Arts Education Manager Email: misrael@karamuhouse.org Phone: (216) 795-7070 ext. 228
To request financial aid for the acting class, use promo code ROOTED at checkout to pay only the $25 registration fee at the time of enrollment. Do not select a payment plan. You will be contacted by Karamu's finance office with next steps.