Love Yourself More is a high-energy program filled with strategies K-5 kids can use to show themselves care and compassion, such as speaking up for themselves, honoring their own moods, and giving themselves grace for mistakes. It’s all disguised as a very silly show that engages students with opportunities to make sounds, move around, answer questions, get on stage, and even join a sing along!

Take the Stage! is our flagship 6-week, music-led performing arts program designed for every 5th grade student. Built around exciting school-wide themes like Awesome 80s! or Rock ’n Roll 4Life!, the program immerses students in early theatrical skills through an engaging classroom-based experience led by professional Teaching Artists, Musicians, and district Music Teachers. Along the way, students develop essential performance skills including projection, diction, stage awareness, and ensemble collaboration, while building the confidence to take creative risks, make bold choices, and fully commit both onstage and off. Each class learns its own themed songs, choreography, and short scripted scenes, creating a unique 35-40 minute performance that blends music, movement, and storytelling. Teaching Artists visit classrooms throughout the residency, while rehearsal videos help students continue practicing between sessions. The experience culminates in a full Performance featuring opening and closing numbers, individual class performances, and even occasional appearances from teachers and staff, with both a school assembly and an evening showcase for families. More than just a show, Take the Stage! helps students build confidence, creativity, collaboration, and the courage to step forward and be heard long after the curtain falls.

Nick Scott, motivational speaker, inspires students with his journey, emphasizing the importance of starting right. His programs cultivate leadership, teamwork, and decision-making skills, empowering students to make meaningful contributions. Learning outcomes focus on self-esteem, respect, and courage. Nick engages students at all levels, instilling the belief that education is key to achieving dreams. His 45-50 minute assembly promotes kindness by helping students to understand that it’s OK to be Different!

The Memory Project is a unique initiative in which students create artwork for children facing substantial challenges around the world. We begin by matching you with children on our waiting list and emailing their photos to you. Advanced art students can then make portraits for them, while novice art students can make "identity art" focusing on the children's names and positive affirmations. Next, you mail the finished artwork to us, and we deliver it to the children. We'd love to have you and your students involved!

The best way to engage your students is through our captivating BMX assembly. The Freestyle Connection’s school assembly program combines BMX stunts with powerful messages about bicycle safety, striving for excellence, embracing a drug-free healthy lifestyle, and the importance of staying in school. Designed for events like Red Ribbon Week, Field Days, Family Nights, or any occasion calling for a dynamic Character Education message or PBIS School Assembly, this outdoor program is unmatched. Give your school a show they will never forget! The Freestyle Connection BMX school assembly show involves ramp riding on a portable box jump and flatland ground moves for trick variations. Riders will switch on the microphone throughout the show which is choreographed to exciting music and incorporates BMX stunts, high-flying tricks, and humorous skits. This BMX show is roughly 40 minutes long. Indoor backup plan required for inclement weather.

Once Upon a Toon is a unique hybrid of storytelling with live cartoon illustrations. Multi-Emmy Award-winning cartoonist Joe Wos draws the stories as he tells them, in a lively and engaging program for all ages. Pulling from original stories and folktales with a twist, this live show is like watching a picture book being drawn before your very eyes. Each presentation includes a short guessing game, a how-to example, and two illustrated stories. Yielding between 15-20 drawings at every show. Best of all the illustrations stay with your school and may be displayed, auctioned, or even photocopied to share with students. Popular illustrated tales include Joe’s original pun-filled adventure “Don on the Farm” about a duck who longs to be a rooster, and with some help from his friends, they all help each other achieve their dreams! Joe also puts his unique spin on such classics as The Crowded House, How Turtle Flew South, How Elephant Got His Trunk, and many more.

Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens provides visitors with an immersive connection to the calming and restorative power of plants. Through our living collections and imaginative programming, we create memorable experiences that inspire curiosity about our natural world. The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens welcomes everyone to engage with our gardens, historic conservatory, and each other. The Botanical Gardens' Education Team offers a number of fun and engaging hands-on field trips for students in grades Pre-K-12.

Like Spanish traditional Flamenco dancers and Flamenco guitarists did in the Middle Ages,, students move their bodies in fun, new ways to create triumph over any troubles. Miss Coco Flamenco’s fabulously funny flair for character education will have your students stomping out bullying “ultimate fast,” soaring with power and peace, making hilarious music together, grabbing their goals, and sharing each other’s creative awesomeness. All audience members are encouraged to get up and get moving to infectious dancing, hand claps, and Spanish guitar. All with a professor’s approach that’s so high-energy, even teachers and staff love to join in! Sharing SEL Strategies through Simple Body Movement, Fun Rhythm, and Triumphant Dance Social Awareness >> Stomping out bullying – Flamenco Feet (Taconeo) Responsible Decision-Making >> Choose both power and peace – Flamenco Falcon and Dove Arms (Brazeo) Relationship Skills >> Make music together – Flamenco-style Clapping (Palmas) Self-Awareness >> Be self-confident and grab your goals – Flamenco Bullfighter Moves (Postura) Self-Management >> Create beauty and share it with a neighbor – Flamenco Hands (Floreo)

Féraba – The African Rhythm Tap Company offers dynamic school assembly programs that blend traditional West African music and dance with American tap, creating an engaging, educational experience for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Féraba's assemblies are interactive and culturally enriching. They are an immersive experience that combines storytelling, music, and dance to take students on a cultural journey, emphasizing the interconnectedness of global traditions.

Second Generation Theatre offers a variety of paid and free theatre arts and dance education to students aged 5 through adulthood! Whether you have a child who loves to sing and dance, a student who is looking to stretch their creativity and make new friends while building new skills, or you are an adult who wants to jump back into dance, Second Generation Theatre Academy is for you!

Rumbón Dance Studio, LLC is a dance studio that teaches Colombian-style salsa dance for beginner- and intermediate-level dancers. We also offer cardio classes and performance choreography in various dance styles. Partner and solo salsa dance develop personal skills such as patience, respect, self-awareness and emotional expression, physical skills such as balance and stamina, and musical skills such as rhythm and phrasing. Workshops and classes are perfect for work with students in school musicals, ice-breaker, team-building or social-emotional learning activities, after-school programming, as well as staff development and events.

Programs include weekday matinee performances for student field trips, school partnerships, artists-in-residence, sensory friendly experiences, programs for those with autism and other sensory needs, professional development for educators, and master classes.