Top Youth Speakers is proud to offer a roster of over 30 top ranked speakers for youth and professional staff audiences. We provide speaking services for assemblies, workshops, conferences, and professional development or leadership training for all levels of the educational field. From anti-bullying and kindness to resiliency and burnout prevention, we are proud to serve the Arts in Education network with stellar experiences.

We are a movement of second chances and self-worth through media content, music, school assembly programs and outreaches. Reminding people that it's NEVER too late for a CLEAN SLATE! You are WORTHY to "Rewrite Tomorrow

Seneca Park Zoo is your guide to connecting students with nature, wildlife, and the environment. With inquiry-based programs for all grades, you can find the right program for your students, your subject, and your curriculum needs. You can enhance a Zoo visit with an Animal Presentation or Expedition program or to bring the Zoo to you with a ZooMobile outreach program. All programs reflect Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards through explorations of animal behaviors, biological systems, species diversity, and inter-connectedness.

Big Air BMX Show featuring some of the World's top BMX Stunt athletes who deliver an unforgettable 40-minute high-energy assembly, complete with a powerful youth message titled the "5 Secrets to Success." The message includes Anti-Drug, Motivation, Goals and Dreams, Respect Other (Anti-Bullying) and Stay in School.

City Dance NY offers many dance programs and residencies. We are a multicultural ballet company presenting Arts in Education for over 18 years in the NYC region. World Dance Assembly. We travel the world in a 45 minute program presenting dances from all continents. Our dance residency is a multi week offering in which students learn about dance as a communication tool and present their work in an assembly program. We present adaptations of story ballets such as Peter and the Wolf and Snow White.

I am a children's picture book illustrator and author. My most well-known illustrated books include "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind", "One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia" and "Grandpa Cacao: a Tale of Chocolate, from Farm to Family". I work in paint and cut paper collage, and offer school presentations and classroom workshops about my artistic process.

In-School Residencies with Peter, Paul and George: Our dance workshops are well-suited addendums for elementary school students and high-school language students interested in learning more about their chosen culture. Homespun Occasions’ workshops encompass dances from more than 60 countries and regions around the world including the US, Latin America, Africa, Quebec, Scandinavia, Ireland, France, Turkey, China, Polynesia and Russia. These dance and music workshops can also be integrated with history and geography units. Peter Davis, Paul Rosenberg and George Wilson have been leading elementary and high school daytime workshops and residencies in traditional community dance and music, and playing for family and community dance evenings since 1994. Their repertoire consists primarily of contra, square and international folk dances accompanied by lively reels, jigs, polkas and waltzes. Their music and dances transform even the most adamant, grimacing youngsters declaring “I will never dance” into smiling dance-lovers asking, “When is the next dance?” Although they have worked as a trio since 1994, Peter and George have each been arts educators since the mid-1970s. All three are multi-instrumentalists. Instrumentation includes fiddle, banjo, clarinet, pennywhistle, recorder, piano, guitar and mandolin. Together they have performed and taught in over 700 schools around the Northeastern United States Family Dance Evening: One of our most popular offerings, the Family Dance, is a school-wide community celebration that involves everyone. Students, parents, siblings, teachers and administrators spend an evening dancing in time-honored traditions from around the world. If the evening is presented as the culminating activity after a school residency, students will be able to help teach their parents the dances they learned during the day. Parents are encouraged to get up and participate, and the high-spirited, toe-tapping music by Peter Davis and George Wilson make it impossible to sit on the sidelines! All dances are taught by “dancing master” Paul Rosenberg. Middle & High School Programs: TRADITIONAL DANCE AND MUSIC OF QUEBEC AND FRANCE FOR FRENCH LANGUAGE STUDENTS TRADITIONAL DANCE OF LATIN AMERICA AND SPAIN FOR SPANISH LANGUAGE STUDENTS TRADITIONAL DANCE OF GERMANY, ITALY, RUSSIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD FOR OTHER LANGUAGE STUDENTS Square dancing originated in France! When settlers from France and western Europe came to the new world, they brought their quadrilles (square dance formation), their fiddles and their dances. The cultural heritage of Francophone America is brought to life in this dynamic participatory workshop. Accompanied by the energetic Quebecois fiddling of George Wilson and the pulsating rhythmic piano and guitar of Peter Davis, Paul Rosenberg leads high school French students through a series of lively dances as he points out the origin of such phrases as “do-si-do” (which was originally “dos à dos” – back-to-back). Dances are in square, circle, and contra formations. This multidisciplinary workshop encompasses language, history, geography, physical education and, of course, music! In Latin America, some dances were brought over by Spanish colonists, and others are ancient dances of native peoples who were influenced by Spanish culture. Many of these dances tend to be very energetic and lots of fun! Fiddle for Orchestra: Students Master fiddler George Wilson has developed a program for working with musicians in school orchestra programs. Students will be introduced to and instructed in the nuances of traditional fiddle styles. George has an extensive background playing tunes from Quebec (as well as Ireland, Scotland, Cape Breton/Nova Scotia, Appalachia, Scandinavia and the Shetland Islands). These traditional tunes include reels, jigs, hornpipes, schottisches, marches, polkas and waltzes. During instruction, George will focus on the rhythms and accents that give this traditional music its distinct feel. Sheet music for melody and harmony/accompaniment will be provided; George will also employ the more traditional method of teaching tunes by ear. Students will learn melody, harmony and accompaniment for each tune. The details of bowing, ornamentation, rhythm, and accents idiomatic to a style or tune will then be added. These workshops, rehearsals and sessions can be integrated with history and geography units as well as being aligned with the New York State Learning Standards in the areas of multicultural and traditional music, improvisation and playing solo or in an ensemble.

Founded in 2016, ArteLatAm is a New York City and State-certified Women's Minority Business Enterprise (M/WBE) and an NYC-DOE-qualified vendor #ART042082 for Arts Programming. We are a Bilingual (English/Spanish) arts organization with a team of 14 professionals that brings a long-standing commitment to equity and inclusion. Our global network boasts 100+ seasoned artists & musicians, STEAM & Sports trainers qualified to work with students. We offer K to 12th-grade student programs such as after-school, summer rising, artist in residency, enrichment, and workshops. We are proud to have supported over 4,000 students in the last three years in all five boroughs of New York. Our mission aims to provide a diverse range of art services to both public and private organizations while supporting and highlighting the talents of artists and creatives. We prioritize student involvement and specialize in various art disciplines, including visual art classes, murals painted with students, performing arts, music, theater, singing, and multicultural dance. As of last year, we have also introduced urban gardening, coding, robotics, and sports programs, which include a range of activities such as multicultural Zumba, yoga, and soccer, all with a creative twist! We take pride in our ability to tailor any of our programs to meet the unique needs of each school. Our approach is based on previous successes, and we have a committed team of skilled art teachers passionate about providing the highest quality education to students.

Explore Frederic Church’s masterwork, Olana, through a field trip, virtual tour, or professional development! During each program, participants learn more about the art, culture, and history of Olana and the Hudson River Valley through place-based learning activities and lessons. Each offering can be modified to suit classroom and curriculum needs. FIELD TRIPS include a historic house tour and Landscape Walk and cost $10 per student. Add-on art workshops cost an additional $5 per student and include all artmaking materials. Students will leave with a completed work of art. All themes can be tailored to meet specific curriculum goals and student needs. Themes include: 1. "Place as Inspiration" where students learn how Church and his contemporaries were inspired by the Hudson Valley before exploring how they can connect to and advocate for important places in their own lives and communities. 2. "Land as Canvas" where students consider nature as a source of creativity and invention in Olana's designed landscape, collecting natural materials to observe patterns in local flora and fauna. 3. "Sketching as Seeing" where students dive into Frederic Church’s artistic process and experiment with his outdoor sketching (plein air) techniques. 4. "Adventures in Architecture" where students learn more about how global architectural traditions influenced Frederic Church’s design of Olana’s historic house and explore his handling of scale, engineering, and design. VIRTUAL TOURS can be tailored to meet specific curriculum goals and classroom needs and conducted via Zoom or Google Meet, and other platforms by request. All virtual sessions are designed to be 1 hour in length and can be scaled for various age ranges, groups, and audiences. All field trips and virtual tours are for grades PreK-12 and other education groups. $5-$15 per student. FREE for schools in Columbia and Greene Counties. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT days for teachers and administrators can be booked upon request and include a tour of the historic house and landscape, a workshop session, and use of the Wagon House Education Center. Please contact education@olana.org to learn more.

We offer quality rental costumes to schools and educational programs for musical and drama productions. Costumes can be rented for up to 2 weeks for students in 6th-12th grade. Costume rental starts at $55 per costume, Please call for questions on pricing and specific production needs.

**Bring a Magical Experience to Your School with Howie Hypnotize!**Hello Schools! Get ready for an unforgettable experience! Introducing **Howie Hypnotize** a mesmerizing performance that combines comedy, magic, and the incredible power of hypnosis. Perfect for school events, assemblies, prom nights, and special occasions! **Why Howie Hypnotize?** -Engaging and Interactive: Howie's shows are not just performances, but interactive experiences that involve and captivate the audience. - Safe and Respectful: We prioritize safety and respect, ensuring a fun experience that's appropriate for high school audiences. - Customizable Shows: Tailor the performance to fit your school's theme or event focus. - Educational and Entertaining: Learn About Hypnosis. Students get a chance to learn about the science and art of hypnosis in an engaging way. - **Boost School Spirit**: An exciting event that brings students together, fostering a sense of community and school pride. Perfect For All School Events - Assemblies - Prom Nights - Graduation Parties - Fundraisers - Special School Celebrations **Booking Now for the School Year!** Limited slots available! Book now to bring Howie Hypnotize to your school and create an event that students will talk about for years to come!

Kevin Kurtz is an award-winning nonfiction children's author (www.kevkurtz.com) of over 25 books for kids grades kindergarten to middle school about science, nature, and technology. Kevin can provide up to five 45-minute presentations during an all day school visit. He can do different presentations for each grade level. For assembly programs, Kevin can read and discuss one of his books or present highlights from more than one book. The highlights can be focused on specific science curriculum topics, on the process of writing nonfiction, or be a grade level-appropriate “greatest hits” selection from my books (You can see the list of highlight topics here: http://www.kevkurtz.com/school-visits.) The book reading and highlights presentations will also include sections on how Kevin became a children’s author, the process he uses to write nonfiction, and a Q&A session at the end. Kevin can also do writing workshops for smaller groups with a maximum of 30 students per program. Workshops are for grades 3 and up. Kevin will lead students through the process of researching, writing, and editing nonfiction and work as a group to produce informational texts. Writing workshops can be extended to a week-long residency where Kevin will lead groups of students through the steps of creating nonfiction texts in more detail.