muse machine

Ballet Spartanburg

Science, Technology, Engineering…Oh, My!

A STEAM + ELA Integrated Dance Education Program

Program length: 45 minutes

AVAILABLE ON THE FOLLOWING DATES at 9AM or later

• Friday, September 18, 2026
• Friday, September 25, 2026
• Friday, October 2, 2026
• Friday, November 6, 2026
• Friday, November 20, 2026
• Friday, February 5, 2027

This program will enable students to:

• Make meaningful, real-world connections within disciplines.
• Integrate arts and design into STEM learning to make STEAM, addressing subjects such as:
  • Science-living things and environments;
  • Technology-storytelling & film adaptation;
  • Engineering-building structures;
  • Math-logic, reasoning, patterns, and spatial awareness;
  • ELA-essay writing using STEAM vocabulary with an opportunity for your students to win tickets to a performance in Ballet Spartanburg’s Family Series!
• Participate in basic movement exercises connected to the pieces to allow for student ownership of kinesthetic learning.
• Experience excellence and professional dance at your school!

In addition to a performance, 5 schools will have the opportunity to work with a certified dance specialist in the classroom! Contact swoodham@balletspartanburg.org for details.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Large, clear open space for dancing
• Well swept/clean floor
• Sound system & one microphone
• Changing space for dancers (restrooms are fine)

This program is aligned with the South Carolina College and Career Ready Standards for Science, Mathematics in addition to SC College and Career Ready Standards for Visual and Performing Arts Proficiency.

Funded by an Arts Education Project Grant from the S.C. Arts Commission

moody black

Making Words Move

Program length: 30-40 minutes

Appropriate for grades K-12+

Audience size: classroom to school assembly

about the show:

Making Words Move is designed to show elementary, middle, high school, college students, and adults the power of words presented in a catchy, exciting, and teachable platform. mOody bLaCk infuses Hip-Hop as he performs personal testimonies in his poems that relate to audiences of all ages. Teachers have shared stories of having teens encouraged to write during his time as a Smart Arts Teaching Artist through the Metropolitan Arts Council of Greenville, SC.

about the artist:

mOody bLaCk transforms lives. In his enthusiastic performances, creative writing residencies, and workshops: mOody provides what each listener, student, and teacher needs- a gentle push in the right direction, an excellent dose of writing technique and the belief that they are writers.

mOody bLaCK is a TEDx performer, a National Award-Winning Poet and Host, a Smart Arts Teaching Artist, Motivational Speaker, Spoken-Word, and Visual Artist, Actor/Voice Over Artist, Chess Instructor, Storyteller and Comedian from Spartanburg, SC who now resides in Greenville, SC. mOody is a product of Spartanburg County Schools, Spartanburg Technical College, Spartanburg Community College, and USC Upstate.

mOody bLaCk is passionate about teaching poetry to youth and adults, as well as, speaking about purpose and challenging depression. Each time mOody is on the stage, he aims to uplift everyone in the audience.

​Highlighted Achievements:

• Metropolitan Arts Council SEW-Eurodrive Minority Teaching Artist Fellow 2022
• 2020 Upstate SC Music Awards- Artist of the Year
• 2020 Presenter for Summer Online Arts Integration and STEAM Conference
• 2019 Carrie and Skip Gordon Teaching Artist of the Year Award
• 2019 South Carolina Underground Music Awards Nominee for Best Male Model and Best Male Entrepreneur 
• 2017 TEDx Greenville Presenter

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT:

• 1 mic on stand

bright star touring theatre

Bright Star Touring Theatre, a national touring theatre company based in North
Carolina, offers 6 shows available for the 2026-27 school year.

Each school may only schedule one show.

Show length: 45 minutes + 1 hour for set up and 30 minutes for break down

fall semester shows

Available: November 17, 18 and 19, 2026 at 9am or 1pm

Peter Pan

Best for grades Pre K-5th
Literature and Literacy

Join our acclaimed comic duo, Lenny and Mabel, as they hilariously work to bring this literary classic to life in a hysterical play-within-a-play. Your young audience will love the antics of Tinkerbell, the bumbling Captain Hook, Darling Wendy (or should we say Wendy Darling), and of course the free-spirited adventurous boy who just wouldn’t grow up.

The Pirate of Bully Bay

Best for grades Pre K-5th
Bully Prevention and Character Education

This seafaring tale teaches young buccaneers how to navigate the choppy waters of friendship. Audiences learn how to recognize, report, and stand up to bullying, while also learning what it means to be a pirate with a positive impact and a wonderful friend. An excellent choice for your youngest sailors (PK-2), Pirate of Bully Bay has plenty of adventure for “experienced deckhands” (grades 3-5) as well.

Cherokee Tales

Best for all ages
History and Social Studies, Literature and Literacy, World Cultures

The Cherokee People have a rich history of myths, legends and folktales explaining everything from the creation of the world to how the plants and animals around us came to look and behave the way they do today. This play introduces young audiences to the Cherokee People through a series of fun and engaging stories. Developed in partnership with the Cherokee Historical Association, this play is a great way to introduce young audiences to the Cherokee people. Commemorate National Native American Heritage month by bringing Cherokee Tales to your young audiences.

Spring semester shows

Available: January 26, 28 and 29, 2027 at 9am or 1pm

Beauty and The Beast

Best for pre-K through adult
Literature and Literacy

First published by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, this is the classic tale of Belle, a young woman whose complicated life leads her to leave her home village to live with a Beast in his mountain castle. Join Lenny and Mabel, the “greatest actors in the world” as they bring this classic work of literature to life. This heartwarming tale shows that beauty is what lies within. See why this fairy tale has been enchanting audiences since 1740.

Meet Dr. King

Best for grades K - 5th
Black History, History and Social Studies

One of our most popular productions, Meet Dr. King is a wonderful introduction to the life and work of one of America’s most influential men. This show is perfect for younger audiences, serving to introduce students to major concepts of Black History like freedom, integration and equality. Meet Dr. King helps young people begin to understand the importance of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement. Follow along as the play takes us from Dr. King’s life as just a young boy experiencing racism for the first time, to meeting his wife, Coretta, to becoming a pastor and finally a national inspiration.

Black History’s Groundbreaking Geniuses

Best for grades 3rd - 8th
Black History, History and Social Studies

Genius comes in all shapes and sizes and Black History is filled with amazing inventors, artists and thinkers who changed the world. This show focuses on the brilliance of over a dozen amazing characters from Black History: Scientists like surgeon Daniel Hale Williams, mathematicians like Dorothy Vaughan, Literary Geniuses like Ralph Ellison and Maya Angelou, and artistic geniuses like Alvin Ailey. Learn about these geniuses and inspire your young audience to discover their own genius with this fun show for older grades!

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS for all shows:

• Maximum audience size: 350
• Cafetorium/gymnasium spaces are fine.
• PA systems not generally required.

ROSALIND BUDA, spartanburg philharmonic musician

A JOURNEY INTO THE WORLD OF CELTIC MUSIC

Students will experience stories and melodies that share the rich tradition of Celtic music and gain a perspective on this unique genre of world music. Rosalind will share with the Scottish bagpipes, Irish Whistle, story, and dance! For smaller groups, students will learn a dance to go with the music. All groups will learn the differences between jigs and reels and experience the magic of an aural tradition. The musical and cultural connection between Appalachia and the Celtic lands will also be explored with older audiences.

Questions to be explored:

What is a bagpipe? How does it work, and where did it come from? What does Celtic mean? What is Celtic music? What is an aural tradition? How is Celtic music related to the folk music of our region? Why do people now and in the past participate in music-making at home and for social events? How can I participate in making this kind of music? And more!

AVAILABLE DATES:

• August: 18, 19, 25, 26, 27
• September: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 14 (morning only), 30
• October: 1, 5, 6, 13, 14, 16, 20, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30
• November: 3, 11, 12, 13, 17 (afternoon only), 18, 19
• December: 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17
• January: 5, 6, 7, 8, 21, 22, 26, 27, 29
• February: 2, 3, 4, 9, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24
• March: 3, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 30, 31
• April: 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 27, 28, 29, 30
• May: 4, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28

Additional dates may be available. Email specific date/time requests to Ava Hughes and she will confirm with the artist.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Rosalind Buda is an orchestral and chamber bassoonist and Celtic instruments musician based in Asheville, NC. She performs and teaches throughout the US. Rosalind holds an MM from The New England Conservatory of Music, where she studied bassoon performance with Boston Symphony principal Richard Svoboda. She studied with Benjamin Coelho at the University of Iowa, where she earned her BM.

Currently, Rosalind performs with the Asheville Symphony, Spartanburg Philharmonic, Greenville Symphony, Brevard Philharmonic, and Hendersonville Symphony, as well as other area orchestras and chamber ensembles.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• For presentations in larger spaces, a speaking microphone and a stationary microphone for amplifying the music would be ideal.
• One armless chair
• One small table

Angela Easterling & Brandon Turner 

Angela and Brandon offer 3 different musical programs based on the age of your students.

Available September 2026 - May 2027. Specific dates/times scheduled upon request.

Audience size: classroom to school assembly

FOLK MUSIC IS FUNNY!

Grades K-2
Length: 30-45 minutes

Singer-songwriter Angela Easterling presents a program of classic folk songs and tales, with new kids' favorites and her own original songs, sure to entertain with lots of funny stories and sounds. Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Tom T. Hall are woven in with more modern songs that little ones love. Provides opportunity for audience participation and movement to get those sillies out!

ALL ABOUT SONGWRITING

Grades 2-6
Length: 40-45 minutes

Singer-songwriter Angela Easterling plays a few of her original songs alongside songs by artists who have inspired her. Along the way, she discusses the elements of songwriting, including melody, lyrics, rhythm, and rhyme, and explains how they all contribute to the final product. She also shares some of the stories behind her songs. A question-and-answer session can be included at the end of the program, if desired.

A SONGWRITER'S JOURNEY THROUGH AMERICAN MUSIC

Grades 6-12
Length: 45-50 minutes

Angela Easterling presents a performance of her own original songs interwoven with selections of classic folk, roots, and country tunes. As part of her performance, she discusses the craft of songwriting and tells the stories behind her songs and how they came to be, weaving into some of the history of roots music and the artists who have influenced her writing. Her duo partner, Brandon Turner, provides descriptive demonstrations of blues music and different styles of blues guitar. Angela has presented this program as part of the Smithsonian Institution’s traveling exhibit "New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music" and at libraries across the United States.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• One 6-foot table for instruments
• Two armless chairs
• The artists bring their own sound equipment

JOHNNY THOMAS FOWLER, STORYTELLER & MUSICIAN

Johnny Thomas Fowler offers 5 different programs based on the age of your students.

Dates/times scheduled upon request.

STORIES, SONGS & MAKE-BELIEVE

Grades K-2
Approximately 45 Minutes

Step into a world of imagination where stories come alive and everyone gets to join the fun! Designed especially for kindergarten through 2nd grade, this lively program combines interactive storytelling, traditional folk songs, and audience participation to encourage creativity, laughter, and a love of stories. Accompanied by banjo and guitar, Johnny shares engaging tales, sing-along songs, and playful adventures. Many performances also include a few simple American Sign Language (ASL) signs, giving children another fun way to participate.

Favorite stories and songs may include Sody Sallyraytus, Ghost Hunt (fun—not scary!), The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything, The Gunny Wolf, This Old Man, and many others.

Filled with music, imagination, and laughter, Stories, Songs & Make-Believe is a memorable experience that delights young learners.

A POCKET FULL OF Tales

Grades 2-5
Approximately 45 minutes

Reach into a pocket full of imagination, laughter, and unforgettable stories! This fun-filled, interactive program brings silly folktales, tall tales, and traditional music to life through storytelling, audience participation, and lively performances on banjo, guitar, and harmonica.

Students will enter a world where anything is possible—from walking catfish and curious characters to outrageous adventures and stories that grow taller with every telling. Featuring humorous favorites such as The Walkin’ Catfish, Lazy Jack, and other folk tales, Johnny’s program inspires creativity, imagination, and a love of storytelling.

Behind the Door

Grades 3-5
Approximately 45 Minutes

What happens when you open a door to the unknown? Step inside a world of mysterious characters, curious creatures, and unforgettable tales! Behind the Door is a fun-filled storytelling adventure featuring humorous, suspenseful, and delightfully spooky folktales from the Carolina tradition.

Children love stories that make them lean closer, laugh out loud, and wonder what happens next. Through engaging storytelling, audience participation, and a touch of music to create the mood, Johnny brings to life tales such as The Big Hairy Toe, The Golden Arm, Tailybone, Barney McCabe, Chips, and other curious favorites. Filled with mystery, humor, imagination, and just the right amount of goosebumps, Behind the Door is a memorable storytelling experience students will be talking about long after the story ends.

APPALACHIAN TALES & OLD-TIME TUNES

Grades 3-5
Approximately 45 Minutes

Step into a world of Appalachian folk tales, fairy tales, and traditional yarns where imagination, history, and music come together. Johnny brings stories to life through captivating narration, colorful characters, and a lively theatrical style that keeps audiences engaged from beginning to end.

Along with unforgettable tales, Johnny introduces students to the sounds of the past through old-time instruments including banjo, spoons, jaw harp, harmonica, fiddle, and guitar. Each instrument becomes part of the story as students discover the music, traditions, and creativity of Appalachian culture. This program is a celebration of storytelling, folk traditions, and the musical heritage passed down through generations.

ABOUT AS LONG AS IT IS WIDE

Grades 4-5
Approximately 45 minutes

Nothing is more entertaining than outrageous tall tales. The kind that sounds almost believable. This program is nothing but hyperbole. The stories are: “The Walking Catfish,” “The Day the Snake Bit the Hoe Handle,” and “A Fair Day's Hunting.” Expect figurative language foolery and exaggerations. There’s music too. These stories are designed to Streeeeeeetch the imagination.

WHY THE BOO HAG CAN’T PASS THE COLOR BLUE

Grades 6-12
Approximately 45 Minutes

Some stories are meant for older audiences—and this is one of them. Why the Boo Hag Can’t Pass the Color Blue is a fascinating Gullah folktale from South Carolina’s Lowcountry, filled with mystery, suspense, and a touch of the supernatural. Students will be drawn into the tale of the Boo Hag, a nighttime spirit from Gullah tradition, and the clever ways one man discovers the truth and seeks help to protect himself. Rooted in African American folklore and the storytelling traditions of the Gullah Geechee people, this unforgettable tale blends history, culture, and imagination.

The performance also includes two additional tales of mystery and intrigue: The Man Who Was Killed Twice and Buried Alive: The Woman Who Was Buried Alive and Lived to Tell About It. Together, these stories create a captivating 45-minute program filled with suspense, surprising twists, and unforgettable storytelling.

About the Artist:

Storyteller and musician Johnny Thomas Fowler weaves together captivating mountain tales, traditional folk music, songs, and folk dance into unforgettable performances. His storytelling brings timeless characters to life through expressive voices, vivid narration, and engaging theatrical energy. Johnny’s music offers a warm journey into the rich heritage of Southern Appalachian folk traditions, featuring sing-along songs, ballads, and old-time tunes performed on banjo, guitar, spoons, harmonica, and a variety of unique traditional folk instruments.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• 2 mics on stands
• 1 armless chair

Don and Tutu Harrell

Orisirisi African Folklore

Appropriate for all ages

Program Length:  40-50 minutes

Available Dates: December 3-18, 2026

About the Program:

Pronounced (O-re-she-re-she), a Yoruba term meaning “different things,” Orisirisi African Folklore is a performing arts company formed in 1986 that uses folktales, legends, myths, music, dance, children’s games, and other African-rooted folklore to teach, entertain, and illuminate the beauty and poignancy of African life and culture.

Orisirisi African Folklore spins yarns of tales that none will soon forget! Audience participation is in every aspect of the performance, which is filled with African stories, drumming, songs, dance, and more!

About the artists:

Orisirisi African Folklore is co-produced, directed, and performed by a husband-and-wife team comprised of Nigerian-born Adetutu “Tutu” Harrell and music scholar Don Harrell. Tutu, a graduate of Crown College in London, England, is an extraordinarily talented musician, dancer, singer, and storyteller who shares the rich cultural heritage of her ancestry with love that knows no boundaries. Don, who holds a Master of Arts degree in African Studies from UCLA and has completed additional studies at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon, is a music scholar and lifelong veteran of stage and screen.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Clear space for instruments
• 2 microphones on stands
• 1 table for instruments

Charles Pettee

Hear the Sound

Program length: 45-50 minutes

Group size for any of the programs may be from 10 to 400.

Available dates: November 4-6, 2026
Wednesday shows are afternoon only

Charles Pettee’s school shows are ENGAGING, INTERACTIVE educational events designed to bring learning to life for students of all ages! Combining his expertise in educational programming with many years of stage experience, Pettee crafts shows that are both informative and entertaining! 

Despite its evolution and commercialization, Bluegrass music remains a testament to the diverse cultural exchanges that have shaped American music. Recognizing and celebrating the Black history that influenced bluegrass not only acknowledges these crucial contributions but also highlights the genre’s rich, multicultural heritage.

PRESCHOOL PROGRAM

Employing banjo, harmonica, guitar, mandolin, voice, and a variety of hats, Mr. Pettee introduces students and teachers alike to the wonderful tapestry of sounds that make up the music of the Carolinas, including the music of the Pilgrims, native Americans, African Americans, Piedmont Blues, Gospel and Bluegrass.

CATCH THE BLUEGRASS BUG!

Grades PreK-2

Come one, come all, grades pre-k-2 are in for a treat when Mr. Charles takes the stage with his guitar and brings the sounds of the North Carolina mountains to life in this fast-paced, interactive journey into the many sounds of NC Bluegrass music! Clap along to “Old Joe Clark” as Mr. Pettee stirs it up with his “tater-bug” (mandolin: an 8-string instrument from Italy)! Call and response singing is a blast with “Cluck Old Hen” featuring the harmonica, (the great wind instrument from Germany)! Have more fun with animal sounds as Mr. Charles invites all to join in on “Mole in the Ground,” to the sound of the 5-string banjo (from Africa). Try out a new rhyme while singing “Ain’t No Bugs on Me!” or the “Lollipop Tree,” or any number of joyful traditional tunes that make NC Bluegrass catchy!

BLUEGRASS STOMP

Grades 3-5

"Bluegrass Stomp" (grades 3-5) is a romp through the musical styles from around the world that make up North Carolina Folk and Bluegrass music. This informative and interactive show combines Charles Pettee’s experience in over 5,500 performances from all over the US and Europe, with his blazing skills on the mandolin, guitar, banjo, and harmonica, to delight students and teachers alike with a whirlwind review of musical styles from Africa to Europe to our own back yards! Addressing both Music and Social Studies Essential Standards, Mr. Pettee’s stories and anecdotes about the cultures and places of origin of the various instruments he plays make an excellent complement to the study of NC history.

Students will hear Irish Jigs, Spanish Flamenco, Gospel, Southern Blues, as well as Bluegrass, as Pettee demonstrates each instrument in turn. Call-response singing, clapping on beat, Q & A, and making up a chorus are some of the many ways Mr. Pettee involves his audience in the show. The topics of immigration, slavery, and the Civil War make up the some of the social factors behind the amazing tapestry of music we call Bluegrass, and Charles Pettee weaves this information into his presentation with grace and humor. All are invited to “own” a portion of this unique NC style of music!

BLACK HISTORY AND BLUEGRASS MUSIC

Grades 4-12 

While Bluegrass is often associated with its Appalachian roots and predominantly white musicians, its origins are deeply intertwined with African American musical traditions. The genre’s distinctive sound owes much to the contributions of Black musicians who were instrumental in shaping American folk music. For instance, the banjo, a central instrument in bluegrass, has its origins in West African instruments brought to America by enslaved Africans. Additionally, the influence of early African American performers and their musical styles can be heard in the rhythm, phrasing, and improvisational aspects of bluegrass.  Pioneering figures such as Bill Monroe, often regarded as the “father” of bluegrass, were influenced by Black blues and jazz musicians, (such as fiddler and blues guitarist Arnold Schultz), whose contributions helped mold the genre’s eclectic sound.

BLUEGRASS: NORTH CAROLINA’S GLOBAL MUSIC

Grades 6-12

“Bluegrass: North Carolina’s Global Music” (grades 6-12) picks up the international and historical themes from Charles Pettee’s “Bluegrass Stomp” (grades 3-5) program and expands on these for middle and high school audiences. Singing and performing on guitar, mandolin, banjo and harmonica, Mr. Pettee surveys the development of American folk music over time and shows how NC Bluegrass is a product of many cultures from many parts of the globe.

Pettee starts in the present, performing an up-tempo Appalachian fiddle tune, followed by a contemporary vocal song in a Bluegrass style. He then takes his audience back into the late 1700s, when there was, basically, no distinct “American” music yet. Pettee performs a few numbers from these earlier days, giving the audience a sense of the sounds of the times. Continuing the musical timeline, students hear samples of “freedom songs” by enslaved African Americans (as wells as “Follow the Drinking Gourd” from the underground Railroad movement), followed by some samples of music from the Civil War. With the abolition of slavery, American music began to reflect more and more African influences.

By the end of the 1800s, “Blues” tonalities, (Pettee calls these “African sounds” and demonstrates them for the audience), became more and more prominent in southern folk music. This led to the creation of the distinctly American music genre known as Blues, which, in turn gave rise in the 1900s to Bluegrass, Jazz, Rock and Roll, and Hip-Hop. Pettee involves his audience for Q&A, and a bit of singing, as he demonstrates the global connections of NC Bluegrass on the guitar, mandolin, banjo, harmonica, and voice. Everyone is invited to “own” a piece of our unique NC sound!

COMPLETE PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Screen or Promethean board to display artist’s slides during the program.

One 6-foot table for instruments

One armless chair

2 mics on 2 stands

Son of ice

THE SOUND OF LEARNING

EMPOWER THE YOUTH THROUGH SONG & DANCE

Program Information:

Length: 30-35 minutes plus interactive Q&A

Audience: Elementary, middle, and high school students; classrooms and assemblies

Customized Programs: Each presentation is tailored to meet the goals and needs of your school or organization.

The Sound of Learning is an arts-based educational program that inspires, educates, and empowers youth through music, dance, and interactive performances. Led by Son of Ice, our mission is to help young people build confidence, strengthen character, develop leadership skills, and make positive life choices through the power of the arts.

Each program is designed to engage students in a fun, energetic, and meaningful experience while promoting social-emotional learning, mental wellness, teamwork, respect, and academic motivation.

learn more

About the Artist:

Son of Ice (Frederick Reeves III) is the founder of The Sound of Learning and an accomplished performer dedicated to writing and creating original music as a tool for education and inspiration. His engaging performances have impacted students throughout South Carolina and across the nation, encouraging young people to discover their purpose, believe in themselves, and reach their full potential. The Sound of Learning is on the juried artist directory of the South Carolina Arts Commission.