The Jet Set: Alonzo King
Choreographer Alonzo King has created contemporary ballets for more than fifty international dance companies as well as dozens of pieces for film, television, opera and his own company, LINES Ballet. This Educator Guide tracks the history of modern-contemporary ballet and the contributions of King and ...
The Long Run: New Conservatory Theatre Center
Artistic Director Ed Decker celebrates the uniqueness of New Conservatory Theatre Center as a populist community theatre whose productions speak to and for diverse audiences, especially the gay community of San Francisco. This Educator Guide explores the history and programs of the New Conservatory ...
The Next Generation: Youth Speaks
SPARK follows several local teens as they make their way through the final tension-filled rounds of the Youth Speaks spoken word competitions, and get a glimpse of their lives and thoughts in their emotion-packed poetry. This Educator Guide is about the history of spoken word.
Threads: Consuelo Jimnez Underwood
SPARK takes a look at textile artist, weaver and teacher Consuelo Jimenez Underwood, who constructs histories of indigenous and non-indigenous conflict through her works on exhibit at the San Jose Museum of Art. This Educator Guide explores the history and traditions of textiles in various cultures, ...
Through the Lens: Kerry Laitala
SPARK watches experimental filmmaker Kerry Laitala's painstaking process as she works on her ongoing tribute to the film medium itself, The Muse of Cinema. This Educator Guide is about the history of experimental and avant-garde filmmaking.
Trailblazers: Joe Goode
SPARK follows Joe Goode as he and the dancers of the Joe Goode Performance Group develop, rehearse, and perform a dance theatre work called Folk. This Educator Guide addresses the history and form of dance-theatre as an artistic genre.
Transplanting a Tradition: Orquesta la Moderna Tradicin
Roberto Borrell's band, Orquesta La Moderna Tradicin, is one of the only musical ensembles in the world dedicated exclusively to the performance of classic Cuban dance music. This Educator Guide explores the history of danzn and the many music and dance forms it inspired.
Works on Paper: Enrique Chagoya
Mexican-born Enrique Chagoya is one of America's best-known printmakers, an artist whose work takes aim at establishment religion and politics, in works that are designed to both provoke and amuse. This Educator Guide is about the history and traditions of printmaking and political humor in Mexico and ...
Works on Paper: Julie Chen
SPARK watches book artist Julie Chen work in her print shop, Flying Fish Press as she and her assistant, Mary Chadwick create up to 100 editions of a book each year. This Educator Guides explores the history of the book from scrolls through the contemporary artists book.
A Few Good Stories: Jaime Guerrero
SPARK drops in on Jaime Guerrero at the Bay Area Glass Institute as he creates an elaborate snake sculpture and introduces his "Homies" series. This Educator Guide is about glass blowing, the dynamic work of Jaime Guerrero, Mayan and Aztec iconography, and the history of glass work in art and architecture.
American Music: David Grisman
Musician David Grisman combines bluegrass with elements of swing, jazz and gypsy music as he prepares for a performance at Berkeley's Freight and Salvage. This Educator Guide is about the history of bluegrass music.
Forbidden Territory: Traveling Jewish Theatre
SPARK visits the ensemble of the Traveling Jewish Theatre in a bold and moving play about the Middle East conflict called Blood Relative. This Educator Guide addresses collaborative theatre, political theatre, and the history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
History Retold: Berkeley Repertory Theatre's "The People's Temple"
SPARK follows the creation of the documentary theatre project The People's Temple Project from its original conception by David Dower to opening night of play written and directed by Leigh Fondakowski at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. This Educator Guide addresses the history of the Peoples Temple.
Home, Sweet Home: headRush
SPARK explores the work of theatrical performance group headRush. This Educator Guide is about the exploration and history of experimental, political theater and performance art.
Home, Sweet Home: Lorraine Hansberry Theatre
SPARK follows Jared "Choclatt" Crawford as he prepares for his foot-tapping new musical theater production "Hit It!" at the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. This Educator Guide is about the history of drumming, street performers, and African American musical theater.
Kids on Stage: Marsh Youth Theater
SPARK goes backstage as 40 5th-9th grade students in the Marsh Youth Theatre (MYT) Mainstage Performance Ensemble prepare for the premiere of Jip, His Story. This Educator Guide is about the history of children's theatre in the US.
Looking East: Thai Bui
Vietnamese born sculptor Thai Bui's extraordinary objects simultaneously communicate a witty humor and penetrating sense loss. This Educator Guide explores the history and traditions of Bay Area Funk, Conceptual art and Minimalism.
Masterworks: Terry Riley
SPARK follows pioneering composer Terry Riley as he works with David Harrington and the Kronos Quartet on "The Cusp of Magic". This Educator Guide traces the history of minimalism and serialism in music, highlighting key contributions by noted composers such as Riley and Kronos Quartet.
Musical Instruments: Wil Blades
Spark visits organ player Wil Blades as he jams with Dr. Lonnie Smith at San Francisco's Boom Boom Room. This Educator Guide is about jazz, the history of the Hammond B3 organ, and the science of electronic instruments.
Percussion: San Francisco Taiko Dojo
SPARK follows Sensei Seiichi Tanaka and Taiko Dojo as they prepare for the 36th annual International Taiko Festival at Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall. This Educator Guide is about the history and traditions of the ancient art of Taiko drumming in Japan and the contemporary innovations of a global music culture.
