DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAMS:

RESIDENCIES:
Avodah offers a week long residency at women’s correctional facilities in both Connecticut and Delaware. The women who participate in the residency perform alongside the professional dancers of The Avodah Dance Ensemble. The performances are attended by other inmates, faculty, and invited guests. In Connecticut, an additional performance is scheduled for the participants’ families at the facility’s visiting room. While in residence at York CI in Connecticut, Avodah also presents an evening performance for the staff and the minimum security side of the prison.

ONGOING CLASSES:
In 2003, ongoing classes in dance began at York Correctional Institution in Connecticut and within a year, at Baylor Correctional Facility as well. At York, these classes were originally coordinated and led by Joyce Williams, a staff member of the Education Department of York Correctional Institution for Women. Joyce has participated in all of the previous week long residencies, and she has a background in dance. Currently Lief Rawson-Ahern, a student and dance teacher living in Connecticut is leading some of the ongoing classes according to Avodah’s set structure. Avodah’s Artistic Director and members of the company serve as mentors to Joyce and Lief. At Baylor, Kelli Carter and other staff members assist Avodah in leading the ongoing dance classes. Guest teachers from Avodah Dance Ensemble visit York CI and Baylor and lead dance classes at least once a month or for a more intensive visit every other month. Throughout the year, Avodah teaches improvisation, modern dance and choreographic techniques to develop skills that the women will use during the residency.

OUTREACH TO YOUNG WOMEN AT RISK:
Avodah Dance Ensemble is continually impressed by the needs of incarcerated women, and a consistent question remains, how would the women’s lives had been different if they had been exposed to the arts at an earlier age? Many of the women comment that their experience with Avodah marks the first time they have ever seen live performance or participated in a dance class, despite always dreaming of being a dancer. Avodah is to reaching out to younger women at risk and in need. Since 2004, Avodah members performed and taught workshops at New Castle County Detention Center for young women ages 12 - 18 years. The event was a success, illustrated by verbal and written feedback from the young women and the staff at the Detention Center. At York CI, Avodah offered an introductory workshop for Youth Offenders, who requested more classes and the opportunity to dance in the culminating performance. In 2008, the young women will get the chance to perform as Avodah leads special workshops for them during the week long residency.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR WOMEN UPON RELEASE:
Avodah and staff from York Correctional Institution have developed a new program to support women as they are released from prison by networking with local dance studios. Any participant in Avodah’s residency or ongoing class program at either institution will be eligible to pursue dance studies at a variety of dance studios. Avodah will provide a dance card for a set number of classes (usually between 8 and 10). Dance clothes will also be provided. Avodah will offer workshops, mentoring services, and trainings for teachers at local dance studios. The transition scholarship creates opportunities for women who are released from prison to grow physically, emotionally, and socially. This program serves women as they transition back into society by providing an outlet for creative expression of emotions through dance as well as helping women begin to build a positive community of people who have common interests and goals.