Collective Beat

An exciting performance designed for students

Collective Beat is a great way to introduce Be the Groove to your school, library, or community center.  Featuring four BTG ensemble members, Collective Beat encourages learning through performance by challenging audience members to explore rhythm in a fun, educational, and interactive way.  Through percussion, dance, and participation, we ask our audience members to redefine what rhythm is, how it is made, and what role rhythm plays in their lives.

Collective Beat promotes the value of being an ensemble, a group working together.  The performance examines why individuality is crucial to a group’s identity and how both “the parts” and “the whole” that make up any group are equally important.

The performers push the audience towards being open to the unexpected, leading them to discover surprising things about the people and the world surrounding them.

Collective Beat was specifically created to engage young artists, to begin conversations about the arts, and to inspire audiences to seek out new ways to groove on their own, making it ideal for grades K-12. Each performance is tailored to the specific age group of the audience. When coupled with workshops or a BTG residency, Collective Beat is an effective and illustrative introduction to the rhythmic arts, or it can stand alone as a comprehensive educational performance.

Regardless of the setting, Collective Beat generates an exciting energy that will leave your group enthusiastic about rhythm and performance!

Workshops

A great introduction to the Be the Groove techniques

10 to 75 participants Beginner–Advanced 90–120 minutes Meets once

Great for any age or group. Workshops can range from specifically themed topics (e.g. “Teambuilding”, “Improvisation”, “Risk”), to exploring technique, to “Be the Groove 101″—which covers a variety of skills and concludes with a short student- performed piece!

Master Classes

Focus on a specific technical skill

5 to 20 participants Intermediate–Advanced, (Dance or Music experience required) 60–180 minutes Meets once or in series

These singular classes focus specifically on technique and/or style. The classes offer unique BTG perspective on the movement and percussive skills students already possess. Master classes challenge students to apply their strong skill base to new mediums, with fresh attention to style. Generally reserved for intermediate to advanced students of movement and/or percussion.

Intensives

An in-depth study of a variety of skills over a series of classes

10 to 25 participants Dance or Music experience recommended 30–60 minute blocks Totaling 2–4 hours per day for 2–4 days

These programs typically span 2–4 days. The classes are shorter in length, but are packed with activity. Though they may be structured around comprehensive BTG techniques, these classes usually target specific skills, technique, and style. Generally reserved for students with an established base in movement and/or percussion.

Residencies

Recurring, in-depth study of several technical skills

6 to 30 participants Beginner–Advanced 60–90 minute classes 3 to 10 weeks

The classes offer an extended, broad education that thoroughly explores the foundations of rhythm. Then we build upon the basics. Residencies and Interim Workshops can culminate with a short student-performed piece. They can incorporate performances by Be the Groove company members as well.