Jeff Raz, former Cirque du Soleil Performer presents ‘Circus for Arts in the Schools”

<p><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Trebuchet MS';">Jeff Raz, former Cirque du Soleil Performer and Director of the Clown Conservatory in San Francisco as well as Sherry Sherman, and Pam Anerson, all Alameda parents, launched the Circus for Arts in the Schools 5 years ago in an effort to raise funds to support art education in Alameda Public Schools. The circus has since successfully raised over $90,000 for arts education. </span></p> <p><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Trebuchet MS';"> The Circus is back again this year and I can’t wait to see it again. I will also be volunteering that day with many other parents, running the concession stand and supporting Jeff, Sherry, and Pam on what will be an incredible magical afternoon.</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Trebuchet MS';"> The show will feature acts with acrobats, clowns, jugglers and musicians (all donating their time), including performers of Cirque du Soleil, the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe and Pickle Family Circus fame. As Jeff states: this year the show is especially important to Alameda public schools which face $4.4 million in cuts as a result of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger&#39;s proposal to cut at least $4 billion in overall education spending. So please come to the show and see first class acts, have a wonderful time, and support public schools. <br></span></p> <p><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Trebuchet MS';">Mark your calendars:</span></strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Trebuchet MS';"> </span></p> <p><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Trebuchet MS';"> Sunday, February 8th, 2009</span></strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Trebuchet MS';"> <br>1:00PM and 4:00PM Shows<br>70-minute shows <br>Kofman Auditorium 2200 Central Avenue, Alameda <br><br>You can purchase your show ticketsover the phone, on-line or in person: <br>Phone Sale: (800) 838-3006 <br>Internet Sale: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.circusforarts.org/"> www.circusforarts.org</a> <br>In Person: <br>Toy Safari, 1410 Park Street, Alameda <br>Alameda Natural Grocery, 1650 Park Street, Alameda <br><br>Tickets prices are $12.50 for adults ($15 at the door), $10.00 for children and seniors. <br><br>There is also a raffle: JetBlue has donated 2 tickets good for nonstop, round-trip travel from any California city on JetBlue Airways. The tickets are $20.00 each (6 for $100.00) and they are only selling 300 tickets No need to be present to win. All money raised will be used to fund arts education programs in Alameda public schools. <br><br>Purchase tickets by: calling 510-587-3355 or mailing your check (made out to AUSD) to Paden School , Attention Circus, 444 Central Ave. Alameda , CA 94501 .<br>&nbsp;<br>*The winner will receive travel authorization letters for 2 (two) tickets good for nonstop, round-trip travel from any California city on JetBlue Airways. <br><br>If you have any questions, contact me at <a rel="nofollow" href="mailto:travelismorefunwithkids@gmail.com"> travelismorefunwithkids@gmail.com</a><br><br><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Trebuchet MS';"> If you want to know more about the Arts Education Program Implemented: </span></strong><strong><br></strong> The proceeds from the Circus supports an in school arts program implemented by the Creative Education Institute. Originally developed under the auspices of the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, the program applies the principals of aesthetic education as developed by the Lincoln Center Institute for Arts in Learning out of New York . The Institute works with trained Teaching Artists to make partnerships for integrated arts learning experiences in grades K-12. Focus is on students’ engagement with live works of art and the deep study of arts disciplines connected with other curriculum and school or classroom learning goals. This approach embodies the integral role that the arts can and should have in education. </span></p> <p style=""> &nbsp;<img height="575" alt="" src="http://a323.yahoofs.com/phugc/jKWKaeicSDoB/photos/c61cff91c7f2a277072d5a78ec78edec/ori_c927c3f6376127.jpg?ug_____DAxPfNQiM" width="107"></p>