The Magic of the CYT Expo

Posted on May 16, 2013 by jcortez

The CYT Expo has affected my life in ways I didn’t even know were possible.

The 2011 CYT Expo was my first, and it held lots of magic. During that week, I met kids from all over the country who were as crazy as CYT Spokane kids, which is really quite amazing in itself. I made friends from all over, and shared my 15th birthday with everyone there (best birthday ever!). Although all those things are very important and fun, there were two things that really stood out.

I watched a new kind of passion emerge from us, both adults and kids, and we let God use us as servants.

From prayer circles, to giving uplifting notes to staff, to hearing your friends’ adventures about speaking tongues in the parking lot, God was there. You could feel Him, and He radiated. He broke down all of our barriers, and I was more or less forced to come out of my shell. I began to interact with people more, and it helped me grow in my leadership and self confidence.

The 2012 CYT Expo was different, but a good different. I found myself in positions that I had never imagined, like playing chicken with CYT Denver kids, filming a commercial, and watching Improv into the wee hours of the morning. During that Expo I made some of the best friends I’ve ever had. I still talk to these people daily, and they’re roadtripping to Spokane this summer. We have created a support system through each other- whether it’s getting through dress rehearsal week or encouraging through frustrating shifts at work.

The HYPE Conference is literally the best week of your year! It’s like summer camp, except you get to stay in a classy hotel, you get to meet people from all over the world with the same crazy passions as you, and the food is way better.

Yeah, it’s a lot of money to go. It’s beyond worth it though! It’s better than Christmas! You will grow in your leadership skills and your relationship with God. You get to see your old friends, meet new friends, and make some incredible memories.

The 2013 CYT Expo is going to be a blast. It’s Santa Cruz, how could it not be?! The question is, will I see you there? No, wait. I WILL see you there, cause this place is better than Disneyland.

Contributed by Layna Elder, CYT Spokane student

Posted in 2013 CYT EXPO, HYPE, Promotion | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Founder’s Corner: Performing Arts Brings a Sense of Fulfillment

Posted on May 14, 2013 by jcortez

You can see it all over George’s face. He is having the time of his life in the show Aladdin.

This picture was taken at CYT Sacramento’s opening weekend in May. The joy and fulfillment that is expressed on his face is loud and clear without a single word being said. That is the wonderful thing about the performing arts – it teaches us the value of faithfulness, focus and the sense of fulfillment.

Faithfulness is an important character trait that theater helps to instill into the lives of children. It teaches them the importance of being part of a team and how their part is important to make the final outcome successful. It’s important to be faithful or you will let down the entire cast. The importance of working hard, having perseverance and sticking with a project till the very end is one of life’s most important lessons. Lisa Phillips describes the importance of the Arts in her new book, “The Artistic Edge: 7 Skills Children Need to Succeed in an Increasingly Right Brain World.”

Focus is a Biblical principle that St. Paul teaches in his letter to Philippi. He makes it clear that the most important thing in life is not career, or station in life or even family. The most important thing in life is to be totally focused on knowing Christ. To teach focus one must be able to concentrate on one thing at a time. This is a hard lesson to teach in a world that is taught that multitasking is a good thing. In reality we tend to get a lot of things done but not well. Doing one thing well is a more desired commodity. Theater forces a student to concentrate on one thing at a time. Learn the song, learn the dance, or learn your lines, and focus on getting the show ready for opening night. One has to focus, concentrate, and not be distracted for the show to be performed well.

Fulfillment has been defined as a job that has been performed well and worthy of recognition. Performing arts, in particular, has immediate recognition when the audience applauds at the end of a wonderful performance. I know as a parent I love to applaud for my children when they do something difficult and accomplish a task that they have done well. What a great feeling to know that you’ve worked hard at something and other people acknowledge that accomplishment. That’s what you can see in George’s expression – sheer joy and fulfillment.

Can you imagine how our Heavenly Father loves to applaud his children when they do a good job? Now that is a feeling of fulfillment. Using our God-given talents to serve others. Sheer joy and fulfillment.

Contributed by Paul Russell

Posted in Founder's Corner | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

CYT San Diego’s Camp Bundle

Posted on May 12, 2013 by jcortez

CYT San Diego is offering a Camp Bundle, otherwise known as CYT Teen Camp AND Alice Advanced Camp, for $400 dollars.

Students who attend will receive two weeks of professional training. The Camp Bundle ends May 31st. You can purchase the bundle, here.

Posted in Camps | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Joyful Spirit of Pocahontas

Posted on May 8, 2013 by jcortez

Student Cadence Lamb is starring as Pocahontas in CYT Phoenix’s latest production.

The junior took some time out of her hectic schedule to answer some questions about her character. Here are some snippets from her interview with Sonoran News.

On how Pocahontas’ story: I guess I could sum it all up to her dependence on God. I don’t think she could have come out of being held captive, stripped from her tribe, losing John Smith, or adapting to England without trust in God. She had absolutely no one beside her but Him through all of that. Not only did she survive it, she grew and learned but never lost the spirit she grew up with in her tribe.

On being caught between two worlds: It’s scary being a teenager and starting to take on the responsibilities of adulthood and to understand more clearly all that’s out there in the world. At the same time I don’t want to lose the free and joyful spirit I had as a kid. Pocahontas was pushed into a new world, too, and had to take on many huge responsibilities. But she kept her spirit and roots which made her so captivating and likeable to the English.

On Pocahontas’ legacy: I hope teenagers can see all she accomplished at such a young age. I hope that they see what she was focused on, which was not appearances, having fun, or even making a name for herself (though she certainly did). She only wanted peace to keep the people and cultures she loved safe. Why wait until you’re older to do that if Pocahontas started as a teenager?

Posted in Media, Production, Promotion | Leave a comment

myCYT Story: Kaitlyn Hunt

Posted on May 7, 2013 by jcortez

I watched calmly and quietly as the beautiful tale of a young boy’s journey into adulthood unfolded before my eyes.

At no other point in my childhood was I ever calm and quiet, yet as I sat there, thoroughly engrossed in the story of Mowgli and his friends, I was still. The singing, happy-go lucky bear, the motherly panther, the terrifying tiger, and the boy who just wanted to live his life in happiness, became important to me from the minute the curtain opened. It stopped my constant movement, quieted my ever-chattering mouth, and captivated my heart.

As my family left the theater that day I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to sing, dance, and act out stories in the hopes of drawing other little girls and boys into fantastical new lands, into worlds of mystery, romance, adventure, peril, and magic, into stories they could become a part of. However, just like for Mowgli, there were obstacles standing in my way.

My obstacles were not man’s red flower, or a ferocious tiger, but instead distance and age.

I lived an hour away from the nearest CYT and I had a full year to wait until I was eligible to be in a show, an eternity in the mind of an overactive 7 year old. It appeared as though I would be unable to incarnate the dreams of children on stage.

Then, in the fall of 2007, CYT came to North Idaho. By this time I was nearly 10 years old, it had been 3 full years since my fantasies had been framed while watching The Jungle Book, and all of the pent-up and put-off dreams were ready to spill out. I was signed up and at my first night of class shortly thereafter. I was so nervous walking into the building on the evening of auditions, but my nerves were overshadowed by the sheer excitement of finally realizing my childhood dreams. My mother convinced me it would be best to go first and get it over with; thanks to her I was the first person to audition for a CYT North Idaho show.

Since then I have been in 8 other CYT shows, crewed 3 times and am approaching the 1-year anniversary of my joining HYPE. My dream, to captivate children and spirit them away through dramatic performances, has been realized and exceeded.

CYT has taught me so much and been such a blessing in my life. I’ve learned not only how to sing and act, but also what it means to be committed to the achievements of a group. I’ve learned what it means to serve the way Jesus did, and how truly difficult that can be, how to use my talents to worship and bring glory to him, how to lead and be lead, and the value and meaning of friendship and fellowship with other believers. On that day so many years ago, when I looked up into the faces of Baloo and Bagheera I dreamt of being on stage and bringing stories to life. Since then CYT has taught me that there is so much more to performing, so much more to CYT, and so much more to life.

Contributed by Kaitlyn Hunt, CYT North Idaho student & myCYT Story finalist

Posted in Awards, Testimonial | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Benefits of The Arts Continued…

Posted on May 5, 2013 by jcortez

NBC ran a story this week that exhibits the “Benefits of the Arts.”

Check out the video- A principal fired security guards and hired art teachers, and it transformed their elementary school.

CYT is dedicated to developing character in children and adults through training in the arts and by producing wholesome family entertainment, all of which reflect Judeo-Christian values.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Former Stomp Performer To Teach at the 2013 CYT Expo

Posted on May 5, 2013 by jcortez

Students who register for the Stomp Master Class at the 2013 CYT Expo will jump in with both feet (literally).

Attendees will learn how to use their hands, feet, and body to make music. The class will offer original choreography, as well as a dash of older Stomp tricks. It will also incorporate the history of the artform.

Former STOMP performer and CYT alum, Michael Oakley, is the instructor. According to Oakley, Stomp combines several noises that alone might sound loud or obnoxious, but when they’re all put together, “they create something complex and really entertaining!”

“Going through a master class like this breaks the mold of the everyday time step or box square,” said Oakley. “After working through how to use your body as an instrument, you will approach dance from a different perspective. I promise this class will help with your roll offs.”

The class will leave CYTers with a new excitement for rhythm, an appreciation for working with a team, and a new confidence in what they can do after CYT.

Oakley will also be sharing his story about how he went from a CYT Kid to a Stomp performer. Here’s a sneak peek: At 19, he flew across the country, auditioned for an internationally known show, and was cast in it- all because someone believed in him.

“The world is ours after CYT. All we need to do is be bold and take it. I can’t wait to see which CYT kid becomes the next world changer and how they do it. CYT alumni are known for changing the world both big and small. If my students are willing to listen, I’ll tell them a story about how they can do it.”

This is a high-energy, fast-paced, explosion of rhythm and body percussion class, and it is not-to-be missed. Register for the Master Class, here.

Posted in 2013 CYT EXPO, Alumni, Event | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off