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Contact Us:

Office: 860-523-8943
Cell: 203-213-0229

Email:
info@jestplaytivity.com

27 Ellsworth Road
West Hartford, CT 06107

 

 

All images on this page taken at The Lodges of Cresthaven, Lake George, NY during the summer of 2005.

   

 

 

Client List:

Recipient of 2005 Bright Idea's Grant by YMCA to present multicultural music, movement & storytelling

Featured performers at YogaAfrica, Drums Around The World & Meriden Daffodil Festivals since 2002

Schools: Woodhouse Academy, Milford (Special Needs), High Road School, Wallingford (Special Needs), Veteran's Memorial School, Preston (multiple programs, Pre-K through 5th Grade), Latimer Lane School, Simsbury (5th Grade), Strong Middle School, Durham (7th Grade), Hindley Elementary School, Darien (Pre-K), Hartford Early Learning Centers at Clark Elementary School, Fox Elementary School, Burns Elementary School, Kinsella Elementary School, Parkville Elementary School, Martin Luther King Elementary School, Waverly Elementary School, Hyland Early Learning Center, Nathan Hale Elementary School, Meriden, Webster Hill Elementary School (weeklong residency), Charter Oak Academy preschool

Hospitals: Connecticut Children's Medical Center (Monthly Artist Residency and therapeutic music), Yale-New Haven Hospital (Weekly Artist Residency), Hospital For Special Care,

Special Needs: MARC Community Resources, Town of Cheshire Adaptive Program, Woodhouse Academy, High Road School, Chapel Haven, Hospital For Special Care, Camp Meechimuc, Wheeler Clinic

Public Libraries: Avon, Brookfield, Canton, Cheshire, Clinton, Danbury, Darien, Derby, Durham, East Hartford, East Haven, Easton, Ellington, Enfield, East Granby, Farmington, Glastonbury, Guilford, Hartford, Haddam, Killingly, Mansfield, Manchester, Milford, Meriden, Middlebury, Monroe, New Britain, Ocean County NJ- all branches, Plainville, Portland, Putnam, Redding, Rocky Hill, South Windsor, Shelton, Southington, Wallingford, Watertown, MA, West Hartford, Westport, Windsor Locks, Woodbury

Staff Training: CRT- Headstart teachers and staff (two days with all 260!); CT Library Consortium- multiple locations- Integrating music into story time; William Backus Hospital Nursing staff retreat; Laurel Gardens Senior Housing staff training

Camps: Hole In The Wall Gang Camp for cancer kids and their families, Delaware Outdoor Adventure Camp, (staff training and campers), YMCA Camp Jewell, Farmington Valley YMCA, YMCA Camp Hazen (staff training), Renbrook Summer Adventure Day Camp, YMCA Camp Sloper, Deer Lake Day Camp (staff training), High Meadow Camp, Meriden Girl Scouts, Hamden Hall Country Day School Summer Camp, Summerscape Day Camp, Windham-Tolland 4H (staff training), Pine Lake Ropes Course, Girls Scouts of SW CT, Camp Meechimuc

Day Care Facilities: Mother Goose Children's Center (Weekly music & movement class), Bright Horizons (various locations), Children's Discovery Center (various locations), Kindercare (various locations), Farmington Valley JCC

Park and Recreation Depts: Bristol, West Hartford, New Britain, Hebron, Columbia, Wallingford (special needs),  Meriden, Cheshire (special needs), Fairfield Earthday, Collinsville, Woodbury 350th Anniversary, Monroe P&R day camp, Litchfield, Milford P&R day camp, Woodbury P&R day camp,

Seniors: Alzheimer's Resource Center, Sunrise Senior Living, Greens At Cannondale (Assisted Living), The McCauley, Seabury Meadows, One McDonough Place, Chatfield, Kensington Place, The Arbors, Summerwood, Heritage Commons, Cedar Mountain Commons, Kennett Square, PA

Collaborations: Matica Arts (Music for various circus events), Rhythm Collaborative w/John Boiano (Int. Arts & Ideas Fest concert), World Rhythm Ensemble w/Randy Brody (school performance), Elizabeth Perkins of Upwards Poetry (school residency), Shankara and Friends (ongoing Kirtan concerts), Didgequest with Peter Onofrio (School and camp concerts)  

Various & On Going: University of Hartford- guest lecturers, New Britain Museum of Art, CT Kids Expo, The Lodges at Cresthaven (Lake George, NY- weekly for summer '05), Music Together of Greater New Haven, Make a Wish Foundation- annual picnic, Foodshare Walkathon, Bright Star Vision Annual Fundraiser, YogaAfrica, Blue Back Square Drummers 

                                                  ...and many, many more.

   

Testimonials:

"The week long residency provided a fun learning experience for our students.  They truly enjoyed learning their parts and preparing for the performance. The whole school and the families of our first graders were able to enjoy their hard work as the first graders told the story of young Baba Olatunji through rhythm, song, and dance.  It was a wonderful experience thanks for all your hard work and preparation to make it fun for the kids. You were very patient with the children and it was clear that you wanted each child to feel successful and be a part of the residency from start to finish."
Donna Corcoran, Webster Hill School

"Thanks so very much for your participation in the children's library showcase.  We were so thrilled to have you attend.  Your performance was the hit of the day, and everyone so thoroughly enjoyed seeing your talents and boundless enthusiasm. Best wishes, and hope to work with you more in the future."
Deborah Zulick, Project Coordinator, Connecticut Library Consortium

"Wow! Last Thursday was a loud day in the library and we couldn't have been happier! Thank you so much for turning the Milford Public Library into such a magical, rhythmic place. Parents and children responded enthusiastically to the open atmosphere you provided, where there was no wrong way to play, where everyone was an important part of a wonderful orchestra. This truly was a performance to be enjoyed by all ages. Even the tiny babies understood and responded to the rhythmic patterns. My goodness- I couldn't even keep the library staff away! Thank you again for sharing your stories and music with us. We most certainly look forward to seeing you again."
Suzanne Harrison-Thomas, Children's Librarian, Milford Public Library

"I worked with Playtivity as part of a Hartford Public Schools inter-district grant program called Words Alive in the Middle. I invited Playtivity to work with us as a creative vehicle to help with poetry writing and performance. In a short time, they shaped a playfully interactive and wholly supportive environment for the kids to open up, take risks and ultimately apply themselves to poetry writing and sharing. Playtivity's approach can be passionate and it can be calming.  It celebrates and it affirms. The students (and teachers) from both schools were very happy with the program and I would not hesitate to invite them in again."
Elizabeth Thomas, UpWords Poetry

"I gained an appreciation of the "magic" of Playtivity's talents as I watched the families gather and come together; the glow and smiles told me a lot. You motivated them to respond. As a result, they enjoyed being together, a father joined the mother who had joined in with the child. They were spontaneous in the moment- this is what families should be. I believe that Virginia and Craig really added the "festive" for the festival - it was effective and we should plan to do again."
Joanne Fishman, Founder/President - kidtivity.com

"Thank you so much for the wonderful art and music experience the other night. People really enjoyed themselves and had fun. I am looking forward to working with the two of you again."
Morgan Fippinger, New Britain Museum of American Art

"The drumming workshops put on by Craig were fantastic and the adult leaders enjoyed it as much as the girls. Being able to hear the drums all day in camp caused the excitement to build for the evening drumming circle. Virginia's Power Shield workshop touched the teenagers in ways they didn't expect.  Virginia and Craig were excellent with the children and really showed that they knew how to work with kids of all ages."
Joanne Little, Troop Leader - Meriden area Girl Scouts

"Playtivity provided entertainment of a different nature than the norm for us. They were very creative, interacting with the residents and sharing their inspiration. I look forward to their return. It was a different program that exceeded my expectations."
Janet Finney, Activities Coordinator, The McAuley Retirement Community

Many thanks for a terrific program at Mansfield Public Library. The library was brimming with enthusiasm after you left and the energy lasted for the rest of the afternoon. I love how you involved the entire group and encouraged their participation in such a positive way. Everybody felt included and empowered by the open atmoshere and the captivating rhythms.
Judy Stroughton, Mansfield Public Library

"Thank you so much for your wonderful program this week! The children and staff really had fun. They raved about the way you let everyone play the drum in the middle(gathering drum) without any requirements, and also loved the "thunder." Thank you for your time, and I appreciate your ability to meet children on their level, taking advantage of the "windows of opportunity" as they came up (like putting the boom whackers up to their ears!)."
Heidi Maderia, Hebron Parks and Rec.

 

We offer block-booking discounts! Know another nearby school, library or camp that might be interested in a Playtivity event on the same day? Give us a call and if it works out, both events will receive a 10% discount.

 


"If you can walk you can dance, if you can talk you can sing."
African Proverb

Home - About Us - Programs - School Programs - Storytelling - In The News - Contact Us/Testimonials/Client List - Events Calendar - Healing Playshops - Graphics - Staff and Teacher Training - Storybook