The PACE Program

The Professional Artists and Cooperating Educators (PACE) Program provides high-quality dance and theatre residencies to more than 1,200 students annually.

The program pairs teaching artists with K-8 classroom teachers to create eight-week residencies with a focus on student creative ownership. Among many goals, residencies develop student awareness in the basic elements of dance/theatre, enhance group working processes through ensemble-building activities and guide students in experimenting with choreography/dramatic ideas, choices and patterns.

The PACE Program is flexible to meet the needs of each school building. Residencies run through physical education classes, specials classes, after-school programs, lunch-and-learn programs and more.

The PACE Admission Credit

As part of each residency, students take a field trip to see a dance or theatre performance by professional artists. PACE students receive free admission to each semester's dance or theatre work of art from the EFA Rep.

The Consortium

PACE residencies culminate with The Consortium, a day-long arts education field trip. PACE students from across Kalamazoo County come together to take dance and theatre workshops, work with acclaimed guest artists and share their artistic creations with their peers in a professional performance space.