Near & Arnold's School of Performing Arts & Cultural Education (SPACE)

Near & Arnold’s School of Performing Arts & Cultural Education offers Music Together®, Creative Dance 1 & 2, Adventures in Movement, Voice & Story, Acting 1, Acting 3, Teen Comedy Improv, Performance Ensemble aka Performance Workshop, Group Singing 1, and Group Singing 2. The activities include music and movement for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and adults; improvisation, story work, and expression through movement; acting with scene study; comedy improv; singing together in groups; and training in singing, acting, and dancing for a fully staged play.

Programs

• Music Together® — infant-5 · Early childhood music and movement program for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and the adults who love them.
• Creative Dance 1 & 2 — 2 ½-4 · Young students move at their own pace, learning how to improvise, tell stories and express emotions through their bodies.
• Adventures in Movement, Voice & Story — 5-6 · Concepts relating to technique and alignment; techniques include imagination games, yoga, improvisational structures, locomotor steps, sequences and rhythmic activities.
• Acting 1 — 8-10 · Using improvisation and scene study, actors learn the basics of character, story, voice and movement skills.
• Acting 3 — 13+ · Acting for more advanced students. Text analysis and detailed character development are included.
• Teen Comedy Improv — 12 & up · Students improvise, play games and learn the basic principles of comedy and acting.
• Performance Ensemble aka Performance Workshop — 10-16 · Students train singing, acting and dancing as they prepare to present a fully staged play in a series of public performances.
• Group Singing 1 — 7-8 · Students enjoy singing together and explore their voices using games, movement, clapping, imagery and props.
• Group Singing 2 — 9-10 · Students learn to sing with each other as collective group, and also in smaller subgroups.

At a glance

• Ages: 0–18 years old
• General schedule: 14-week program

About the provider

The program was founded in 1995. SPACE’s mission is to empower youth to discover and trust in their innate ability to be creative, responsible and compassionate individuals through training in dance, theater, music and cultural education. SPACE has been producing original performances for over 30 years and is a long-time collaborator with Hand in Hand Parenting.

Tuition must be paid in full at the start of the session or divided into two installments only. Any student with a balance due will not be able to register for, attend class, or apply for a scholarship until the balance is paid in full. Refunds require notifying SPACE if dropping at class. All classes have enrollment limits. Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle.

What families say

“Arts Education is so important. As a child, it shaped my view of the world, my view of life and I’ve never looked back.” — Bonnie Raitt, Contributor

“SPACE is about sharing your community, your talents. Your own being. In a sense SPACE is about love – love for others.” — Aníbal Fragoso Castilleja, SPACE’s Latino Community Liaison

Last updated October 12, 2026.