In 2004, Jennifer Salberg, founder of Curtains Up, met the residents of Elk’s Aidmore Children’s Center in Conyers and shortly thereafter formed the 501 (C) 3 corporation, Curtains Up, Inc. where we use the performing arts to mentor at-risk children to become confident, successful members of our community. Jennifer Salberg, and her team of Atlanta’s most talented choreographers and vocal coaches have dedicated their talents and time to inspire these young girls in foster care to beat the odds.
We provide young actors with the training and experience they need to explore the world of Show Business! We want to instill self-confidence and self-esteem in all children with a passion for the performing arts. We want every young child to love the theatre and process of creating art, not just the recognition that comes from the end result. The theatre is a community in which a cast learns to accept and appreciate one another unconditionally on and off stage. These are essential lessons for children to experience. At Curtain's Up every child receives applause, but whether or not your superstar's time in the spotlight lasts for a moment or a lafetime we want each child to leave with a lasting belief in their talent and to continue loving the performing arts. All proceeds go to enrich the lives of Georgia's foster children.
Past programs provided for the girls at Elk's Aidmore Children's Center include:
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Profile of a Lady: A day spent focusing on self-awareness and career building. Since these girls will soon enter the workforce, business professionals and artists will be on site to help them focus on their personal stories, goals and aspirations and help them translate their dreams into practical career building skills.
•Hot Broadway Night: A self-confidence building program built to prepare the girls to perform a musical review of the Broadway hit Hairspray. In addition, theatre professionals will train the girls in set, costume design and make up. There will be a fundraiser and sock hop cast party for the girls following the performance.
•Aidmore Allstars: A program designed to help the girls build self-confidence and poise. Professional dance instructors are working with the girls in preparation for a hip-hop performance prior to an Atlanta Hawks basketball game. The girls will be introduced to Hawks cheerleaders and players and will receive souvenirs.
•Exposure to business and political community: A program designed to introduce the girls to community leaders that support foster care in Georgia.
Other segments throughout the year will include instruction in voice, movement and instrumentation. The discipline required in these arts will help condition the girls for the challenges and opportunities they will face in the future. The girls will also be taken to various cultural events in the community, which will broaden their horizons to what the world has to offer them. To help provide some normalcy in the young women’s lives, the girls will receive birthday and other holiday cards to acknowledge how important they are.
Through exposure to the full spectrum of the performing arts, the girls sponsored by Curtains Up, Inc. will be equipped with the self-confidence and practical training they will need for the performance of life. These young women deserve the opportunities and hope our own children are given.
The above programs are funded by contributions from families, friends, foundations and businesses. With your support, we can continue to help the dreams come true and expand our role as extended family to these wonderful, deserving young ladies.
