Welcome to the 10th Annual Bronx Borough Arts Festival Submission Application
EXTENDED Application Deadline: Thursday, March 28th, 2024
Festival Date: Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Before you begin the online application, please read these guidelines in its entirety. Please complete a form for each performance you wish to enter in the festival. Answers cannot be edited once you have submitted this form, however you are able to save a draft prior to submitting, so please review your answers when inputting.
If accepted into the festival, the spelling on the application will be the spelling in the catalog, playbill, and/or title card. Please double check the spelling of student names.
Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
Do not send submission videos or student reflections via email as they will not be considered as part of a complete submission.
Any questions, email BronxBAF@gmail.com.
Tips on Creating a Virtual Performance
Liz Guglielmo, Director of Music, has uploaded 7 YouTube videos on using various programs HERE.
For video tutorials on creating virtual musicals and theater productions, and more, Peter Avery, Director of Theater, has made a resource page available HERE.
RECORDING TIPS:
- If recording using an iphone or any other smartphone, set up the device in a horizontal (landscape) position. Even if you feel that your full body would fit better in "portrait" (vertical mode), still please do horizontal.
- Do some test recording. It’s always good to record yourself practicing and then play it back to hear how you sound.
- Singers - Make sure your camera isn’t too close. Capture space above your head as well as all the way down to your stomach.
- Don’t record too close and don’t record with a bright window or light behind you. You should be the star!
- Instrumentalists: Frame yourself and your whole instrument or most of your instrument.
- You can film with: a cell phone, a webcam, a tablet, a desktop, a laptop, a digital camera, a video camera. Anything you have that you’ll be able to upload to a computer is OK. Ask a family member for help, if needed.
- Make sure you look good! Can we see your face? Your smile? Your instrument? Turn on a light behind the camera so your face is well lit. Make sure your background looks good. Clean up if you need to!
- Is the room still quiet? Turn off any fans or anything else that makes noise.
- Place the camera (phone or tablet) on a tripod / dresser / table. Please no hand-held filming - video gets wavy or shaky.
ELIGIBILITY
- Music, Theater and Dance performances from Bronx students in grades Pre-K to 12
- Each school may submit up to 3 (three) works per Performing Arts specialist. You may submit in multiple genres or submit multiple performances in the same genre
- All performances should represent the best student-produced piece from this academic year, and of the work you plan to perform
*(Please note- Dance submissions do not have to be student-choreographed)
- Please refer to the grade appropriate Blueprint Benchmarks to help guide decision making regarding submission choices
- ALL FINAL PERFORMANCES will run 2-4 minutes in length (please do not submit videos longer than 5 minutes)
SELECTION:
- A panel of NYC art educators will adjudicate the submissions
- Individual expressiveness, technical proficiency as well as thoughtfulness in answering the Student Reflection Questions will be considered
- Due to space limitations, it is not possible to guarantee representation of every school. Our committee will do its best to assure even representation amongst Districts 7-12 and D75
Student Artist Reflection Questions
(Video statements are preferred, though written answers are accepted)
Please have your student(s) respond as thoughtfully as possible to the following three questions, they will be considered part of your submission. For ensemble submissions, please select one or two students to answer the following questions.
Elementary Artist Reflection Questions:
- When people look at your performance, what do you want them to think or feel?
- Why do you think this work is good? What were some choices you made to change or revise the piece?
- Why do you like to make art (dance, music, theater)?
- In what was have you been able to express yourself through your art?
Middle/High School Artist Reflection Questions:
- What difference does expressing yourself through performance art make in your life?
- As a performing artist, what was challenging about creating this piece and how did you overcome this challenge?
- Why do you think this work is successful?
- In what was have you been able to express yourself through your art?
Student Permission Forms
Completed permission forms for each student performer are required as part of the application. An upload of a signed permission form or a screenshot from a parent/guardian's email will be permitted.
Click here for more information and to download the student permission form.
It's the 10 Year Anniversary of the Manhattan Borough Arts Festival 2024!!!
Application Deadline extended: Friday, March 29, 2024
The Performing Arts Showcase will be taking place at the APOLLO THEATER on Monday, May 20, 2024!
NEW THIS YEAR:
- In honor of the 10th Anniversary, the theme of this show is "Simply The Best!" This can be interpreted as specifically or as broadly as you wish.
- We will be accepting 10 schools this year.
- If accepted, schools MUST COMMIT to participating in an all-school Finale number, featuring the song "Simply The Best" by Tina Turner. Specifics TBD.
- There will be a walkthrough for teachers only on May 8th from 4- 5:30pm at the Apollo. The primary teacher who will be accompanying the students on the day of the show must attend.
- There will be a rehearsal for ALL STUDENTS on May 15th from 4- 5:30pm at the Apollo.
- We are looking to feature student voice in short videos to be screened at moments throughout the show. Please select 3-5 student representatives to record a video that you will upload as part of the application. We would like to hear from them about the preparation process in learning the piece that you are submitting. We would also like to know why they would like to perform on the stage of the Apollo as part of the 10th Anniversary. The delivery is less important than the quality of the content. We are looking for original student voice to shine through. Please keep the video length to under 3 min.
Application Guidelines:
- Licensed DOE art specialists are eligible to enter submissions.
- Each school may submit up to three (3) student applications. These can include 3rd - 12th grade students in Music, Dance, and Theater ensemble performances.
- We will accept a limited number of solo submissions. These will be included in your total of 3 school submissions.
- Complete this form once for each performance you wish to enter in the competition.
- Performances may not exceed 5 minutes and will be cut if they exceed that timeframe.
For technical questions about the application, email support@submittable.com
For content questions, email mvaklinova@schools.nyc.gov