Here's What's Happening at JCAL This Month

JCAL & JPAC
  • July 11, 2022


This month at JCAL, we're pleased to present an exciting lineup of upcoming events, classes and more! Our Arts Education classes are currently underway for the summer semester, and there is still time to register for classes in Ceramics, Painting, Acting, Fashion, Comics and more. Also, our Hip Hop Dance Class is back for the summer by popular demand!

In other JCAL news, our annual Southeast Queens Jam Fest is right around the corner and we've officially introduced the selected artists for our 10-month Fellowship ARTWorks 2022. Check it all out below!

Flamenco Latino 2022 Más Allá Series August 4th and August 5th, 7:30pm Jamaica Performing Arts Center


Directors Aurora Reyes and Basilio Georges will present two different programs. On Thursday August 4, 7:30 PM, the theme is “Choreographies and Collaboration,” featuring Aurora’s group choreographies, and the debut of “Quejillo/Shout,” a Flamenco/Hip Hop fusion piece, created in collaboration with Paige Stewart “Queen TuT” and The Kingdom Dance Company.

On Friday August 5, 2022 at 7:30 PM, the theme is “Flamenco and Tap Improvisation,” featuring Aurora with the dynamic tap dancer and “foot musician,” Omar Edwards. They are accompanied by Basilio Georges’ original music which infuses Flamenco with elements of Jazz, Blues, and Salsa.

Special Announcement: JCAL is now offering Hip Hop Dance!

JCAL School of the Arts Summer Semester


We're pleased to announce that we've added a dance class to our upcoming summer semester. Register today to reserve your spot for "Dance with Janora Blackman."

Students will learn fresh hip hop routines each session, and will have the opportunity to showcase some of their favorite moves. This class is the perfect mix of creativity, and an exhilarating workout.

"Hip Hop Dance with Janora Blackman" is open for registration now for ages 5-8, and ages 9 and up. Register below!

Questions? Please feel free to email our Education Director Juan Carlos Salinas at Jsalinas@jcal.org.

Southeast Queens Jam Fest

July 24th, 4pm

153-10 Jamaica Avenue


Southeast Queens Jam Fest will bring some of the community's very best talent together for a free day of live music and entertainment. Meet the bands below!

About Riffz: Riffz was established in 2009. The band retains and rotates at least 10 members who all are youth from underserved communities. All band members play multiple instruments proficiently. Riffz New York appearances include performances at community events annually in celebration of Martin Luther King Day, Black History Month, Award Ceremonies, Community Leaders, Elected Officials, school concerts, parties and more.

About Steven Kroon: Steven Kroon has worked with such notables as Luther Vandross, Ron Carter , Aretha Franklin, Lady Gaga and much more. He's played on an array of television shows from the Tonight Show to David Letterman, Jay Leno, as well as the Grammy’s. His band is a high-energy electrifying Latin Jazz Sextet. Their musicality consists of Jazz with the blend of Afro Cuban and Brazilian music.

About True Tribute AllStars: True Tribute AllStars is comprised of a uniquely talented blend of musicians and vocalists from various cultural backgrounds whose musical performances stimulates as well as entertain. Established in 2014, by saxophonist and educator LeRoy Graham Jr., their musical presentations focus on Edu-tainment, performing with a purpose. Each performance is dynamic in its presentation and a True Tribute to Caribbean Music and Culture honoring the Pioneers of Caribbean music.

Orchestra of St. Luke’s Summer Serenades

July 29th, 6:30pm

Jamaica Performing Arts Center


Live concert comprised of music by Gounod, Mozart and Valerie Coleman, a frequent collaborator with the orchestra.

OSL returns to its chamber music roots each summer with the “Summer Serenades” programs in each of New York City’s five boroughs. This season the concerts feature a piece for wind quintet by Valerie Coleman, Performance Today’s 2020 Classical Woman of the Year and the orchestra’s partner for a long-term collaboration last season.

A New Exhibition at JCAL!

It’s a Luxury to Look Back

On View Until July 29th @ JCAL


Angela Miskis: It's a Luxury to Look Back is currently on view in JCAL's Miller Gallery until July 29th, 2022. The exhibition was recently featured in Hyperallergic "21 Art Shows to See in New York This Summer." and announced in the Queens Daily Eagle "New exhibition from Southeast Queens organizer set for JCAL."

You can view the exhibition during the week from 11 am to 8pm. Check gallery hours by calling (718) 658-7400. The artist will also be present at the gallery every Saturday until July 23rd, 2022 from 12pm to 5pm.

Classes start this weekend!

JCAL School of the Arts Summer Semester


JCAL School of the Arts is now open for registration! Our summer semester's lineup includes classes in Voice, Ceramics, Piano, Fashion Design, Cartooning, Acting, Painting and more. Sign up below while space is available.

Reminder: JCAL Members get up to 25% off of classes, along with free exclusive events and $20 Broadway tickets. Become a member today!

Video of the Week - Flamenco Latino Recap

Next month, Flamenco Latino returns for its 2022 Más Allá Series at Jamaica Performing Arts Center! In this week's video, check out a recap of the last time this event took place at JPAC. Be sure to subscribe to our channel for more content!

Check out our class lineup and

register for our summer semester today!


Learn fundamental elements of drawing and painting with pen and ink, watercolor, painted-paper collage, printmaking, and acrylic and tempera painting.





This keyboarding class is an intensive 6-week class for beginning and intermediate piano students. Each student will practice rhythmic fluency, note reading, and piano technique, all while preparing an individual piano piece to practice and perform at the end of the class.

View All Classes






A class for skilled young artists and beginners who are interested in creating their own comic books and cartoon illustrations. Kids will learn drawing techniques that will allow them to create stories starring original super heroes.

This class is designed to stimulate, excite and inspire a young person’s naturally creative self. Students will engage in theater games and improvisation as a basis for exploration. The class teaches ensemble building skills to establish a safe environment for the students to play and explore.

Students will learn the fundamentals of fashion design, including fashion illustration and machine and hand sewing. They’ll learn to draw a 10-figure head, texture/fabric rendering, and create their own design using a sewing machine as well as by hand with a needle.

If you can imagine it, you can create it in JCAL’s ceramics studio. This is an introductory course designed to give students a hands-on educational and artistic experience using the medium of clay.

Students will learn about the voice as an instrument, the fundamental techniques of singing, music history, and harmony - all while building a joyful community through music!

Photos of the Week -

Meet the Fellows for JCAL's ARTWorks 2022

Meet this year's ARTWorks Fellows! ARTWorks is a 10-month Fellowship focused on career sustainability for emerging, underrepresented visual artists in New York City. Led by project manager Lisa Wade, JCAL has selected 6 community-based artists for the series.

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