history1

Children's Performing Arts of Lakota

History

CPAL's began from a desire to provide the Lakota area children an opportunity to participate in something other than athletics. Ben Dibble and Steve Kuhn, already friends, met again while performing taxi duties for family "actors" at a local theatrical audition. Ben, a longtime member and past president of the Lakota Optimists, had a serious interest in developing a community children's chorus and Steve, an amateur theater technician and current president of the West Chester Liberty Arts Council, had a long time desire to provide theater arts opportunities for children. This fortunate meeting allowed them the time to share their interests and dreams. Thus, CPAL was born.

Ben and Steve quickly found out that their basic beliefs were very similar. Both believed that children need an opportunity to be involved with different type activities. The also believed that there are many children with tremendous artistic talents who are not given the opportunity to develop this talent until High School. Ben and Steve both agreed that studying performing arts provides children the opportunity to find build self-confidence and experience many challenges working with children of similar interest. Lakota and its townships are definitely in need of an alternative children's activity.

The first meeting was held on Jan. 15, 2001. Ben and Steve made a general recruitment for interested persons through their friends. A committee of 12 was developed and many issues were decided and the project moved forward. It all started as an idea to provide theater classes and a chorus for the children, but after several meetings, it was decided to open the entire project as a total performing arts approach.

The summer of 2001 was spent preparing for registration of the chorus and theatrical classes. In Sept. Steve received a call that immediately expanded the whole project. Nicole Cooley, a music teacher in the Lakota district, called and offered to bring her Heritage Elementary after school strings program into CPAL and offer it to the entire school district. This was agreed upon, so in September 2001, the entire project began. First semester saw a total of 160 children participate in all of the activities. CPAL's winter semester will see over 230 children participate in the arts.



		Children's Performing Arts of Lakota History

	CPAL's began from a desire to provide the Lakota area children an opportunity to participate in something other than athletics. Ben Dibble and Steve Kuhn, already friends, met again while performing taxi duties for family "actors" at a local theatrical audition. Ben, a longtime member and past president of the Lakota Optimists, had a serious interest in developing a community children's chorus and Steve, an amateur theater technician and current president of the West Chester Liberty Arts Council, had a long time desire to provide theater arts opportunities for children. This fortunate meeting allowed them the time to share their interests and dreams. Thus, CPAL was born. Ben and Steve quickly found out that their basic beliefs were very similar. Both believed that children need an opportunity to be involved with different type activities. The also believed that there are many children with tremendous artistic talents who are not given the opportunity to develop this talent until High School. Ben and Steve both agreed that studying performing arts provides children the opportunity to find build self-confidence and experience many challenges working with children of similar interest. Lakota and its townships are definitely in need of an alternative children's activity. The first meeting was held on Jan. 15, 2001. Ben and Steve made a general recruitment for interested persons through their friends. A committee of 12 was developed and many issues were decided and the project moved forward. It all started as an idea to provide theater classes and a chorus for the children, but after several meetings, it was decided to open the entire project as a total performing arts approach. The summer of 2001 was spent preparing for registration of the chorus and theatrical classes. In Sept. Steve received a call that immediately expanded the whole project. Nicole Cooley, a music teacher in the Lakota district, called and offered to bring her Heritage Elementary after school strings program into CPAL and offer it to the entire school district. This was agreed upon, so in September 2001, the entire project began. First semester saw a total of 160 children participate in all of the activities. CPAL's winter semester will see over 230 children participate in the arts.