A local traveling dance group, “The Bandits”, will be partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County (BGCM)—Asbury Park Unit, to provide Performing Arts classes to children at the Club. Every Tuesday in August from 2-5 p.m., “The Bandits” will provide acting, singing, and dance classes. “Camp Bandit,” as the arts program is known, is intended to promote arts education and encourage exercise through dance. Starting August 14th, participants will learn routines that they perform in Bradley Park at the Labor Day BBQ Fest, which supports BGCM.
“We’re excited to partner with this group to give our kids a unique performing arts opportunity,” said Doug Eagles, BGCM Executive Director.
Initially, the Bandits were going to only host “Camp Bandit” through the remainder of August. However, interest to do more was sparked when they learned the Club was ending its summer camp three weeks early due to unanticipated decrease in funding.
“In addition to launching Camp Bandit, we are currently in the process of getting a piano and mirrors, complete with a ballet barre, donated for the performing arts classroom, along with costume pieces, scripts, and other arts-based items” said Bar-Top Bandits Executive Producer Theresa Fowler. “All of the Bandits thrived in school because of arts education, so they jumped at the chance to give back to this community that is already so immersed in music and entertainment.”
Fowler will orchestrate singing lessons for the Camp Bandit members, while Co-Founder and Creative Producer Everett Brothers will host the dance classes. Camp Bandit classes will culminate with the students performing on stage at the Asbury Park Labor Day BBQ Fest on Sept. 3, at 3 p.m. in Bradley Park.
The traveling musical production has racked up dozens of hours of charity work in its two years of operations, supporting foundations including: The Jed Foundation, Move for Hunger, American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Hometown Heroes, and Help Us Help Them (a non-profit collecting donations for troops overseas). The Bandits recently headlined “Casino Night” at Convention Hall, benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth and Middlesex Counties.
“A lot of our performers have experience volunteering in their community but bringing them together for this is truly humbling,” said Brothers. “Having acting and dance classes is what inspired me to become a producer and I’m excited to help motivate these kids in the arts.”
The Bandits is part of the touring nightlife group “Bar Top Bandits”, where professional singers and dancers perform exciting routines at nightlife venues around the United States. Co-founders Brothers and Fowler, former residents of Middletown and Lincroft, respectively, founded the production at a local fundraiser for Iraqi War Hero Brendan Marrocco.
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