Thrive Success!
Last weekend, Youngstown friends and neighbors gathered to celebrate the eighth year of our cultural arts center with a night of music, food, and revelry. As families started to filter in, the movement studio was abuzz with excited kids, eager parents, and the squeaking of balloon animals. The evening began with live music from Eli Rosenblatt, whose songs about movement and silly animals had children hopping around like bunnies and zooming through the room as high flying airplanes. Meanwhile, other kids and parents gathered around the arts and crafts station to color paper bricks that were added to our art wall, building Youngstown’s foundations with community involvement.
Seattle Fandango Project then took the stage, inviting guests to participate in creating rhythmic dances that everyone could enjoy. Between musical performances, guests off all ages gathered in the Thelma Dewitty Theater to see the skillful aerial artistry of the Cabiri troupe, who soared overhead on sling, silks, and lyra. Guests also took turns popping in to the Youngstown photo booth for goofy pictures with friends and family. Pictures from the photo booth can be viewed on the Youngstown Facebook page, and additional event photos are posted on Pinterest.
But the Thrive wasn’t just for families and kids; a beer garden in the theater offered an adults-only atmosphere where parents and adult guests could enjoy drinks and food away from the hustle and bustle of the children’s activity room. Then, after the kids headed home, the floor opened up for a late night dance party fueled by the turntable stylings of DJ Manos and DJ Leopold Bloom. Booties were shaken. The Thrive was a great party, letting guests relax with friends, enjoy delicious food and drinks, and dance the night away.
We’d like to thank all of our generous sponsors and guests who helped make the Thrive such a success. With the proceeds from the event, the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center will be able to support youth programming through equipment upgrades and employing talented teaching artists. We look forward to the Thrive becoming an annual party, welcoming guests to engage in our community, foster arts participation, and to learn and celebrate what Youngstown is all about.