ABOUT US

Marquis Studios is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing arts-­in­‐education services to 150 New York City public schools annually. We strive to develop a strong partnership between artists and teachers by providing arts programs to supplement traditional classroom teaching techniques. Each residency or workshop focuses on a specific visual or performing arts discipline selected by school staff and administration.

Founded in 1977, Marquis Studios has served over 460,000 students, 26,000 teachers and 15,000 parents at schools throughout New York City. Working with a diverse population, 80% of programs serve students living at or below the poverty line with over 50% of all grant-funded programming serving classrooms containing with disabilities.

Marquis Studios Offers:

  • Core curriculum programming consisting of ten-­week arts residencies taught by our staff of trained Teaching Artists.
  • A full spectrum of arts residencies that encourage student exploration of visual arts, theatre, music, dance architecture, circus arts and puppetry.
  • Custom designed programs to meet the educational goals set by the school through collaboration with Marquis Studios and classroom teachers.
  • Programs that address New York State Learning Standards, both in the arts and academic areas.
  • Professional development for classroom teachers to provide arts education techniques and concepts that can be brought back to the classroom.
  • Parent/Child Workshops that help parents understand the connection between arts and academics while providing a fun, hands­‐on experience parents and children can share.

OUR TEACHING ARTISTS

Marquis Studios employs 83 professional teaching artists whom specialize in a variety of disciplines. If you are interested in becoming a Teaching Artist visit our careers page.

  • Dawn Drake

    Dawn Drake is a singer, songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist. She has studied in West Africa, Cuba and Brazil and plays Bass, Congas and Afro-Cuban and Brazilian percussion with many artists in New York. She is most known for her band “Dawn Drake & ZapOte” an original “world beat meets samba and funk ensemble” who plays for music and dance loving crowds throughout the east coast, Europe and beyond. Dawn has been a Marquis Studios teaching artist since 2014.

  • Jon Dykstra

    Jon Dykstra is a multi-faceted musician, actor, and instructor, with many years of experience working with children of all ages. He is a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, and a member of Actors Equity with numerous stage credits in and out of the New York area. As a pianist and singer, he performs frequently, whether collaborating with artists in musical theater, singing in choirs, or playing in bands. He cares deeply about working with children, giving them a creative outlet to explore music and theater of various cultures, and instilling within them a lifetime love for music and theater.

  • Danny Evans

    Danny Evans is a graduate of Montclair College. He has been teaching circus arts at both the elementary and college levels for almost ten years. Founder of the entertainment company TotallyZany, he is a multi-skilled clown, juggler and balloon sculptor.