The Vermont Performing Arts League was established in 1978 to promote and support performing arts activities, particularly those involving the folk arts and international exchanges. VPAL is a nonprofit, tax-exempt Vermont corporation, supported in large part by private donations, business sponsorships and grants.
Our home base is the North End Studio at 294 North Winooski Ave. in Burlington, where we operate our community performing arts space and main office. We are embarking on a new cooperative venture in the coming months - to turn our unused loading dock/storag area into a black box theater. We welcome your inpout on this exciting new project.
Programs of the Vermont Performing Arts League
1. Vermont International Festival is an annual celebration of the many cultures that make up our community. The four major elements of the 3-day event are world crafts, performing arts, international cuisines, and ethnic traditions. Initiated in 1993, the festival is held each year at the beginning of December. School groups are offered their own day to visit the show, with special games, concerts, and participatory sessions designed to enhance the educational experience. Community groups with an orientation toward international culture in any form are encouraged to participate in the event.
2. The North End Studio at 294 North Winooski Ave. in Burlington opened in September, 2007. This fully-equipped, multi-purpose space is available at modest cost for classes, performances, meetings, and gatherings of all kinds. You can read about the variety of activities that have already taken place and view the upcoming schedule of classes and concerts by going to the VPAL blog: http://vpal.typepad.com/
3. Folkids of Vermont is an educational program for Vermont schoolchildren that takes a group from a Vermont school or location on a folk dance performing tour somewhere in the world. It gives the participants a chance to learn about their own folk culture and then to share it with the people they meet. Folkids has gone on nearly one trip per year since 1984, and has visited such varied locations as Turkey, Estonia, Japan, Scotland, China and Vietnam.
4. Interfolk Festivals bring performers from many lands to Vermont to share their cultures and experiences with Vermonters in their own backyards. The first Interfolk Festival in 1986 was a major undertaking, featuring performers from ten different countries. Currently Interfolk hosts visiting international performing groups and sets up performances and workshops for them in Vermont schools.
5. The Green Mountain Volunteers is a traditional New England dance performing group consisting of experienced amateur dancers and singers working with professional artistic direction and musicians. Since 1977 the Green Mountain Volunteers has performed throughout New England and in many other parts of the world.