Stomp and Shout Kids

In August of 2012, the seeds of Stomp and Shout Chicago were planted. About a year later, we held our first class in Logan Square with about 4 kids. From there we grew to holding class in multiple neighborhoods all over the city of Chicago and beyond. We became the music and theatre programming at multiple schools all over the city. We opened a storefront for a short stint. We offered musical theatre classes at The Marriott Theatre and partnered with Rivendell Theatre Ensemble on the Strong Girls Make Stuff workshop. We were written up in Chicago Parent and Red Tricycle and many other publications. We brought down the house with our hootenannies. We became a 501c3. We brought our programming to Shanghai, China and New York City. The pandemic pivot brought a transition to online content and the magical living room created by illustrator LaFleur.

This organization has been my whole life for the past decade. My identity. What I wake up in the morning for. And the time has come to move on.

I want to thank all of the amazing artists who have made the last decade so special. The work you did mattered and will be remembered.

Thank you families, schools, and students. We implore you to continue stomping and shouting our message throughout your lives.

Empathy and compassion rule.
Authenticity is king.
And the arts make us human.

With all my gratitude -
Cassie

Casie Girvin comes to us from Philly where she's doing some REALLY COOL things. Give it up for our very own singing, flying acrobat, wunderkind! She's really something very special. Casie teaches in Evanston this summer.

Pop in for a free trial class and say hi!
https://stompandshoutkids.org/classesandevents

Another Stomp and Shout teacher to applaud is the effervescent - Ann Delaney. Ann teaches in Lincoln Park and Oak Park this summer!

Still need to register? Grab your spot here:
https://stompandshoutkids.org/classesandevents

MONDAY! MONDAY! MONDAY! Join us for Monday Mornings in the sun in SE Evanston! Summer Session begins June 13.

https://stompandshoutkids.org/classesandevents

Stomp and Shout has a slew of truly amazing teachers leading classes each week -- we'll be featuring our summer crew over the next few days. Today we're starting with our fearless leader, Cassie, who is teaching in Elmhurst and Oak Park this summer!

Register Today:
https://stompandshoutkids.org/classesandevents

A week from today we start our Summer Session in Lincoln Park. Grab your blanket and your babe and meet us on Fullerton next week!

https://stompandshoutkids.org/classesandevents

OAK PARK | RIVER FOREST! Have you signed up for our outdoor Summer session yet? We'll see you this Thursday at 9:30am!

https://stompandshoutkids.org/classesandevents

TOMORROW! Whoop it up with us in Elmhurst for Memorial Day! Hootenanny #2 -- 10am at Vagabond West . FREE DOLLAR BILLS.

We had an AWESOME morning with the Elmhurst Areamoms ! Join us on June 1st as we embark on our Summer Session!

https://stompandshoutkids.org/classesandevents

I am not a hopeless or helpless person. But today I am.

I haven’t yet talked to my daughter about what happened yesterday because I, myself, can barely comprehend it. Not that a man was sad and mad and aggressive and unaware of anything outside his own pain - so unaware that he took the lives of babies whose life journeys had barely begun. That I can actually comprehend. People do insane things when they’re hurting. What I CAN’T comprehend is that the people in charge of making our country great don’t care about the cost of human life. They don’t care. They can’t care or this wouldn’t keep happening. They care about what they want when they want it. They want guns. They don’t care that an unhinged man hurts less people if guns aren’t easily accessible. They want their guns. They want it - so they take it. THAT’s what is unfeeling & unaware. Unsettling. Vomitous.

My elementary aged students had their Spring Assembly for their parents today. And I was so proud of them. Proud of them for showing up at school through their fear. Walking on a stage bravely. Sharing their light. The theme I chose for the assembly was “Music As Activism” and hearing those sweet souls sing about glory and freedom and hope and change made me swell with pride while at the same time absolutely obliterating me thinking about any one of them being gunned down at school. Shot. Killed.

I don’t know what to do.
Everything I do seems small and insignificant. I feel hopeless. Helpless. This can’t keep happening. What do we do?