Joel Dyson has been performing music and showcasing her talents since she was three years old, and it was the rich New Orleans culture and lessons from her vocal teachers–Germaine Bazzle, Linda Pierce, and Phyllis Treigle–that ultimately inspired her to keep pursuing music. Flash forward to Dyson returning home after graduating from the Eastman School of Music, parents began inquiring about vocal lessons for their children. 

“It became all about developing the next generations of young artists, not just to get them into NOCCA, but for them to thrive and find who they are through music,” Dyson says.

With this in mind, Dyson founded Beyond the Stage in 2016. From the beginning, she knew she wanted to focus on providing equitable arts education for her students: CAMP ART. While Beyond the Stage offers private lessons in theatre, voice, and piano, CAMP ART students can experience so much more, like music, creative writing, dance, visual arts, and even fitness and mindfulness classes. The camp takes a field trip every Friday, and everyone gets to let loose during Water Day on the final day of camp. Children ages 4-12 can indulge and explore the arts during either a summer or a winter session. 

It’s important to know this is a place where kids are free to find their voice without fear of expectations or judgment. Dyson adds, “CAMP ART is a place where children have fun; they explore, create, and find their art medium of self-expression.”

The camp not only hosts a diverse group of both students and teachers, but Dyson also curated it with working moms and dads in mind. Students are taught by industry-leading professionals, and as a working artist herself, Dyson understands the value of hard work and extreme talent in this industry. 

“Some of the first forms of expression for a child are singing and dancing,” Dyson says, “And it’s up to us as the parents, guardians, and village to cultivate that expression as their path to enlightenment.” 

CAMP ART is more than just a camp; it’s a learning journey through the arts for children and parents alike, and a family your child can grow with.