Artist in residence, Jenny Herzog, a singer, tap dancer, teacher, and director, will be working with the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) DYS Education Initiative this spring. The residency is thanks to a FY23 STARS Residency grant from the Mass Cultural Council, and will be a partnership between Jenny Herzog and students receiving educational services through CES while placed in the care and custody of the MA Department of Youth Services (DYS).

Herzog’s residency, entitled “Chaos Theory”, will begin in February 2023 and culminate in May 2023 with an original production integrating storytelling, music, and movement. Students will develop and share real-life stories, empowering them to take ownership of their own narrative and develop their voice; stories will be interwoven with original music and choreography. Students will explore the craft of storytelling, and explore songwriting, song structure, and singing, as well as movement, dance, and choreography. This residency will encourage students to take ownership over their own narrative, and to develop their creative voice. 

This year’s artist in residence program is supported by a grant from the Mass Cultural Council (MCC), a state agency. According to the MCC, “This investment is made possible through our state appropriation secured by our partners in the Legislature and the approval of the Agency’s FY23 spending plan by our governing Council. The Mass Cultural Council is deeply appreciative of the Legislature’s support of the cultural sector.”

Laura Finn-Heafey, M.Ed., a CES Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, for the DYS education initiative said of the award: “We thank the Mass Cultural Council and everyone involved for their support in making this happen and for their ongoing commitment to our youth in DYS! Residencies have proven time and again to be an important outlet for our students to develop strength of voice and positive hope for the future.“

The Collaborative for Educational Services is a partner to the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services (DYS) in creating access statewide to high-quality secondary and post-secondary education, career exploration, and workforce development opportunities for youth in the care and custody of DYS.