For the last 10 years, the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts has come to life with opportunities for youth and adults to enroll in a variety of performing arts classes. Throughout the decade, the Education Center has hosted classes, workshops, master classes, performances and lectures for more than 20,000 participants of all ages, all taught by local teaching artists and seasoned professionals.
Fort Lauderdale native JaVonda Carter first came to the Education Center as a high school student, enrolling in its inaugural performing arts class. Today, she has transitioned from student to teacher, now serving as a valued and respected Teaching Artist at the very place where her journey started.
“I began coming to the Broward Center through The Performance Project because the Rose Miniaci Education Center hadn’t opened yet, and then, once that opened with classes, I took the Wednesday night singing class with Broward Center Artist-In-Residence Tammy Holder,” said Carter. “From there, I just got involved as more classes were offered, I made more connections and more volunteer opportunities were offered to me so I also joined the Broward Center’s Teen Ambassadors program.”
The Teen Ambassadors are high school students with an interest in performing arts, journalism and marketing. They attend free shows and create a portfolio of reviews and social media content; earn community service hours; are introduced to behind-the-scenes operations; participate in master classes, backstage tours and monthly meetings; and learn from industry professionals about the various career tracks connected to the arts.
Following high school, Carter attended Florida A&M University in Tallahassee where she earned B.A. in Theatre Performance. She had just graduated when the COVID-19 pandemic was still in full swing, so she had to return home. She stayed in touch with Holder, who was also her mentor while a student at the Education Center, who then asked Carter to join the new Teaching Artist initiative.
“JaVonda and I go way back, and I’m proud to say that we both have been a part of this place since the beginning. Not only does she have a natural talent for singing, teaching and connecting with young people who share her love for the performing arts, but she’s also an amazing colleague who wears a lot of hats here,” said Holder, who also started and manages the Broward Center Spotlights, a top-tier performing vocal ensemble featuring students in grades 6 to12 who specialize in solos, duets and group numbers.
Now in her fourth-year of teaching, Carter reflects on her time as a student and the thrill of becoming a Teaching Artist. As a student, Carter’s time at the Education Center ignited her passion for the arts. Today she is excited to share that passion with her students, while cultivating their talents and creating an encouraging environment and solid foundation for them. She wants them to experience growth in their artistry and spread the love of the arts the same way her teachers did for her when she was their age.
“It’s great to see how the Rose Minaci Center has evolved from this small program into this major place for arts in only 10 years,” Carter said. “Even going into COVID, we had to adapt from the spacing, the costumes and all other logistics, so just seeing the opportunities that have come through since then, such as the MTI Pilot Production Program and the Teen Ambassadors Program, feels like a big accomplishment. I’m happy to see that the next generation gets to experience all of this.”
Carter is also a proponent of the Broward Center’s award-winning Student Enrichment through the Arts (SEAS) program that has been expanded to include SEAS From a Distance, as well as pre-and post-show SEAS Plus Workshops, which provide creative connections between the show’s themes and content and teacher’s curriculum and standards. Adult classes have also expanded, with those up to 80 years of old taking classes and showcasing their talents.
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information visit BrowardCenter.org, like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BrowardCenter and Facebook.com/BrowardCenterEducation, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BrowardCenter, subscribe to our channel at YouTube.com/user/BrowardCenter and join the conversation with #BrowardCenter.
The Broward Center 2024/2025 season is supported by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation, AutoNation, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Spirit and Nicklaus Children’s Health System.
About The Broward Center for the Performing Arts
One of America’s premier performing arts venues, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts presents more than 850 performances each year to more than 600,000 patrons, displaying a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events. Guest experiences at the Broward Center include the all-inclusive Spirit Club Level, the Nicklaus Children’s Health System Intermezzo Lounge, special events in the Huizenga Pavilion, waterfront dining at Marti’s New River Bistro and innovative classes and workshops for all ages at the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center. With one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the United States, the Broward Center serves more than 100,000 students annually. The Broward Center also manages The Parker, an iconic Fort Lauderdale venue, the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center on the campus of Nova Southeastern University and the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center in Miami-Dade County. The Broward Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. receives and maintains funds to sustain, develop and secure the future of the Broward Center. The Broward Center is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale, FL. For more information, visit BrowardCenter.org.
