Each year in February, Black History Month, and continuing in March, WBTT’s Jazzlinks program brings songs and stories that explore the history and culture of African Americans to high schoolers throughout Sarasota County.
Grants are available to classroom teachers who want to have the lively Jazzlinks program come to their school in a live performance and their classroom via a prerecorded session accessed online followed by a live in-school performance. Teachers can also participate in an interactive online workshop via Zoom. Learn about the grant opportunities through EdExploreSarasota.
Jazzlinks Frequently Asked Questions
Jazzlinks is an integrated arts experience illustrating the role of African Americans in U.S. history through music and theatre. Actors visit schools, become iconic figures in Black history and culture, and share their stories — including instances of discrimination they encountered. They also respond to questions from students. A culminating performance brings the full ensemble to each school, featuring a vibrant show of music, dance, poetry and helpful curricular information.
Jazzlinks was developed through a collaboration of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, The Jazz Club of Sarasota, and Sarasota County Schools. The program is sponsored by the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Gulf Coast Community Foundation and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts & Culture.
Each school year, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s Director of Education and Assistant Artistic Director Jim Weaver works with Sarasota County Schools curriculum specialists to prepare the content for students and ensure that it meets Florida’s state education standards, focusing on “document-based questions,” an approach that requires students to use their own knowledge and several historical sources to develop an essay or series of short-answer questions.
Jazzlinks’ themes have included the Harlem Renaissance, the flowering of African American art, music and literature in the early 20th century; the desegregation of the military during World War II and the Civil Rights Movement, the fight for social justice and equality for Black Americans in the mid- to late-20th century. Additional themes will be developed and presented in future years
The benefits of integrated arts experiences have been well-proven — higher achievement occurs because students become more engaged in their learning and retain the content longer. In addition, Jazzlinks brings arts instruction and a performance to some students who haven’t participated in the arts since sixth grade. Students also gain unique insight into the African American experience, which isn’t typically covered in the traditional curriculum.
Teaching materials, prepared by curriculum specialists, are available to help illuminate the struggles and triumphs of African Americans. For more information about the curriculum materials or to arrange for Jazzlinks performers to appear in your school, contact Jim Weaver at jweaver@westcoastblacktheatre.org