Spanish-Bilingual Program

Through theatre, students strengthen Spanish language skills, build confidence, and celebrate their cultural identities; all while becoming part of a supportive ensemble and discovering their artistic abilities.

Our Program

As part of our mission to provide fully-accessible programming to San Francisco youth, SFYT offers classes available in Spanish or Bilingual Spanish-English. Creating art in one’s home language can open and deepen creative possibilities.

Classes are taught by teaching artists who are Spanish-native speakers, fostering cultural sensitivity, and connecting with students socially, linguistically and emotionally.

Our Classes

In-School:

10-week to full school-year workshop in Spanish or Spanish-English bilingual. Available during or after school.

  • Early Education:

    • Teatro para bebés (Theatre for Babies): Guided sensory play in Spanish

  • Pre-K/TK/ K:

    • Cuento Teatro (Story Theatre): Story- based guided play in Spanish

  • Elementary:

    • Teatro en Español (Theatre in Spanish): Theatre class fully in Spanish for elementary-aged students. Every class is tailored to each classroom’s needs.

      • Improv Route: Students learn about the basic rules of improv to engage in bilingual creative games, songs, storytelling, and improv performance. Class ends with an in-class or open-to-the-public improv demonstration.

      • Performance Route: Students learn about the basic elements of theatre based on their age level. One third of the session is focused on skill acquisition and 2 thirds in an age-appropriate rehearsal process. Class ends with an in-class or open-to-the-public play presentation based on a picture book, Latin American folktale, or original script made by the youth. This class is recommended for a session of at least one semester.

      • Social Emotional Route: Students engage in theatre inspired game, songs, and activities to tackle teambuilding, emotion regulation, bilingual pride, and enhance self-esteem. This class is designed along with school or CBO staff to better address the students’ specific needs.

  • Teens:

    • Power Plays Voces Para Todes: Students develop short 5-15 minute plays with peers to present to an audience in a Short-play Festival format.

    • Actuación en Español: Acting class in Spanish or Spanish-English, where youth discover acting techniques and general theatre knowledge. Performance Route & Improv Route available.

On-site

  • Teatro en Español: Theatre class fully in Spanish for elementary-aged students. We have a winter and a spring session, and they both end with a public presentation in Spanish that highlights a Latin American folktale or a picture book in Spanish.

  • Actuación en Español para Jóvenes: (TBD) Theatre class fully in Spanish for middle school youth.