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Greetings!
We welcome the merry month of May today! As the weather improves, many of our offerings will find a home in the great outdoors. For instance, our McLean Day festival is just a few weeks away! In the meantime, we still have lots of great activities to keep you occupied. See details below.
Absentee Balloting for the Governing Board Election is officially under way! Request your ballot. See details below.
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MCC Governing Board
Upcoming Meetings
50th Anniversary Committee
Wednesday, May 8 6:30 p.m.
Elections & Nominations Committee
Wednesday, May 15, 5:30 p.m.
Governing Board Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, May 22, 6:30 p.m.
All Governing Board meetings are open to the public.
Tax district residents (Small District One A-Dranesville) who wish to speak during the “Public Comment” portion of the monthly board meeting are welcome to do so while attending the meeting, or may call the center in advance at 703-790-0123, TTY: 711, to be placed on the speakers’ list.
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2024 Macdonald Scholarship Competition
Twelve young local artists were awarded 2024 James C. Macdonald Performing Arts Scholarship by the McLean Community Center. The annual scholarship competition began with preliminary auditions in February and culminated with a final competition on stage at The Alden on Wednesday, April 17.
The James C. Macdonald Performing Arts Scholarship Competition encourages artistic achievement and promotes study in the arts by high school students who reside or attend school in the McLean district (Small Tax District 1A, Dranesville). Scholarship prizes of $1,200 are awarded to students placing first in each of four categories: Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater and Vocal Music. Second-place winners are awarded $800 and third-place winners win $400. In 2020, the 1st place Instrumental Music Award was named in honor of Anita Lamkin, a longtime friend of young musicians and supporter of music performances in McLean.
This year’s winners are:
Dance
First Place: Melina Turnage, McLean High School
Second Place: Yunseo Lee, McLean High School
Third Place: Sophie Zhang, McLean High School
Instrumental Music
First Place: Lea Kung, McLean High School
Second Place: Sophia Lin, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Tech.
Third Place: Ryan Chun, McLean High School
Theater
First Place: Samantha Carey, McLean High School
Second Place: Aashna Kapur, McLean High School
Third Place: Abby Joe, Langley High School
Vocal Music
First Place: Alex Valencic, McLean High School
Second Place: Kasimir Rastogi, Langley High School Choir
Third Place: Valentina Sedan, McLean High School
Photo: MCC Governing Board Vice-Chair Kristina Groennings (second from left) with 2024 Macdonald Scholarship winners.
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Here Comes Summer (Camps) | |
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MCC Summer Camps
Sign Your Child Up Now!
Fitness Fun Camp
This camp focuses on core and balance training, improved flexibility, strength conditioning and cardiorespiratory improvement. Suited for both recreational and competitive athletes, this camp aims to help individuals meet their personal fitness goals and achieve their maximum capabilities. Camp will introduce key practices that young athletes should incorporate into their daily routines to build both physical and mental strength. Exercises and training techniques include: all body strength workouts, core strengthening, agility training, mindfulness and breathing and flexibility enhancement through yoga. Instructor: Emily Weeks.
5-8 years
5 lessons @ 3 hrs, $184/$168 MCC district residents
1663.124 M-F, 8/5-8/9 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Teen Dance Camp
This camp is for teenagers who would like to keep up with their technique over the summer while exploring all genres of dance. We will focus on a variety of disciplines each day to make sure students experience all forms of dance. Styles include ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical and musical theater. The week will conclude with a fabulous showcase where dancers will share with their parents everything they’ve learned throughout this fun-filled dancing week! Instructor: Art In Motion Dance Staff.
13+ years
5 lessons @ 3 hrs, $184/$168 MCC district residents
1709.124 M-F, 7/29-8/2 1-4 p.m.
Cooking, Manners, and Etiquette Mini-Camp
Sign up now for this highly popular and effective etiquette class. On day one, students prepare a variety of foods, then sit and enjoy the rewards of their labor all the while discussing the concepts and rules of manners and etiquette. On day two, students will dine and share a four-course meal served to them restaurant style, while the teens’ dining etiquette is critiqued by the instructor in
a lively and productive manner. Instructor: Chef Joel Olson.
Day One: Vegetable and White Bean Minestrone with Garlic Bread Sticks; Three Cheese Calzones with Fresh Tomato Sauce; Scandinavian Sugar Cookies. Common Courtesy; Manners and Etiquette 101; Guest and Host.
Day Two: Bread and Butter Basket; Corn and Potato Chowder; Garden Salad with Homemade Dressing; Spinach and Cheese Strudel with Creamy Lemon Velouté; Herbed Rice Pilaf; Vegetable Side Dish; Fresh Fruit Napoleons. Manners and Etiquette 102. Recipes and handouts will be presented at the end of Class Two.
8-12 years
2 lessons @ 2 hrs, $118/$108 MCC district residents
1306.124 W-Th, 7/17-7/18 5-7 p.m.
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Look Who's Coming to The Alden | |
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Presented by The Alden
Kids & Families Series
“Alice: Dreaming of Wonderland”
Thursday, May 2, 6 p.m.
$20/$17 seniors/$15 MCC district residents
Based on the classic by Lewis Carroll, “Alice” is an action-packed theatrical circus full of surprises, amazing acts, video projection with 3-D mapping and live music. Imagine the March Hare balancing on a tower of chairs during a tea party of The Mad Hatter playing crazy instruments or Alice performing acrobatics inside a giant keyhole! “Dreaming of Wonderland” features an international cast of veteran performers from across Europe and North America, including acrobats, a four-member hand-to-hand balancing act, a one-man band and a magician who makes art from smoke and bubbles.
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Presented By Dark Horse Theatre Company and (the) Unruly Theatre Project
Improvicon
Saturday, May 4, 7 p.m.
$20/$15 MCC district residents
This event is a real deal competition of multiple improv groups throughout Northern Virginia. The show features audience participation and the hottest NOVA improv comedy groups!! Who will walk away with the title of Improvicon champion of 2024? This show will likely sell out, so get your tickets early.
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Presented by The Alden
Foreign Language Film
“Parasite”
(South Korea; Directed by Bong Joon-Ho)
Two showings!
Wednesday, May 8, 6:30 p.m. and
Thursday, May 9, 1 p.m.
Free admission
Greed and class discrimination threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan. Shown in Korean with English subtitles. Cannes and Oscar winner. Rated R.
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Presented by The Alden
Upcoming Show
(the) Unruly Theatre Project
Friday, May 10, 7-8 p.m.
Free admission
Come enjoy a night of laughs on us! (the) Unruly Improv is The Alden’s professional teen improv company dedicated to bringing comedic performances to the community. UTP won 1st place at Improvicon of Northern Virginia in both 2022 and 2023—and were the only teen group competing.
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Deadline to Request Absentee Ballots Approaching | |
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MCC Governing Board Election Four Adult, Two Teen Positions Available
Fifteen District Residents Have Qualified to Run for Seats on McLean Community Center’s Governing Board
McLean Community Center (MCC) has certified 15 Dranesville Small District 1A residents, 10 adults and five teens, to run for seats on the McLean Community Center Governing Board.
Vote for the MCC Governing Board
Now until Monday, May 13, 5 p.m.
Absentee Balloting is now under way! Residents may vote in-person or by mail. To obtain a ballot for your household, you may pick up one at the center, fill out the online ballot request form, phone 703-744-9348 or send an email to elections@mcleancenter.org. Absentee balloting ends on Monday, May 13, at 5 p.m. All absentee ballots must be received at MCC by 5 p.m. to be counted.
DEADLINE: The deadline for requesting absentee ballots online is Wednesday, May 8, to ensure that ballots mailed back to MCC will be received by the deadline, Monday, May 13. District residents may pick up absentee ballots in person at the center up until 5 p.m. on Monday, May 13. They may also vote in person on Friday, May 17, from 4-8 p.m. at McLean Day T.G.I.F. Carnival Rides, or on Saturday, May 18, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the McLean Day festival.
Request a ballot and view candidate statements.
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It's Still the Place to Be! | |
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Special Events
Join Us at McLean Day 2024
McLean Day T.G.I.F. Carnival Rides
Friday, May 17, 2-10 p.m.
Lewinsville Park, 1659 Chain Bridge Rd. Come enjoy the carnival rides and games on the Friday before the full McLean Day festival! Ride tickets sold onsite and online.
McLean Day Festival
Saturday, May 18, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
1659 Chain Bridge Rd. McLean, Va. 22101
Free admission
Need some family fun? Come to McLean’s biggest annual festival! Great music, gourmet food trucks, games, 100+ exhibitors, sponsors, giveaways, balloon animals, magician, petting zoo, amusements, large and small carnival rides and much more. Dranesville Small District 1A residents can vote for their favorite MCC Governing Board candidates. This event draws approximately 10,000+ patrons throughout the day. Ride tickets sold onsite and in advance online. The festival will be held rain or shine.
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McLean Project for the Arts | |
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Spring Solo Exhibitions Now Open
The next time you’re at the MCC, take a few minutes to come upstairs and see our three new Spring Solo exhibitions. And mark your calendars for our Saturday, June 1, 11 a.m. Artist Talk; and our Tuesday, June 4, 11 a.m. Tea & Talk presentation with Artistic Director and Curator, Nancy Sausser.
In the Emerson Gallery:
Toys in the Hands of History: Paintings by Osvaldo Mesa
Return to the Library of L.E. Grothaus: Altered Books by Laura Grothaus
Osvaldo Mesa taps into his hybrid experience as an Afro-Cuban artist to make paintings that combine an exploration of western painting traditions (Medieval, Baroque, Surrealism and Abstraction) with ideas and objects from African spirituality.
Laura Grothaus exhibits a series of altered books that offer the viewer a chance to build their own story from the contents contained. Drawing on the history of the book as an object, ideas about place, personal identity, folklore, nature, and religion, and also her work as an educator and activist, she has created works that spark imagination and connection.
In the Atrium Gallery:
Inner Gardens: Works by Abol Bahador
In his Inner Gardens series Abol Bahadori creates layered mixed media works that embrace the dichotomy and contradictions that comprise reality. His dynamic, electric images glow with energy as they highlight inner and outer landscapes that are both recognizable and unfamiliar.
MPA's Atrium Gallery is available for viewing during MCC operating hours. The Emerson Gallery is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10am-4pm. Learn more at mpaart.org
New Summer Portfolio Class for Teens and Adults!
And Open Studio and Layered Paper Workshops Return for Spring
A NEW Portfolio Building Studio class will be offered on six Saturdays this Summer to give students the opportunity to build their portfolios with the guidance of our instructor. Students will be offered critiques of their work as well as studio time to work on projects or with mediums missing in their portfolios. Available for students ages 13 through adult. Learn more and register at https://mpaart.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/mpaart/event.jsp?event=4482&
MPA's Open Studio sessions are running again for spring with sessions on Tuesdays, 6-8:30pm (April 9-May 28) and Saturdays, 10:30am-1:30pm (April 27-June 8). Attendees can register for the full session or pay a drop-in fee of $20/class. Learn more about Open Studio at https://mpaart.org/education/art-classes/ And if you're looking for a one-day art experience, we're offering one more Layered Paper Workshop, The Beach, on Sun., May 19, 1-4pm. Learn more at https://mpaart.org/mpa-classes-workshops-for-adults/
Summer Art Camp Registration is Filling Fast
Summer will be here soon, and popular weeks of our Summer Art Camps are filling fast! Don't miss the opportunity for your kids to spend a fun and imaginative week in both half-day or full-day camp sessions for ages 6-13. Taught by experienced classroom art teachers in our Emerson Gallery and DuVal Studio, camps begin the week of June 24 and continue through the week of August 5. Learn more about the exciting weekly themes and projects at https://mpaart.org/mpa-classes-workshops-for-youth/. And for younger kids, Abrakadoodle half-day camps for preschoolers are also offered again this summer, as well as Counselor in Training opportunities for teens. See mpaart.org for more information.
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© 2024 McLean Community Center.
All Rights Reserved.
Phone: 703-790-0123 TTY: 711
| *ADA Accommodations and financial assistance are available. Please contact MCC 14 working days prior to the start of the activity or event you would like to attend. | |
Copyright © 2024. All Rights Reserved. | | | | |
