J-Term
For the first three weeks of January each year, J-Term replaces a student’s regularly scheduled academic and arts classes. Students are immersed in daily rehearsals for an arts performance project. J-Term is considered a “how to rehearse” class, giving all students an opportunity to be in a formal rehearsal process. Rehearsals culminate with one or more workshop-style performances for family and peers. J-Term endeavors to replicate the professional experience, introduce students to professional venues and artists, and engages students in the artistic energy of rehearsals/performances under the direction of SPCPA faculty and/or guest professional artists. J-Term is an important part of our training.
J-Term is curricular and required as part of SPCPA’s regular academic year. Students earn a full credit for successful participation; grades are Pass or Fail. Students are required to attend daily rehearsals and performances; participation is not optional. The school’s attendance policies do apply to J-Term, but on a condensed scale: two (2) unexcused absences during J-Term puts a student in jeopardy of not passing J-Term. Parents/Guardians are still responsible for reporting attendance matters (Attendance Hotline: 651-222-3200, press 1 to skip ahead to the beep).
When one creative door closes, another opens — and this one opens right here in Saint Paul!
While we'll no longer be able to offer the Nature Writing Project, we’re thrilled to announce its replacement for J-Term 2026 – Emerging Voices: The Five-Minute Play Festival, created in partnership with the world-renowned The Playwrights' Center, which just opened its stunning new space in Saint Paul.
Students will dive into the art of playwriting in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Guided by a professional artist affiliated with the Playwrights’ Center, students will explore character, dialogue, and structure as they develop their own original five-minute plays.
The project will culminate in a workshop-style staged reading at the Playwrights’ Center, where students will share their new works in front of a live audience.
We’re so grateful to the Playwrights’ Center for stepping in at the last minute to make this exciting opportunity possible — and can’t wait to see what stories our emerging voices create!
#SPCPA #JTerm2026 #PlaywrightsCenter #EmergingVoices #StudentWriters #pwcenter #spcpajterm … See MoreSee Less
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Wowza……I want to take that J-Term! Bravo SPCPA for making it happen!!
fabulous!
J-Term choreographer #4: Herb Johnson III & Mia Johnson!
McKnight Fellow, Herb Johnson III, Aka JDot Tight Eyez, graduated from Perpich Center for the Performing Arts in 2010 and studied 3 years at the Lundstrum Center for Arts. He currently choreographs for Timberwolves Entertainment 612 Crew. Professional work includes iLuminate from America’s Got Talent, Choreographing T-Pain halftime for NBA Abu Dhabi games 2023 and SuperBowl 52 half-time Show 2018 with Justin Timberlake.
Co- Choreographer and SPCPA alum, Mia Johnson, is a versatile dance artist who began dancing in hip hop & street styles and is an alum of TU Dance, SPCPA. Mia graduated with a B.A. in Dance from the University of Minnesota. She was a member of hip hop collective “S.H.E.- She Who Holds Everything” under directors Al Taw’am and freelance performer in productions such as “Mixtape” and “Rooted: A Hip Hop Choreographer’s Evening” in which Mia also premiered a self-choreographed piece. She continues training, battling, performing, creating & teaching, largely within the style of KRUMP.
The piece will rehearse at TU Dance and perform at the Barbara Barker Center for Dance. The 2026 J-Term Google Site goes live to SPCPA families this Friday!
#spcpajterm #spcpa #dance #spcpadance #saintpaulconservatory … See MoreSee Less
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Represent king 👑
Excellent 🔥🔥🔥
J-Term Announcement #13: FROM JAM TO GIG.
Ever wondered what it’s like to take an idea and turn it into a live performance? This J-Term, join SPCPA teacher and professional musician, Chris Hepola, to form a band, create original music, and take the stage at MetroNOME Brewery for two performances, January 24 & 25!
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We are thrilled to announce that Alex Eady will serve as one of the choreographers for this year’s J-Term Dance Concert, which will take place at the Barbara Barker Center for Dance at the University of Minnesota.
Alex is a dedicated educator who continues to teach at SPCPA, while also building a distinguished career as a performer and creator. She is a longtime company member with Ananya Dance Theatre and has collaborated with a wide range of artists and organizations. In addition to choreographing, Alex will also be producing this year’s J-Term Concert, bringing her artistry and vision to the SPCPA stage. We can’t wait to share Alex’s work with our community this January!
More about Alex: alexandraeady.com/
Photo by Canaan Mattson
#spcpa #spcpajterm #saintpaulconservatory #dance #barbarabarkercenterfordance … See MoreSee Less
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Yes Alex!
Go Alex!!!!
Yeah, Alex 🙌🏿🙌🏿
J-Term Announcement #11: IN THE GALLERY WITH INTERACT. For three weeks at Interact Center for Visual and Performing Arts, SPCPA students will collaborate with Interact artists to create original works for public exhibition in Interact's brand new and beautiful gallery. This residency invites students into an active gallery environment where process and product intertwine, culminating in a final showcase that reflects both individual voices and collective vision.
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J-Term Announcement #10: BY FANG, TOOTH, AND CLAW: a Journey By Fang, Tooth, and Claw: a Journey Through Nature
In this immersive creative writing project, students will write while enmeshed for a couple of days week one of J-Term in the natural world at the Dodge Nature Center, exploring poetry, creative nonfiction, and short fiction alongside SPCPA creative writing teacher Alice Paige. Students will craft a cohesive, collaborative writing project to be performed at the Nature Center on January 23rd at noon and 2pm, exploring the interplay between environment, imagination, and voice.
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