The Young Artists’ Academy finds qualified experts to teach the arts to multicultural children from all socioeconomic backgrounds throughout Greater Baton Rouge and Denham Springs. Our kids take weekly classes in the arts and even put on a big gala at the end of the year.
The Young Artists’ Academy (YAA) is a community non-profit organization in Denham Springs. Initially, YAA was set up to provide free training in the arts to children from underserved areas of the parish.
Today, classes in the arts are open to all children.
On Saturdays, throughout the school year, kids from ages 5-18 learn dance, voice, guitar, drums, piano, art, French, and the culinary arts.
YAA kids have a number of performance opportunities throughout the year. They’ve performed at local Christmas events and at a local Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration.
And each year, at the annual YAA Gala, the kids get the chance to sing and dance in front of an audience. They have even had the opportunity to sing with the Denham Springs Gospel Choir!
To see what art classes are coming up and have a child you know participate follow the YAA Facebook page. Remember, our classes in the arts are open to everyone in the Denham Springs community, so please join us!
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.”
~ PSALM 37:3
Meet our Young Artists’ Academy Directors:
Justin Jett, Co-Director, Acting Instructor
Justin has been involved in acting, writing, and music for over 25 years. He studied at LSU and SELU, taught acting for over 5 years, performed concerts and live music for more than 10 years, plays multiple instruments, has written over 10 original scripts for performed shows, among many other professional accomplishments.
Meg Walker, Co-Director, Dance Instructor
Meg has been involved with the performing arts studying ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary dance with acting and vocal for over 25 years. She has performed and worked with ballet and theater companies throughout Baton Rouge, Hammond, New Orleans, and Denham Springs, and within the independent film industry throughout southeast Louisiana.
Meg studied for her B.F.A. in Musical Theatre at the NYC campus of the American Musical & Dramatic Academy before serving as Lead Choreographer at The Dance Company in French Settlement (2008-2011), then as the Director of Dance at Leaps & Bounds Sports Center from 2011 to 2016. In 2016, she co-founded Serenity Academy of Performing Arts in Denham Springs, serving as the Artistic Director and Lead Instructor until stepping down in 2020.
Throughout her teaching career, Meg has written, directed, choreographed, and produced over a dozen productions for children and adults.
You Can Support The Young Artists’ Academy
Any support you can give to the Young Artists’ Academy of Denham Springs will be greatly appreciated.
- Enroll a child in The YAA
- Donate to The YAA
- Provide a scholarship for a child
- Teach our precious YAA a life lesson
- Pray for The YAA
- Consider implementing a YAA program in your church
If you would like to help these amazing children or enroll your own child(ren) into The Young Artists’ Academy, please contact us.
Part of Kindness Keepers Ministries
Kindness Keepers is a community non-profit organization in Denham Springs that oversees four local missions birthed at Luke that focus on improving the lives of children and their families. YAA is one of these four missions.
You can keep up with everything happening at YAA by following them on The Young Artists’ Academy Facebook Page.
