Brett Batterson on how the performing arts can help heal a child’s grief

By Brett Batterson, Executive Director
Published by Chicago Sun Times at http://atru.org/17JQIOh

On a bright, sunny June day when I was 7 years old, I received news that would change my life forever. I was playing on the front stoop of a neighbor’s house when a big, black car pulled up in front. Out stepped two men who proceeded to inform my mother, my two brothers and me that my father had suffered a sudden heart attack and was dead. He was 30 years old. So was my mother.

This is a story that can be told by countless children on a daily basis in America. Parents die and children are left fatherless or motherless. While this loss always leads to confusion, hurt and sadness in the children it affects, it can also lead to much worse symptoms like depression, aggression and feelings of unworthiness.

Luckily, I had an outlet that allowed me to channel my grief into a positive, healing direction: my involvement in the performing arts. The healing power of creative play gave me the confidence to express myself, the essential support of friendship I needed and an outlet for my sadness.

As I got older and found myself in a position to do so, I decided I wanted to give children who had lost a parent the same benefits I had participating in the performing arts. That’s why I started “Hands Together, Heart to Art” nine summers ago at the AuditoriumTheatre of Roosevelt University. This one-of-a-kind, award-winning day camp has helped more than 700 children who have experienced tragic loss heal through participation in music, theatre and dance. In addition, the camp provides access to healing counselors and caring, trained adults who guide the children through their camp days.

Let me tell you the story of one camper named Peter. Peter and his father were very close and spent a lot of time together, going to Sox games and fishing for bream in their favorite pond in the suburbs. But one day, Peter’s father was stopped by the police for a routine traffic violation. Peter’s father reached into his pocket for his cell phone and the police thought he was going for a gun. They shot him dead.

Peter came to us a broken young man, and said to us, “I don’t know how I can go on.” We worried about Peter. We worked with Peter. He found his place in dance class. He talked to the healing counselors. And he heard other kids’ stories and found out he wasn’t alone.

Peter returned to camp for three straight years and gained more confidence every year. He has become a fine young man with plans to attend college after he graduates high school. He asked me if I would write him a letter of recommendation for his application when the time comes. I was happy to say yes.

We have seen dozens of Peters at camp. It is their stories that drive us. And it is their growth as individuals that inspire us. It has been an enormously gratifying experience for me to know that these children are growing better thanks to our help, and that their stories may one day turn out to be as happy as my own, despite the shared loss we all experienced.

We have two camp sessions this July. All children are welcome; we have never turned a child away because of an inability to pay. This camp is for children who need it, not just for those who can afford it.

If you know of a child between the ages of 7 and 14 who would benefit from “Hands Together, Heart to Art,” please call (312) 341-2353 or visit Auditoriumtheatre.org. Your call could make all the difference in the course of a life for a young person who has experienced this all-too-common tragic loss.

Hands Together for Children Who Have Suffered a Loss

Our award winning camp for children who have experienced the death of a parent, Hands Together, Heart to Art, came to a close on July 29^th. As I reflect back on our very successful 7^th summer, I thought it might be nice to share a few of my magical camp moments:

5. Talent Shows. Our talent shows carried a Hollywood glamour theme this year. The range of talent was so broad: piano players, singers, dancers, improv skits, visual artists, and even joke tellers! Just about all of the campers participated in the talent show this year and encouraged each other to do something unique. One of the best things I saw this summer happened after a camper finished singing Katy Perry’s “Firework” song: another camper told her how good she sounded and she replied, “Thanks, I’m excited to hear your song too!” The support they showed for each other was awesome!

4. HTHTA JCs and Staff. The Hands Together staff is an amazing group of people who care very deeply about our campers and their experience at camp. Camp can be a pretty emotional place and our staff must be open and compassionate in addition to having a lot of experience working with kids. They are a constant source of inspiration for me in the summer and a fantastic group of people. And while there are a lot of tears shed at camp, there are a lot of laughs too! This year, our Junior Counselor program welcomed of 7 former campers to work hand-in-hand with our staff members. They were such a helpful group of young adults – and they made us very proud!

3. Balloon Launches. During the second week of each camp session, our campers are invited to write a note to their deceased patent(s). It is always an emotionally difficult day for the campers and staff, but it is also a tremendously powerful and cathartic event. Our campers were especially supportive of each other this year – campers were holding hands, hugging, and sticking together as we released the balloons into the sky. It was truly amazing to see how close to each other they became in such a short amount of time.

2. Final Shows. Our final shows are the culmination of the campers work and a celebration of their time with us. This year, we explored the theme “Why We Tell the Story”. Using fables as a guide, our campers explored why keeping memories and stories alive is so important. Their performance was uplifting, inspiring, touching, and very moving. Many of our campers have never experienced a class in theatre, music, or dance, but somehow by the end of the two week session even the most shy camper is on stage and wearing a huge smile. Our success is not in how well a song is sung or dance is perfected; our success is in those smiles!

1. Our campers. We are a truly unique camp for truly unique kids. Our campers participate in small group activities facilitated by professional healing counselors where they are able to express and share their feelings in a safe time and place. Simultaneously, campers develop self-expression, emotional growth, and communication though participating in performing arts classes. This year, our campers came from areas all over the city and surrounding suburbs. We enrolled 102 children in our 2011 camp. Due to the generous support of our sponsors and individual donors, we are able to keeping tuition low ($50 per child) but sometimes that’s not enough - we are proud to have the support to provide full scholarships for approximately 67% of the 2011 campers.

We will begin planning for our 8^th summer very soon so please help us extend the healing power of creative play® by referring appropriate children to our program. If you know of any children who have suffered the loss of a parent and can benefit from this program, please share this information with that child’s guardian. Applications (in English and Spanish) and forms for 2012 will be available in March and can be downloaded online at www.hthta.org.

Registation Now Open for Hands Together, Heart to Art: Summer Camp for Children Who Have Experienced the Death of a Parent

Now that spring has officially sprung, Chicagoans can dare to dream of stirring from hibernation as we get a little closer to the illusive Chicago summer. I am one of those “live for summer” people so the arrival of spring means we’ve actually turned a corner. I happen to think all the best things happen in the summer months: acceptable overindulgence in ice cream, my birthday (though that one gets less and less exciting for some reason), street festivals, running in 5ks, taking in a leisurely glass or two of a great sauvignon blanc, and attending shows like the Beach Boys and The All New Original Tribute to the Blues Brothers™ at the Auditorium Theatre. Yet, even with all the fun I have during the summer months, the thing I find most enjoyable, most exciting and most challenging about my summer is Hands Together, Heart to Art (HTHTA) camp run by our Department of Creative Engagement.

Photo of the day - balloon launch

On Wednesday, our Hands Together, Heart to Art campers wrote messages to the parents they had lost and tied them to balloons. The campers and counselors then walked to Buckingham Fountain, where the campers released their messages.

Photo by Beth Bullock.

If Louis and Dankmar could see us now!

For the month of July, our lobby is the lunchroom for hungry campers and their counselors and teaching artists!

Hands Together, Heart to Art, our performing arts day camp designed especially for children who have experienced the death of a parent, is in full swing. This session features 40 campers ages 7-11. These energetic kids are dancing, acting, singing and preparing for their final performance, sure to be a treat. Along the way, they are talking with adults who also lost parents as children and making new friends.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository is generously providing our campers with balanced, nutritious lunches - which they are enjoying in what might be the only camp cafeteria designed by Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan!

Photo: Auditorium staff prepares for the ravenous campers!

You Can Help Us Make A Difference in a Child's Life!

Each summer, the Auditorium hosts a special performing arts summer camp especially for children ages 7-14 who have experienced the death of a parent. This summer marks the fifth year of HTHTA, and our first year at our new site in the Quad Cities, allowing us to reach even more children!

Even though our expenses exceed $1500 per child, we only charge $50 per camper (and many campers receive scholarships!) Obviously, we rely on a large number of generous donors and sponsors to make up the difference. If you would like to join our family of supporters, you can donate here or call 312.922.2110 ext 368. Every little bit helps!

Brett Batterson Receives State Farm Embrace Life Award for HTHTA

Our Executive Director received the State Farm Embrace Life award on Tuesday! The award included a $10,000 donation to our Hands Together, Heart to Art summer camp.


Join State Farm in supporting our campers, who have all experienced the death of a parent. Help us provide them a safe and supportive opportunity to be with other children who have experienced a similar loss - click here or call 312.922.2110 ext 368 to make a donation to HTHTA.

Hands Together, Heart to Art Enrollment Continues

Our education department is excited to report that applications for this summer's Hands Together, Heart to Art day camp are coming in daily!

HTHTA is a very special, unique program for children ages 7-14 who have experienced the death of a parent. Click here to learn more about the program.

If you know of a child who could benefit from HTHTA and would like information, please call 312.922.2110 ext 353 or email education@auditoriumtheatre.org.

Now Enrolling for HANDS TOGETHER, HEART TO ART Summer Camp

Enrollment is now open for the 5th year of our unique summer camp program, Hands Together, Heart to Art. HTHTA is a two-week performing arts day camp for children ages 7-14 who have experienced the death of a parent.

Using several areas of the performing arts, the program encourages communication, fosters emotional growth and provides the consolation of friendship and compassion. Through interaction with other children who have experienced a similar loss, campers understand they are not alone in their situation. Camp activities encourage team building, self-esteem, consciousness and problem solving.

If you know a child who would benefit from HTHTA, please call 312.922.2110 ext 353 or visit http://www.hthta.org/ for information and to download a brochure.

2009 Camp Dates:

Chicago (Roosevelt University):

July 6-17 (ages 7-11)

July 20-31 (ages 10-14)

NEW LOCATION - Moline (Western Illinois University):

August 3-14 (ages 7-14)

Camper Carried Away By Balloon

Before the balloon launch on Wednesday afternoon, local camper Fajr Jaco was carried away by her balloon. According to bystanders, she floated all the way to the ceiling of the Congress Lounge before stopping. One relieved counselor commented, “Thank goodness this happened before we went outdoors!”

Jaco is known for being one of our most diminutive campers, and apparently her balloon was oversized and filled with fresh helium. A rogue updraft caused by the commotion of the other campers running around with their balloons caused Fajr’s balloon to take flight suddenly, carrying Fajr in tow.

Luckily, a couple of tall staff members at Hands Together, Heart to Art were able to retrieve the girl and the balloon from the ceiling. Thankfully, Fajr was completely unharmed as was her big pink balloon. Once she was back on terra firma, Fajr cried, “Again! Again!” Strangely, none of the other campers were hoisted aloft by their balloons.

Before heading outside to Buckingham Fountain, camp authorities had to weight Fajr’s feet with two bricks. According to one camp counselor who asked to remain anonymous, Fajr was the slowest camper heading to the lake, but was arguably one of the cutest.

Once the balloons were released, Fajr’s was one of the first to reach the clouds, according to an account from a Chicago pigeon.

Fajr now dreams of becoming a pilot or hot air balloonist. We all hope, whatever Fajr does in the future, that she wears a parachute.

Making the World More Beautiful

On Monday, campers expressed their creative and artistic sides through the medium of incredibly messy pastel crayons. Visual artists Barb Davis and her daughter Liz provided the drawing utensils, aprons, and large sheets of white paper.

The campers, whose project was to draw a self portrait, provided the genius. Each drawing was unique unto the artists’ skills, as well as appearance. While some campers attempted to draw pictures resembling themselves, others drew pictures of locations and things that they liked.

From hotdogs and rainbows to places and faces, each picture stood out from the rest. After all the beautiful portraits were completed, they were all posted for display on the wall in the Congress Lounge. Campers did not leave empty handed, though. The wide variety of pastel colors left on the children’s clothes and hands was a reminder of all the hard work that was put into these pictures.

SPECIAL REPORT - Local Camper Attacked by Alligator

On Thursday afternoon, sources report that local camper Keilani Williams was attacked by a rogue alligator in Room 226.

How the alligator entered the university in downtown Chicago, made it to the second floor, and managed to ambush the camper in question, we may never know. The alligator was reported to be unusually diminutive, with a fuzzy coat, rather than the more common scales. Its back legs may also be missing.

When questioned about the event, Williams yelled, “Ha ha ha!” Clearly, the seriousness of the situation had gone to her head.

The alligator, which may in fact be a puppet, escaped the classroom in a plastic bin at the end of rehearsal. The whereabouts of the fierce beast are, as yet, sketchy. Local authorities and camp administrators suspect that the alligator might surface later today at the camp talent show. Be there at 3pm in the Congress Lounge — and bring a net!

Stories to Grow From

The second session of HTHTA began on July 28, with campers ages 7-10. Stay tuned to discover different camp activities during Session 2.

Campers were almost finished with their first day of camp, and there couldn’t have been a more perfect way to tame their raging excitement than to listen to stories from professional story teller Susan O’Halleron. Susan has appeared on T.V. and radio shows and has been published several times. Susan shared many stories with the campers, each one with an enlightening message to help campers deal with loss.

The first story she told was about a butterfly that was removed from his cocoon too soon. The moral of the story was that when we lose someone, we curl up into our own cocoon of grief to deal with the loss. It is important that we do not take someone out of their cocoon too early. Each person has to grieve for as long as it takes until he or she feels ready to come out.

Susan’s next story was about a puzzle. A puzzle contains some ugly and dull pieces, but there are also beautiful ones. A puzzle cannot be completed unless all the pieces come together to make a whole picture. The puzzle is a metaphor for life. In life there are many ugly and dull moments, but the inclusion of those difficult times combines with the wonderful times, making us who we are today.

It is often incredibly difficult to deal with loss. Learning to cope is important to moving on with life. Susan relayed important messages by using stories with fun and relatable characters. Susan used her stories as a tool to help our campers through their own difficult times.

Final Performance a success!

Providing the kind of material that allows campers to realize their theatrical potential while expressing their personal feelings is a special challenge. Camp Director Nicole Losurdo and Theatre Area Head Anne McNamee have combined to meet that challenge.

Through Anne’s research, she discovered a Russian folk tale that tells the story of an old peasant tailor. The tailor remembers his life as it relates to a piece of cloth, which he uses in various forms throughout his life. Based on this folk tale, Nicole rewrote the story and titled it “Just Enough.” She set the story in Bolivia, an atmosphere which plays well with Latin-influenced music and dance. Thus the protagonist became “Adolfo.” The story is poignant since the cloth allows Adolfo to express the memories he has of life and how they affected him—just as campers have memories that affect their lives.

Of course, the real stars were the campers, as they only had two weeks to learn and perform a full production! Campers worked extremely hard to read the script, work on the roles, music, and the dance numbers.

(Top photo: Campers work on a dance routine during the dress rehearsal. Bottom photo: Campers take their final bow after their Final Performance)

Campers Send Messages of Love

We don’t always get to say “goodbye.” We don't always have a chance to express important thoughts, never realizing how the window can slam shut without a moment to consider. When that happens, the opportunity is seldom offered to show those thoughts.

HTHTA campers did get a special opportunity to communicate messages of love, memories or maybe even updates on the camper's lives to their lost parents, which most of them were never allowed to say.

On Wednesday afternoon, campers solemnly wrote their thoughts and feelings they wished to tell their parents on a note card and tied it to a helium balloon. Teary eyed HTHTA campers and staff took a walk to Buckingham Fountain where their messages were launched into the bright blue sky and on to their parents.

While the launch is symbolic, campers feel strongly about those unspoken words reaching their loved ones. The Balloon Launch is often the emotional pinnacle of camp, offering closure to campers and staff, alike.

(Top photo: Messages of love are launched into the sky to lost parents. Middle photo: One camper writes her message Bottom photo: HTHTA campers and staff take a group photo after the Balloon Launch)

Music and Theatre and Dance — Oh My!

Between the morning warm-up, lunch, and the afternoon snack, campers are busily preparing for the talent show this Friday, and the final performance next Friday. How do we prepare? In Music, Theatre and Dance class, of course!

In Music class, students not only learn songs, but create the words and rhythms for new musical compositions.

In Theatre, campers work on stories, skits, and staged adaptations of Tennessee Williams,’ “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Only kidding! Our theatre is just as good, but much more fun!

Dance class sees campers jumping, sliding, pivoting, and prancing. Some of our Dance Teachers are even from the prestigious Joffrey Ballet, here in Chicago.

Interesting to note, the Joffrey Ballet just opened a brand new building at the corner of Randolph and State Street. — you can see it yourself and check out their fantastic sign!

Each of these arts is explored, mined, and used for campers' benefit.

(Top photo: The HTHTA music staff helps a camper prepare a solo. Bottom photo: Campers learn a dance routine with The Joffrey Ballet.)

Hands Together, Heart to Art launches its fourth year

Hands Together, Heart to Art, a special summer camp for children who have lost one or both parents to death, launched this week; and the days have been jam packed with fun. Campers have made new friends, learned about Brazilian drumming, and heard Brett Batterson's story about the loss of his father when he was child. You'll want to check back to hear more about camp this summer - check out the pictures below:

Campers learn about Brazillian drumming.

This camper practices intensely.

If you know of a child who has experienced the death of one or both parents, they can still attend Session Two from July 28 - August 8. Please contact Nicole Losurdo at 312-922-2110 ext. 353.

Help send a child to camp today!

Hands Together, Heart to Art

A message from Executive Director, Brett Batterson

I'm about to share a very personal story with you.

This is something I really have to tell you about - something that means very much to me.

Pictured left, is me (middle) as a child with my family. One year later, my father died unexpectedly from a heart attack. As you can imagine, that moment changed my life forever.

Left to raise me and my two brothers, my mom worked hard to give us all the love and support she could - and she did a remarkable job making me the person I am today.

Looking back, however, I realize that my growth in life was strongly shaped in the arts. Through the arts, I found friends, encouragement, self-confidence and the ability to express myself.

To ensure that other children who have lost a parent would receive the same benefits as I did from an exposure to the arts, the Auditorium Theatre launched a ground-breaking summer program in 2004 called Hands Together, Heart to Art. And the results are truly inspiring!

Every year, nearly a hundred children throughout the Chicago area attend the camp. They have all endured one common, tragic event - the death of a parent. Many can't imagine how hard it is for the children to cope with their loss - but at Hands Together, Heart to Art, we give them hope, healing and confidence. We use music, theatre, dance and creative play to encourage the boys and girls to express themselves, interact and become more outgoing. Sessions with licensed healing counselors and interaction with other children who have experienced the same loss contribute to each child's healing experience.

Hands Together, Heart to Art is not a camp only for children who can afford it. It is a camp for children who need it. Although the cost of caring for each camper is considerable, we don't turn any families away for any financial reasons - that's why we rely on the kindness of friends to make this experience a reality.

Please give today - and you'll see how a donation of as little as $15 can make a big difference in a child's life.

I have been lucky in this job to have the privilege of meeting everyone from Princess Caroline to Luciano Pavarotti to Bob Dylan. But I assure you, not one of them has had as great an impact on my life as the children who have attended Hands Together, Heart to Art. And no work that I do is more important.

The children who come to Hands Together, Heart to Art are also looking for an outlet to help cope with their grief. We hope you can give them that chance today.

If you'd like to learn more about this unique experience, please watch this short video.

If you know of a child who would benefit from this incredible camp, contact Nicole Losurdo at: (312) 922-2110, ext. 353.

Congrats to our raffle winners!

During the AAADT performances last weekend, we held a raffle to benefit our education programs. Congratulations to the following winners, and thank you to everyone who gave to support our summer camps, in-school outreach programs and other educational initiatives.

* United Tickets to Europe: Sabrina Beoingham
* 2 Subscriptions to the International Dance Series: Diana Cho
* 4 tickets to Margaret Garner: Gregory Armstrong
* Table for 6 to Orbert Davis: Doug Cranmer
* $100 gift certificate to Rhapsody: Sandra DeSico
* $100 gift certificate for Custom House: Frontina Spitz