Heartbeat Opera’s “Breathing Free” offers resources for dance students. (photo courtesy of The Broad Stage)

The Broad Stage has announced that its Student Matinee Program is back virtually this season and will include two matinees accompanied by learning guides.

The Broad Stage’s has extended the registration deadline to Jan. 18, so educators still have time to allow students to participate.

The program aims to re-engage students in the arts and connect with other educators. Each virtual matinee is accompanied by the Broad Stage’s newly formatted learning guide (appropriate for students in 6th grade and above) as well as professional development open houses on Jan. 25, from 4:30-5:30 p.m., and Feb. 1, from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

The programs include Heartbeat Opera’s “Breathing Free: A Visual Album” from Feb. 14-25, and Ephrat Asherie Dance’s “ODEON” from March 21-24. “Breathing Free: A Visual Album” is a celebration of Black artistry in opera within the context of worldwide racial reckoning, a pandemic ravaging the prison population and the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. The work mingles movement with excerpts from Beethoven’s “Fidelio,” spirituals and songs by Black composers and lyricists. Learning guide topics include opera, inclusion and restorative justice.

“ODEON” is an original dance work that brings together street and club dances, including breaking, hip-hop, house and vogue. Setting the moves to music by Brazilian composer Ernesto Nazareth, who mixed early 20th century romantic music with samba and other popular Afro-Brazilian rhythms, Ephrat Asherie Dance creates a high energy fusion of movement. Learning guide topics include social dance, ragtime, history of hip-hop.

For information and to register for the programs, visit thebroadstage.org/student-matinee.