Contact: Emily Hefley at emily@gpacweb.com
About
The mission of the Germantown Performing Arts Center (GPAC) is to serve the community by presenting the highest quality artistic endeavors to educate, engage, enrich and transform.
GPAC is located in the heart of Shelby County, and serves the greater metro Memphis area of over a million people and is accessible to all members of the community. The Highland Capital Performance Hall is an acoustically perfect, 854 seat venue featuring a sprung pine stage, an elegant patron lounge, eight spacious dressing rooms and a large lobby for entertaining and assembling; The Grove, a dynamic outdoor venue which can accommodate approximately 900 guests in a lush outdoor setting; and the Watkins Studio Theater, an intimate black box theater. Ray Charles set the bar high when he opened GPAC in 1994, immediately defining this space as a place where excellence is the norm and where the world would come to perform. Season after season, GPAC has applauded an array of artists with extraordinary talents and showcased the broadest range of performances and art forms. GPAC presents world renowned performing artists in a variety of genres, year round educational activities for all ages including the GPAC Youth Symphony Program, rotating visual art exhibits and many community events welcoming over 100,000 visitors annually. The organization benefits from the infrastructure of a professional organization that possesses a clear direction, strong financial health, professional seasoned staff and a dedicated board of directors.
Program Overview
Memphis Jazz Workshop presents “Zip Zap, Boom Bop”
October 8, 2026 at 10am for grades 4-12
Zip Zap, Boom Bop is a free flowing interactive exploration of Hip-Hop and Jazz presented by the Memphis Jazz Workshop. From the beginnings with a voice and a drum to the communal break beats of the Bronx and beyond, join us as we freestyle through the history and interconnectivity of these two distinctly American genres. Huah!!”
Step Afrika
February 1, 2027 at 10am for grades K-12
This highly interactive 45-minute performance highlights the rhythm, physicality, and history of stepping and culminates in a group activity to get students on their feet. The program introduces the ties between stepping, college life, and academic achievement. It introduces the concepts of teamwork, discipline, and commitment. Performers incorporate world traditions, demonstrated through the lively South African gumboot dance. Students learn basic step choreography and discover how dance brings people and cultures together.
