Russ Childers is a traditional Appalachian musician, storyteller, and dance caller. Additionally, he is an artist-in-resident musician with a focus on music and its role in the Appalachian community. Moving by story and song through his own family history, he teaches cultural history through the vehicle of song, story, and dance.
Childers shows a deep commitment to the traditional arts as is shown by his affiliations with the Ohio Arts Council as an Artist in Residence, the Advisory Committee of the Cincinnati Urban Appalachian Council, and the Cincinnati Arts Association Adventures in the Arts. He is a master banjo player with apprentices in two states through the auspices of the Ohio Arts Council and Kentucky Arts Council. In May 2000, he was recipient of the Appalachian Heritage Award from the Cincinnati Appalachian Community Development Association.
Mr. Childers is teaching fourth grade students about their Appalachian culture through song and dance September 23-October 3, 2019. The bean dinner for the students and their families is on Thursday, October 3rd at 6 pm. The kids will be performing the square dances for the families after the dinner. Students will showcase their square dance talents for the school on Thursday, October 3rd at 2 pm. On Saturday, October 12th, students will be performing at the Northwest Elementary Fall Carnival at 2:00 p.m.
The TeachArtsOhio Program is made possible through a grant funded by the Ohio Arts Council.
Ohio Arts Council Website https://oac.ohio.gov/
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school at 740-259-2250.