The performance pathway

Each performance step from in-class Spotlight to the Theme Clash Finale. Every step is opt-in, and a child can stop at any one of them.

How the pathway works

The pathway is a ladder, not a requirement. Each step is a little bigger than the one before. A child can stay on any step for as long as they like, skip a step, or step off completely. Going further is never needed to finish the course or to earn Passport stamps.

Before your child takes any step beyond in-class Spotlight, a parent or guardian must have signed the performance consent form. Your child then says yes again, in their own words, before each performance.

The steps

Step 1: Spotlight (in class)

• Spotlight happens near the end of each 90-minute session.
• Volunteers only. A child raises their hand to play 60 seconds on the main speaker. Coaches never call on a child who didn't sign up.
• Classmates give each performer one glow (something that worked) and one grow (one idea).
• Children who don't play still take part by listening and giving glows.

Step 2: Rainbow Showcase

• Families are invited to watch. A child plays at the next Showcase after earning all 42 stamps.
• Children choose their own challenge level:
• Mild: play 5 minutes with a partner.
• Medium: play your own 10-minute set.
• Spicy: play your set with a Theme Clash and an MC line.
• A child who doesn't want to play can still be part of the day. They can be the Hype or Logger for a friend, or write glow cards for the performers. Performing isn't one of the published graduation criteria, so not playing doesn't affect graduation.
• Every performer gets glow cards.

Step 3: Open Decks at Rainbow Wednesdays

• Graduating from the course earns a guaranteed Open Decks slot at Rainbow Wednesdays. The guarantee applies when Rainbow Wednesdays runs. That series is still proposed. See Graduation guarantee.
• Using the slot is optional. A family can decline it, or save it for a later series if one is offered.
• All event-day supervision rules apply.

Step 4: Youth Showcase open call

• An open call is an invitation to apply. It is not an assignment.
• The Youth Showcase is a proposed stage show and is not yet approved. We will not share dates, a venue or a lineup until they are confirmed.

Step 5: Theme Clash semifinals and Finale

• The Theme Clash is the creative heart of the course: a DJ drops a cartoon or game theme into a hit song. Kids practice it in Mission 11 (Indigo: Theme Clash Lab).
• The semifinals and Finale are proposed stage shows and are not yet approved.
• "Clash" here means a friendly music contest. No child is ever put down, booed or ranked in front of the crowd by Lab staff.

SelassieFest: audience vote only

Ras Tafari Inc. also produces SelassieFest, Chicago's roots reggae and cultural festival. SelassieFest makes its own decisions about its lineup. A Lab child can reach the SelassieFest stage only by event audience vote, under the conflict of interest policy:

• Optional. A child is on the ballot only with a parent or guardian's written consent, given before the vote is announced.
• Counted by someone with no interest in the result, such as Chicago Park District staff or an outside party named in advance. Lab trainers, Ras Tafari Inc. staff and Q-Ality Sound have no role in counting and no influence over the outcome.
• One vote per person, with the voting method announced before voting opens.
• Ballots show first name and last initial only. No photos, ages, schools or contact details.
• SelassieFest gets almost nothing from the Lab: only a winner's first name and last initial, the performance details and the guardian's consent. Never the roster, contact details or attendance. See the data-sharing agreement.

Rules that apply at every step

• Consent first: a signed performance consent form for anything beyond class Spotlight.
• The child's yes, every time: asked privately, so no one says yes because of peer pressure.
• No one picks favorites: trainers train only. They never select, recommend or rank children for any performance or opportunity.
• Stop any time: see Opting out.
• A named Lab adult nearby: see Event-day supervision.
• Clean lyrics only: radio edits, checked when crates are built.
• A safety plan for hard moments: see Stage freeze protocol.
• Photos and video are separate: they are covered by the media consent form. Saying yes to performing is not saying yes to being filmed or photographed by the Lab.

Related pages

• Curriculum
• The student journey
• For families