THIS THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, THE LINES ARE BEING DRAWN REGARDING RESTRICTIONS FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>> I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE CHECKS AND BALANCES.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, 4, 5 COMPANIES BASICALLY CONTROLLING OUR LIVES THROUGH THROUGH THE GUISE OF OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OR WHATEVER TECHNOLOGY COMES DOWN.

>> GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS ADDS TO THE GROWING NUMBER OF VOICES ARE ASKING FOR REGULATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AI TECHNOLOGIES AND BRIDGING THE GAP HIM THE WORLD OF LA.

HOW A LOCAL GROUPS ABILITY TO INCLUDE A MALE ONLY PERFORMANCE HELPS EVERYONE MASTER THE TACTILE ART FORM.

AND IT'S MORE THAN AN OUTDOOR SANCTUARY.

TECHNOLOGY IS INTERTWINED WITH A SCHOOL GARDEN TO SERVE AS AN INTERACTIVE REMEMBRANCE FOR CLASSMATES WHO PASSED AWAY.

I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS APPROVED NEW RULES FOR THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SAYS THIS CREATES ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE AI CENTERED FRAMEWORKS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

FLORIDA'S COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, DOCTOR HENRY MACK SAYS THE RULES GOVERNING THE USE OF AI AND EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY IN ALL OF FLORIDA'S SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CHARTER SCHOOLS AND 28 STATE COLLEGES UNDER THE NEW RULES.

SCHOOLS WILL HAVE TO SPELL OUT HOW STUDENTS AND TEACHERS CAN USE AI AND ADDRESS REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT SAFETY AND DATA PROTECTION.

>> THEY EMPOWER PARENTS.

EMPOWER FACULTY, THE EMPOWER STUDENTS.

THEY PROTECT ACADEMIC INTEGRITY.

STUDENT INFORMATION, PRIVACY AND THE PRIMACY OF LEARNING.

AI IS AN ENHANCEMENT.

IT'S A SUPPLEMENT, DOESN'T SUPPLANT IT'S A COMPLEMENTARY.

>> SCHOOLS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE UNTIL JULY FIRST OF 2027 TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT THE POLICIES.

THE NEW AI RULES IN FLORIDA SCHOOLS JUST APPROVED AMIDST GROWING CONCERNS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT HOW TO REGULATE THE EMERGING TECHNOLOGY.

FOR MORE ON THE DISCUSSIONS OVER REGULATIONS I I'M NOW JOINED BY MORGAN SEE PLUMBER THE VICE PRESIDENT OF POLICY DESIGN AND DELIVERY FOR AMERICANS FOR RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> OF COURSE, HENRY, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE.

>> CAN YOU FIRST TELL US ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION?

>> YEAH, OF AMERICANS FOR RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION OR ERA IS A C 4 NONPROFIT PUBLIC ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS.

SO WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE I WHICH I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE VERY RIGHTLY BELIEVE, IS GOING TO BE A POSITIVELY TRANSFORMATIVE TECHNOLOGY BEFORE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND FOR THE WORLD MAKING SURE THAT THAT TECHNOLOGY IS DEVELOPED IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY, MEANING IN A WAY THAT HAS THE RIGHT SAFEGUARDS AND PREVENTS INJURY, DOESN'T RISK OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AS WE DEVELOP THAT TECHNOLOGY AND HE'S BROADLY AND BENEFICIAL TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

>> WHY ARE THERE NO NATIONWIDE REGULATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO AI?

>> YEAH, I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE REASONS FOR THAT.

BUT I THINK ONE IS, YOU KNOW, THE DELIBERATE NATURE OF OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IS ONE OF DEBATING COUNCIL AND DISCUSSION.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, ONE REASON IS LIKE OUR MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT JUST TENDS TO MOVE A BIT SLOWER THAN IN SOME OTHER FORMS OF GOVERNMENT.

YOU KNOW, FOR MOST OF US, WE BELIEVE THAT THAT IS A FEATURE, NOT A BUG OF OUR SYSTEM.

BUT WHAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DOES MEAN IS THAT IT DOES SOMETIMES STRUGGLE TO CATCH UP TO RAPIDLY EMERGING SIT SCENARIOS AND SITUATIONS LIKE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

I THINK ANOTHER REASON THAT THAT'S TRUE IS THIS IS A REALLY COMPLICATED TECHNOLOGY.

YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT IS GENERALLY TRUE?

THAT IS IT REQUIRES VERY TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE TECHNOLOGY IS DOING, WHY IT'S THE WAY IT'S PERFORMING.

AND THAT ALSO REQUIRES A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT KIND OF HARM'S MIGHT COME FROM THAT TECHNOLOGY.

AND THEN THERE'S ALWAYS THE CONSTANT BALANCING ACT THAT EXISTS IN A LOT OF OTHER INDUSTRIES, RIGHT?

AUTOMOBILES, AVIATION, COLOR, ENERGY SURROUNDING LIKE, HEY, THERE ARE POTENTIAL HARMS AND DANGERS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REGULATE AGAINST.

BUT WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO INHIBIT THE INNOVATION ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND ALLOW FOR A WORLD WHERE AMERICA FALLS BEHIND.

AND SO THIS REALLY IS KIND OF A TRIPLE LINDY FOR REGULATORS AND CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO KIND OF PULL OFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO HAVE A GOOD, ROBUST SET, A FRAMEWORK, SOME GUARDRAILS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THE PUBLIC.

>> WHAT KIND OF SPECIFIC GUARDRAILS DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION WANT TO SEE IN PLACE?

>> SUES.

IT'S ACTUALLY FAIRLY FAIRLY SIMPLE.

SO THE NUMBER NUMBER ONE FOR US IS CLEAR FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT MOST OF THE OTHER TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS, THE INTERACT WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DO SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY HARM OR POTENTIALLY THREATEN OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.

AND HERE I AM THINKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE CYBER OR, YOU KNOW, SORT OF BIO THREAT UPLIFT.

IF YOU'RE A PERSON WHO WANTS TO LEARN HOW TO BUILD, YOU KNOW, DANGEROUS DISEASES AND RELEASED THEM TO THE PUBLIC.

WE NEED CLEAR FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS AND THOSE SAFETY STANDARDS CAN'T JUST BE WRITTEN BY THE DEVELOPERS WHO ARE DEVELOPING THIS TECHNOLOGY.

WE HAVE DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AS COME IN THIS COUNTRY THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND IT IS THE JOB OF THOSE INSTITUTIONS TO HELP SET THOSE STANDARDS.

THAT'S TRUE OF MOST OTHER INDUSTRIES.

WE BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD ALSO BE TRUE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE SECOND THING THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN IS PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY MAKING SURE THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHAT STANDARD IS BEING SENT, HOW THE DEVELOPERS ARE MEETING THOSE STANDARDS AND WHETHER THEIR MEETING THOSE STANDARDS AND HAVING TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN OUR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS TO HOLD THOSE DEVELOPERS ACCOUNTABLE IN WHEN THEY FAIL TO MEET THOSE STANDARDS.

SO MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S AN ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM AND UNDER WHAT WE CALL AN ASSURANCE MECHANISM IS A VITAL PART OF RIGHT ADVOCATES FOR.

AND THE 3RD IS THIS QUESTION OF BROAD TRANSPARENCY, RIGHT?

1, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY IN TERMS OF OUR ABILITY TO REGULATE IT IS THE SPEED, THE EXPONENTIAL SPEED AT WHICH IT MOVES.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS BEING ABLE TO TRACK THE VERY FOR THIS, THE EDGES OF THAT DEVELOPMENT FRONTIER ON THIS TECHNOLOGY BY WANTED BY MONITORING WHAT WE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT RIGHT TO THIS IDEA THAT AS AI CONTINUES TO IMPROVE AND CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AN EXPONENTIAL RATE, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE KIND OF FIRST 2 PILLARS THAT I TALKED ABOUT, THE SAFETY, THIS FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS IN THE INSURANCE THAT COMES WITH MAKING SURE THAT THOSE STANDARDS ARE MET, THAT THOSE ARE UPDATED AT THE RATE AND PACE THAT ARE NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

>> HOW CONCERNED SHOULD AMERICANS BE REGARDING AI AND ITS TO TO REALLY SELF THE SELF RELIANT THIS CAPABILITIES?

>> YEAH, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND I THINK THE I THINK, YOU KNOW, SORT OF OUR TAKE MY TAKE IS THAT I THINK AMERICANS ARE RIGHT TO BE CONCERNED.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT POLLING DATA, IT OVERWHELMINGLY THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPEED IN RATES THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY SEEMS TO BE ADVANCING.

WHAT I THINK WE WANT TO, I THINK WHAT WE WANT TO GUARD AGAINST THOSE PANIC RIGHT.

THERE ARE TONS AND TONS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES THAT INDICATE THAT THAT MAKING DECISIONS EITHER AS A GROUP OR AS INDIVIDUALS AND A PANICKED ENVIRONMENT IS THE ABSOLUTE WRONG WAY.

WORST WAY TO MAKE DECISIONS.

SO I THINK THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS CONCERNED.

I THINK THE RIGHT TO BE CONCERNED.

I DO YET THINK THAT WE SHOULD OR HAVE REACHED A STATE OF SORT OF GENERAL PANIC AND ALARM THIS IS A TECHNOLOGY WITH IT.

ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL.

BENEFICIAL UPSIDE.

WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REGULATING AT THE RIGHT WAY TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM ANY OF THE DOWNSIDE RISKS.

>> NOW, LAST YEAR, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT REMOVED PREVIOUS RESTRICTIONS FROM PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS TO ADVANCE AI DEVELOPMENT.

HOW HAS THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IMPACTED THE ADVANCEMENTS IN AI?

>> YEAH, I THINK FOR FOR REASONS THAT RELATE TO DREARY JUNIOR STRATEGIC COMPETITION AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND POTENTIAL PRODUCTIVITY GAINS.

I THINK THE GENERAL APPROACH FROM THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE PART OF THE EUPHEMISM A BIT SORT OF LET THEM COOK, RIGHT?

THEY THEY SEE THE TRANSFORMATIVE INCREDIBLY BENEFICIAL POTENTIAL UPSIDES OF THIS TECHNOLOGY.

THEY ARE REALLY, REALLY COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND THE AMERICAN ECONOMY IN PARTICULAR IS ABLE TO REAP THOSE BENEFITS.

AND THOSE ARE LIKE REALLY REASONABLE POSITIONS TO TAKE.

I THINK THE I THINK WITH THAT, I THINK WITH THAT EXPANSION AND THE DESIRE TO PURSUE THOSE BENEFITS HAS OPENED UP, THOUGH, IS A NEW RUNWAY, ALMOST CARTE BLANCHE FOR THE DEVELOPERS TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

RIGHT?

THERE'S THIS OLD MAXIM IN SILICON VALLEY.

THE NOW IS KIND OF THIS TIRED TROPE OF MOVE FAST AND BREAK THINGS.

AND I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION'S INSTINCT TO MOVE FAST IS LIKE NOT NECESSARILY A BAD ONE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE REALLY, REALLY CAREFUL ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE END UP BREAKING ALONG THE WAY.

>> SHOULD AMERICANS BE FEARFUL OF AI MOVING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE NO RULES IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.

>> I THINK I THINK I THINK THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS RIGHT TO BE CONCERNED IF WE CONTINUE TO LIVE IN AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THIS TECHNOLOGY IS ADVANCING, NOT JUST INCREMENTALLY, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST SLOWLY BUT EXPONENTIALLY DAY OVER DAY WEEK, OVER WEEK, YOU KNOW, TO BE HONEST, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN THE SPACE FOR A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS.

AND YOU KNOW, IT IS IT HAS BEEN MARKED TO ME THE WAYS IN WHICH THIS TECHNOLOGY IS ADVANCING AND AND IS ADVANCING IN WAYS THAT LIKE JUST DIDN'T SEEM POSSIBLE ABOUT A YEAR AGO, ABOUT 6 MONTHS ABOUT GO ABOUT 3 YEAR, ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO.

SO I THINK A WORLD WHERE THAT CONTINUES TO BE TRUE.

IT AND THERE ARE NO FEDERAL GUARDRAILS THAT IS A WORLD IN WHICH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SHOULD BE CONCERNED AND CANDIDLY SHOULD BE DEMANDING ACTION FROM THEIR STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

MORGAN SEE PLUMBER WITH AMERICANS FOR RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANKS SO MUCH, TOUGHER.

APPRECIATE THE TIME.

>> TO KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THE UPDATES CONCERNING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

BE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, THE RETURN OF AUTUMN MEANS LOCAL THEATER GROUPS ARE GEARING UP FOR A SURGE IN SHOWS AND FOR LOCAL ACTORS AUDITIONS SEASON IS THE PRIME TIME TO LAND THE SPOT ON CENTER STAGE.

THEATERS ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ARE BEGINNING TO RAMP UP THEIR SEASONAL PRODUCTIONS.

THIS PRESENTS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL ACTORS AS THEY PREPARE FOR AN ADDITION.

THE MONOLOGUE, THE SELECT CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GETTING THE ROLE OR BEING PASSED OVER WGCUS KATE KRONIN HAS DETAILS.

>> WHETHER THEY'RE AUDITIONING FOR COMEDY DRAMA OR MUSICAL ACTORS ARRIVE AT AUDITIONS, EQUIPPED WITH A HEADSHOT RESUME IN A COUPLE OF MODEL LOCKS CULTURAL PARK THEATRE.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ROBIN MURRAY SAYS THE MONOLOGUE PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN HER DECISION AND WHETHER OR NOT TO USE AN ACTOR IN THE SHOW.

SHE'S CASTING.

>> I CONSIDER A MONOLOGUE.

THE FIRST HANDSHAKE THAT YOU'RE GIVING A DIRECTOR, IT KIND OF SHOWS WHAT YOUR ABILITIES ARE WITHOUT HAVING SOMEBODY TO RELY ON ANOTHER CAST MATE WHO RELY ON OR A SIDE DOOR OR A PROP.

AND WE COULD SEE WHAT YOUR RANGE IS.

IF YOU ARE ABLE TO DO MOVE YOUR BODY AND YOUR VOICE ALONG WITH THE WORDS WITHOUT RELYING ON OTHER THINGS ON A SET.

>> ACCORDING TO MARRY, THE BEST MONOLOGUES DON'T TO SHOWCASE AN ACTOR'S TALENT AND VERSATILITY.

THEY TELL A STORY WITH A BEGINNING, MIDDLE AND END.

I LIKE TO SEE.

>> FOR LIKE THE SEASONS IN A MONOLOGUE WHEN SOMEBODY GIVES AND I WANT TO SEE THEM START HAS THEM.

AND THEN I WANT TO SEE A I WANT TO SEE AN ARC.

AND THEN I WANT TO SEE ALMOST A RESOLUTION AND THEN ENDING LOCAL ACTOR DIRECTOR.

>> IN THIER INSTRUCTOR JERRY BENZENE HAS JUST PUBLISHED HER 3RD BOOK OF MONOLOGUES.

SHE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT CASTING DIRECTORS LIKE MARY WANT.

>> I TRIED TO PUT MORE THAN ONE EMOTION IN THE MONOLOGUE.

I RIGHT, SO THAT THERE'S A BIT OF AN ARC IN IT SO THAT YOU CAN SHOW YOU CAN PLAY DIFFERENT EMOTIONS.

THE BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A GOOD MAN A LOT OF LOOKS LIKE IS TO EXPERIENCE ONE THING FOR IT.

>> SO HEAR BENN SING JOINED BY ACTORS DAVID HERNANDEZ AND SHAILENE CRABTREE PERFORM ONE CALLED BRIGHT LIGHTS.

>> FENCING ZONE EXPERIENCES.

AUDITIONING FOR ROLES.

PERFORMING A WIDE VARIETY OF SHOWS IN TEACHING THEATER TO CHILDREN AND TEENS INFORMS THE WAY SHE CRAFTS EACH MILE.

WALK.

BUT IT WAS HAPPENSTANCE THAT LED TO PUBLISHING 3 COMPILATIONS OF MONOLOGUES.

SHE'S BEEN WRITING SINCE 2006.

MY MY LUCK STARTED, OF COURSE, WITH MY OWN SON WHO IS PERFORMING AT THE TIME.

>> AND WE COULD NOT FIND A MONOLOGUE ANYWHERE THAT WAS DIFFERENT.

THAT WAS NEW.

SO I WROTE HIM ONE AND HE ENTERED THE YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION AND HE WAS ONLY 10 AND IT WAS A COMPETITION THAT WENT ALL THE WAY UP TO COLLEGE.

ANYONE.

THE WHOLE THING.

AND SO EVERYBODY SAID, PLEASE WRITE ME A MONOLOGUE.

SINCE THEN ACTORS USING HER MONOLOGUES HAVE ENJOYED CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS, WINNING RULES AND COMPETITIONS AROUND THE GLOBE.

I HAVE HAD A STUDENT TAKES ME FROM.

>> SOUTH AFRICA, HE ENTERED A WORLDWIDE MONOLOGUE.

COMPETITION AND HE WON HIS CATEGORY.

HE SINCE BEEN CAST IN ALL KINDS OF FILMS.

I HAD A BOY WHO AUDITIONED FOR A BROADWAY SHOW AND USE ONE OF MY MONOLOGUES AND HE WAS CAST.

BUT MY BIGGEST SUCCESS STORY WAS MICHAEL FAT INC.

I STARTED TEACHING IN SUMMER CAMPS HERE.

THE CULTURAL PARK AND HE HAS BECOME A SUCCESSFUL STAR ON BROADWAY.

BUT IT'S EVERY DAY KIDS HAVING SUCCESS AT A LOCAL LEVEL THAT REALLY TOUCHES BEEN SINGS.

HEARTSTRINGS.

THE THING THAT MAKES ME THE MOST PROUD OF THE KIDS THAT TAKES ME AND SAY, HEY, I WANT MY STUDENT, HELEN.

JOE, I I GOT SECOND PLACE.

I ALMOST ONE IN.

THEY ARE SO HAPPY AND THE FACT THAT I COULD GIVE THEM SOMETHING THAT THEY LOVE TO DO AND THAT THEY DID WELL WITH THE WERE HAPPY WITH.

I THINK THAT'S THE THING THAT MAKES US HAPPY.

>> CULTURAL PARK THEATER WILL BE HOSTING A BOOK SIGNING FOR BEN SINGS.

LATEST BOOK.

MY LOCKS FOR KIDS FOLLOWING THE 07:00PM PERFORMANCE OF CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY ON SEPTEMBER.

19TH.

THE EVENT MARKED ANOTHER MILESTONE IN DOZENS CAREER AS AN AUTHOR.

>> THIS IS MY ABSOLUTE FIRST ONE AND I SUPER EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS IM KATE CRONIN.

>> AND WHILE ACTORS GET READY TO TAKEOVER THE STAGE, OTHER ARTISTIC OUTLETS ARE ALSO PREPARING FOR THEIR FALL PERFORMANCES.

THE SARASOTA CUBAN BALLET OPENS ITS 2026 2027 SEASON THIS WEEKEND WITH CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY WGCU ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL JOINS US WITH MORE.

THE TOM, WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON IN THE IN THE FIELD OF ARTS COMING UP THIS WEEK.

>> WELL, MONDAY, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEING IN SARASOTA AT THE SARASOTA CUBAN BALLET.

THE SARASOTA CUBAN BALLET IS PERFORMING A PROGRAM OF CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY BALLETS ARE AT THEIR TRAINING FACILITY ON THE GIRL SCOUT CAMPUS ON CATTLEMEN ROAD.

THIS IS A TERRIFIC OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE THIS AGGRESSIVE THEATRICAL STYLE.

THE ALLY AND TO BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH THEIR STUDIO COMPANY, WHICH JUST ADDED 7 NEW DANCERS FORCE.

36 2026.

2027 SEASON.

2 OF THOSE DANCES THAT AUDIENCES ARE SURE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH FEATURE 4 OF THE COMPANY'S MALE DANCERS AND THE OTHER FEATURES 4 OF ITS FEMALE ARTISTS.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

THE FIRST THING YOU'LL NOTICE WALKING INTO SARASOTA, CUBAN VALLEYS AUDITORIUM IS THE GUYS.

THE COMPANY HAS 4 MALE DANCERS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ARIEL JURADO IS FEATURING THEM DURING THIS WEEKEND'S CLASSIC PLUS CONTEMPORARY PROGRAM IN A NEO-CLASSICAL PIECE, WHICH BY A ALL THE CUBA PREMIERED IN 1973, CALLED CONT OVER IT ALL.

>> TALKS ABOUT.

>> THEY'RE HUMAN.

>> ELEMENT IN THERE FOR A NATION SHIP WITH NATURE REPRESENTED BY THE FEET IN THE WATER BY A BIRD IN THE AIR.

I CALL IT.

I KNOW IT'S NOT A BEAST, BUT HE SAYS THAT HE'S DEAD.

THE WILLIS AND NOT AND HOW THEY INTERACT IN THE IN THE I FEEL IS VERY EARTHY.

VERY, VERY STRONG, ESPECIALLY FOR 4 MEANS IN THEIR CONDUCT AND THEY BRING A HOLIDAY CORT CYST.

>> MALE BELLY DANCERS ARE A RARITY APPRENTICE.

ISABELLA NO RELATION TO ARIEL JUST HAVING FOREIGN ANY COMPANY IS A LUXURY.

>> I'VE NEVER BEEN ANYWHERE WHERE THEY CAN PUT SOMETHING ON STAGE IS JUST ON THAT.

SO HAVING JUST THAT ALL MEN PIECE IS AMAZING.

>> THIS COTERIE OF STRONG MALE DANCERS GIVE SARASOTA CUBAN BELIZE, FEMALE ARTISTS, THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND PERFECT PARTNERING SKILLS.

YEAH, IT'S A SKILL AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T GET TO DEVELOP THAT SKILL UNLESS THEY'RE LIKE.

AND THE LA CREME.

>> BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF MEN.

SO ONLY THE VERY, VERY, VERY BEST WOMEN GET PUT WITH AND THERE IS.

AND SO HAVING MANY GOOD MEN ALLOWS FOR ALL THE GIRLS TO LEARN AND GET BETTER AT PARTNERING.

I LIKE TO THINK WHEN I AM DANCING WITH THE GIRL THAT I'M ENTIRELY THERE TO LET HER SHINE.

>> AND MAKE HER JUMPS BIGGER MAKER BALANCE LONGER.

>> THIS IS LEO KUDOS FIRST SEASON AS LEAD ARTIST WITH THE COMPANY.

HE EXPLAINS HOW MALE DANCERS COMPLEMENT THEIR FEMALE DANCE PARTNERS.

I'M THERE TO SUPPORT HER.

>> AND OF COURSE, WHEN I'M ON STAGE, I GIVE MY 100% TO SHOW MYSELF TO THE AUDIENCE.

BUT AS FOR WHEN I'M DANCING WITH THE GIRL, IT, OF COURSE, DEPENDS ON WHAT CHOREOGRAPHY YOU'RE DOING.

BUT THE POINT IS YOU KNOW, 99% OF THE TIME TO SHOW THE GIRL AND SHOW HER AND THE BEST LIGHT YOU POSSIBLY CAN.

>> SERRANO ALSO HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRAST THE POWER OF NATURE AND HIS MALE DANCERS WITH THE ELEGANCE OF THE ROMANTIC ALL-GIRL.

GRANDPA DE QUATRO WAS DONE FOR THE FOREMOST.

>> A FAMOUS BY LETTING US AND THEY HAVE ALL THE ELEMENTS FOR CLASSICAL BALLET AND ALLOWS YOU TO PUT IT ALL A LITTLE TURN BODDEN'S.

THEY FLOAT THROUGH THE AIR.

I MEAN, THERE DYNAMIC BETWEEN THE 4 A NOSE IN THERE.

THERE WAS VERY EXCITING.

>> HE'S REFERRING TO MORE ATTACKS, YONI CAR, LOT OF GREASY WHO SAIL GRAND AND THE FLIRTATIOUS ITALIAN BELL.

A STAR FUNNY TROPHY THAT THE CHARACTERS BASED ON THIS FABULOUS FOURSOME OR DESCRIBE A SE BE LEADING ARTISTS.

SHANNON MACMILLAN.

>> ONE IS A LITTLE OLDER, A LITTLE LIKE IT'S NOT THE YEAR FOR SAY.

AND THEN YOU HAVE ONE THAT'S YOUNGER.

SO EACH OF THOSE GIRLS IS REALLY.

FLAVORING ISSUE, THEIR CHARACTERS SO THAT THEY'RE NOT ALL THE SAME.

IT'S DISTINCTIVE PEOPLE DANCING TOGETHER, WHICH IS ALSO REFLECTIVE OF US, RIGHT WHERE ALL ARE PEOPLE DANCING?

NOT JUST ANSWERS.

EXECUTING STEPS.

A COMMON THREAD RUNS THROUGH ALL 6 STANCE IS INCLUDED IN THIS WEEKEND'S CLASSIC PLUS CONTEMPORARY PROGRAM.

>> STORYTELLING IS A BIG PART OF WHERE WE'RE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.

MAKING SURE REALLY TELLING THEM STORIES, NOT JUST DOING SOME STEPS OR SOME MOVEMENTS.

AND I THINK THAT GOES A LONG WAY IN.

BRINGING THE AUDIENCE INTO WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE DOING.

THE CUBAN TECHNIQUE ALSO BRINGS AUDIENCES INTO THEIR PERFORMANCES NOTES, ISABELLA SERRANO, CUBANS, 10 TO DO.

>> MORE CHECKS AND MORE EXPANSIVE THINGS IN THEIR LINES ARE VERY NOT AGGRESSIVE.

BUT LIKE STRONG AND EVEN THE WOMEN ARE VERY LIKE STRONG DANCERS.

AND EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THESE CHECKS AND THINGS, IT'S VERY TECHNICAL STILL, BUT WE JUST ALWAYS PUSH THAT LIMIT WITH BIGGER JOBS TRICKS TO AS MANY TIMES AS YOU CAN AND PEOPLE LIKE THAT.

>> WITH VIDEOGRAPHY BY ANDREA MELENDEZ.

THIS IS TOM HALL FOR WDSU NEWS.

>> FOR MORE ON THE ART HAPPENINGS AROUND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH TOM HALL BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

AFTER A BREAK, BUILDING A LEGACY AFTER 3 HIGH SCHOOLERS PASSED AWAY.

THE INTERACTIVE GARDEN THAT IS UNITING THE SCHOOL AND PRESERVING LASTING MEMORIES FOR THEIR LOST LAST SCHOOL YEAR WAS ESPECIALLY TOUGH FOR STUDENTS AT LEHIGH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

3 STUDENTS LOST THEIR LIVES.

ALL 3 WERE MEMBERS OF A NONVIOLENCE CLUB THAT EMERGED AFTER THE SANDY HOOK SCHOOL SHOOTING AND HIS WGCUS.

DAYNA HARPSTER LEARNED ALL 3 STUDENTS WERE INTEGRAL TO THE KINDNESS, INTERACTIVE ROCK GARDEN THAT WAS INSTALLED IN THE SCHOOL'S COURTYARD.

>> TO THE ADVISER AND MEMBERS OF THE STAFF OF VIOLENCE EVERYWHERE, PROMISE CLUB.

THE LAST OF 3 OF THEIR OWN WAS HARD TO COMPREHEND.

ACCORDING TO ADVISER JUDITH CENTER ON THE ROCK GARDEN IN THE LEHIGH COURTYARD IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS NEEDED AND WHAT STUDENT LEADER SHIELA CUSTOMERS HAD ENVISIONED.

SHE WAS THE LEADER OF THE GROUP.

>> CREATING THIS AND THE IDEA >> AND SHE WANTED TO BE I GARDEN.

>> THAT EVERYBODY CAN COME.

AND THESE DATA PIECE OF ROCK.

JUST A MEMORY RICE, WHAT THEY HAVE DONE DURING THE YEAR AND SHE PASSED AWAY.

AND THAT HE DOES EVERYBODY VERY HARD.

AND THEN BETWEEN UP TO WHERE NOVEMBER WE LOST MICHAEL.

>> A JET SKI ACCIDENT TOOK SHIELA SLIGHT.

MICHAEL RAMOS WAS KILLED IN AN E-BIKE ACCIDENT.

>> AND HE ACTUALLY DECORATED SOME OF THE ROCKS HERE.

>> LANDON FILUS WAS JUST 15 WHEN HE DIED BY SUICIDE.

HE IS NOW MEMORIALIZED ALONGSIDE SHIELA AND MICHAEL IN THE ROCK GARDEN.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE NOT ONLY IS >> THE CENTER AT ONE.

THIS TO BE A LEGACY FOR US.

>> AND LEGACY THAT KIDS CAN COM LEARN AND AND HELP OTHERS.

AND I THINK WE MADE THAT HAPPEN.

>> QR CODES ON ONE WHILE LINKED TO RESOURCES FOR WHATEVER MAY TROUBLE A STUDENT.

>> THEY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS.

WE HAVE GOING PREVENTION.

WE HAVE IT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP.

WE HAVE TO ACT CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP WEBSITE.

SO WE HAVE KIND OF SING INCLUSION.

WE HAVE BODIES AND PREVENTION OF SCHOOL SAFETY.

WE HAVE TO DO TO CITIZENSHIP AND ON EYE SAFETY.

AND WE HAVE COMMUNITY SERVICE AND VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES.

>> CINTRON WROTE TO INSPIRATIONAL SONGS AND ANOTHER ONE EACH FOR THE STUDENTS TO BE REMEMBERED WITH THE HELP OF AI.

SHE SET THEM TO MUSIC PROMISE.

WE PROUDLY SPEAK YOUR NAME.

>> FROM MICHAEL BROUGHT THE ENERGY TO THE TEAM, WORKING TO TRY.

>> TILLIS, SEVERAL FAMILIES HELPED WITH THE MEMORIAL, INCLUDING STUDENT LIZ, ABOUT MCCAIN.

US.

>> ME AND MY DAD AND MY SISTER AND MY MOM.

WE ALL HOPE BUILD THIS ROCK GARDEN OVER THE SUMMER.

AND WE HOW TO MAKE THE TIRES WE HELPED WITH THE LOCKS WE HELPED WITH BASICALLY EVERYTHING WE HOPED BUILT THIS.

WE HELP.

I HOPE THIS PROJECT COME TO LIFE.

>> STUDENT DAVID GONZALEZ HAS OBSERVED THEIR EFFORTS WORKING.

>> I SEE A COUPLE OF KIDS COMING HERE AND THAT'S MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I'M LIKE A LITTLE HAPPY THAT O O O ROURKE IS.

SO WORKING TOO.

IF THE STUDENTS IN ONE PLACE.

>> IT'S DOING THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SENT RYAN HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> ONE THE LEGACY TO BE AN EDUCATIONAL PIECE, ONE THEIR LEGACY TO BE WHAT THEY WERE AMAZING STUDENTS.

AMAZING KIDS.

I'M 18 YOUNG TEACHER, EDUCATORS.

AND I KNOW THAT WHATEVER THEY ARE THEY'RE GOING TO BE HAPPY AND PROUD OF WHAT WE TRIED TO DO.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M DAYNA HARPSTER >> THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION HAS A NUMBER OF CAMERAS SET UP AS PART OF ITS RESEARCH INSTITUTE AS A WAY TO CAPTURE PICTURES OF OUR STATE'S WILDLIFE AND EXACTLY WHERE IT MAY BE LOCATED THESE IMAGES OF A FLORIDA PANTHER AND HER YOUNG IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY ARE GARNERING MUCH ATTENTION.

FWC SAYS THE PANTHER FAMILY WAS SEEN AT BABCOCK RANCH, PRESERVE IN MARCH.

THEN AGAIN IN JULY, ACCORDING TO FWC, THE SIGHTINGS SHOW THAT FLORIDA PANTHERS ARE CAPABLE OF EXPANDING THEIR BREEDING RANGE NORTH OF THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER.

FWC ESTIMATES THERE ARE BETWEEN 12230 REMAINING IN THE WILD.

ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM.

IT'S A LIFE AFTER TAKING PART IN THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH.

WE VISIT THE SANCTUARY IN MYAKKA THAT IS PROVIDING A RETIRED LIFESTYLE.

4 FORMER CIRCUS ELEPHANTS.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WD CCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.