Ballet Austin Education

Underwritten by A Glimmer of Hope Austin

Dance in the Classroom brings a weekly pre-ballet lesson directly to students on their school campus. This program is led by Toni Bravo, long-time faculty member at the Ballet Austin Academy. Ms. Bravo also founded and leads the Leaps and No Bounds program, a school-based dance program that focuses on using kinesthetic learning as a means of reinforcing the skills necessary for success on state curriculum standards that has served the students of greater Austin since 1995.

The Pre-Ballet curriculum is a prelude to formal ballet instruction and introduces children ages 5–7 to music and movement through a structured progression that stresses creativity and group interaction. An excellent and fun introduction to classical ballet and fine arts, the Pre-Ballet syllabus is introduced at a time when fine and gross motor skills are becoming more refined. By introducing students to the basic shapes, positions, postures and traditions of classical ballet, the Pre-Ballet curriculum enhances both cognitive and physical development at this important time.

The students participating in Dance in the Classroom study the Pre-Ballet curriculum during Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade. At the end of 2nd grade, students who have completed the in-classroom program are invited to attend a summer program at Ballet Austin. Upon completing the summer program, the students are eligible for a scholarship to study Level 1 Ballet at the Ballet Austin Academy during 3rd grade.

Current studies* show that the impact of the arts on education clearly indicate that arts experiences do play a significant role: enhancing academic achievement, reaching students on the margins of the educational system, creating an effective learning environment and helping learners connect experiences to the world outside of school. The arts help students build skills that are essential for success in the 21st-century workforce.

*Champions of Change: The Impact of the Arts on Learning, 1999 and Issue Brief: The Impact of Arts Education on Workforce Preparation, 2002