Community Engagement
The Sarasota Ballet believes dance is for everyone and takes pride in making dance accessible to all. For over 30 years, The Sarasota Ballet has been committed to its mission of “strengthening community through the art of dance”.
The Sarasota Ballet’s Community Engagement Department offers complimentary or low-cost programs crucial in ensuring that a diverse range of people can experience and appreciate the beauty of dance. By reaching out to new audiences and revitalizing communities, The Sarasota Ballet is not only contributing to the cultural richness of the area but also providing opportunities for individuals to connect with and find inspiration in the art of dance.
2 Areas of community engagement
Dance – The Next Generation
Dance – The Next Generation (DNG), the Sarasota Ballet’s flagship community engagement program proudly serving local youth for over 30 years.
Community Engagement
Debuting in 2022, Community Engagement gathers and highlights the ways The Sarasota Ballet serves the community each season reaching thousands often underserved in the performing arts. Community Engagement provides access and opportunity for those five to 95 to explore and experience the world of dance.
Dance – The next generation
Dance – The Next Generation (DNG) is designed to nurture the development of the entire individual through dance. With a focus on fostering dance appreciation, heightening self-esteem, and strengthening a desire for higher education, DNG has served the children in our community for over thirty years.
Community Engagement – Youth Pillar
school performances & programs
The Sarasota Ballet appreciates the opportunity to engage our community’s children in what is often their first introduction to live, classical ballet. The Sarasota Ballet engages 2,500 students each Season bringing them to the theater for special matinee performances as well as going into schools and offering interactive workshops, in-school performances, as well as instructional masterclasses.
Community Engagement – Adaptive Pillar
JOYFUL MOVEMENT THROUGH PARKINSON’S & Silver swans®
The Sarasota Ballet is honored to offer adaptive dance classes to community members wishing to enjoy dance in a modified yet structured manner. We strive to provide enjoyable, inclusive, and safe dance environments for those living with long-term or lifelong physical, social, cognitive, or social disabilities.
Joyful Movement Through Parkinson’s
Joyful Movement Through Parkinson’s offers dance classes for those with Parkinson’s in partnership with the Neuro Challenge Foundation. Our teachers are specially certified through Mark Morris Dance Group’s Dance for Parkinson’s teacher training program.
Silver Swans®
Silver Swans® offers opportunities for those 55+ to dance within their retirement communities in classes which combine movement, music, and dance history.
Community Engagement – Community Pillar
Community Experiences
The Sarasota Ballet appreciates the opportunity to engage the community in a variety of ways. We aim to create awareness and appreciation of dance by offering quality experiences to communities and populations that may face barriers accessing the arts.
We offer a variety of options through Community Experiences allowing our dancers and The Sarasota Ballet staff to interact with the community through small group events such as lecture demonstrations and community performances in unconventional spaces and family dance events. The Sarasota Ballet also offers low-cost or complimentary tickets to our professional performances for marginalized community groups.
With a variety of experiences, individuals or groups can tailor offerings to best suit their needs. With continually expanding community relationships, The Sarasota Ballet is energized to broaden Community Experiences building long-term and invested audiences.
