Community Engagement – Youth Pillar
The Sarasota Ballet appreciates the opportunity to engage our community’s children in what is often their first introduction to live, classical ballet. Through this pillar we aim to help youth develop appreciation for dance by increasing the reach of quality dance experiences for students in their school and at the theatre. For those wishing to expand their interest, they can progress into Dance – The Next Generation, our tuition-free training program for underserved students, or The Sarasota Ballet School.
In the Classroom is part of our Fall offerings, where The Sarasota Ballet comes into schools to conduct an interactive learning workshop about how a ballet comes to life. The workshop combines informational teaching segments with live ballet demonstrations and audience participation. Dancers from The Sarasota Ballet’s Studio Company and The Margaret Barbieri Conservatory illustrate as a narrator guides students through the rich history of ballet, the formation of dance characters, and interactive participation while learning about a chosen story ballet. This program is intended for 3rd – 5th graders and will involve educators and dancers coming into schools. It could be presented at an assembly for all students, within an open classroom, or for specific school groups.
Throughout the entire academic year, The Sarasota Ballet comes into schools offering interactive and introductory ballet lecture demonstrations. These are wonderful ways to introduce students to classical ballet or to reinforce academic curricula such as music, history, or science.
The Sarasota Ballet presents a rare and exciting opportunity for elementary students to attend a special interactive learning experience like no other. Students are treated to a performance, at the theater, featuring dancers from The Sarasota Ballet’s Studio Company and The Margaret Barbieri Conservatory as they bring story ballets to life. The Sarasota Ballet’s School Matinée Performances are led by an Emcee offering informational teaching segments which guide students through live performance segments and audience participation.
For Fall 2023, The Sarasota Ballet will offer School Matinée performances of Coppélia to be held at the Mertz Theater on the campus of Florida State University in Sarasota in late October. While targeted for 3rd & 4th graders, these performances are suitable for middle and high schoolers as well.
