Community Engagement
WHO WE SERVE
It has been a long-standing goal of the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education (the Centre) to empower students through dance education and create broader access to ballet through community engagement initiatives. Through strong partnerships with public schools and community organizations throughout metro Atlanta, and support from funding partners, the Centre is able to do just that.
CENTRE DANCE
The Centre Dance program offers in-school and after-school dance instruction to elementary students by integrating dance classes into the standard academic curriculum. This approach provides an alternative learning environment to encourage students’ self-expression and social awareness, while enriching each school day. Students are able to experience many types of dance, including ballet, jazz, modern, and hip-hop. Participating classroom teachers have noticed positive changes in attendance, behavior, and academic performance, as well as a growth in confidence. The Centre for Dance Education and the Centre Dance in-school program have been awarded Fulton County Schools’ PrestigiousPartner Award by Parklane Elementary along with five Blue RibbonAwards. This is the highest award for partnership given by the school system and recognizes organizations that have made unique and lasting impacts on the school, are active members of the school community, and show deep interest in the success of the school.
CENTRE ENSEMBLE
Students who receive a scholarship through the Community Engagement division are selected to participate in the Centre for Dance Education’s Centre Ensemble, in addition to taking classes in the Centre’s Student Division and performing at the annual Spring Concert.
HIGH SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS
The Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education partners with high schools within the Fulton County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Douglas County and Atlanta Public School Systems to provide in-class instruction and offer Community Engagement scholarships for Adult Dance classes. This scholarship program is meant for high school seniors going into collegeto further their dance education.
KIDS IN STEP
The Kids In Step student matinee series offers abridged school-day performances of The Nutcracker and the one-hour family ballet. Past family ballets include Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and The Swan Princess. To help students prepare for their performance experience, teachers receive study guides. For many students, this is their first time seeing a live performance in a theater.
COMMUNITY TICKETS
For over 20 years, Atlanta Ballet has offered complimentary tickets to community partners throughout the metro Atlanta area. Over the last five seasons, over 10,000 tickets were given to a wide variety of organizations.
Tickets Distributed
| 12,770 | KIS Matinees |
| 1,842 | Community tickets to Atlanta Ballet performances |
Centre Dance In-school & After-school Programs
| 324 | Parklane Elementary | 268 | Utopian Academy for the Arts Elementary |
| 15 | City of Refuge | 14 | John H. Harland Boys & Girls Club |
| 156 | Michael R. Hollis Innovation Academy | 13 | Joseph B. Whitehead Boys & Girls Club |
| 790 | TOTAL SERVED | 26 | SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED |
High School Partnerships
| 75 | Tri-Cities HS | 140 | Maynard H. Jackson HS | 45 | New Manchester HS |
| 137 | North Atlanta HS | 100 | Pebblebrook HS | ||
| 497 | TOTAL SERVED | 30 | SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED |