New York, NY – October 9, 2024 – The Joffrey Ballet School is excited to offer “Dance Me a Story,” an outreach program designed to inspire and provide access to dance education for children ages 5-7 in New York City especially those who have historically been underserved. This free, four-week program will take place on Sundays from 1:00-2:15 pm at the Joffrey Ballet School, with classes scheduled for October 27, November 3, November 10, and November 17. 

The program aims to nurture and inspire young dancers by combining elements of creative movement, ballet, and storytelling in an inclusive and engaging environment. At the end of the program, participants will receive two complimentary tickets to the Joffrey Ballet School’s production of The Nutcracker at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, taking place December 14-15, 2024.

“Dance Me a Story is not just about teaching dance; it’s about fostering creativity, connection, and a love for the arts in our youngest dancers. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to explore their imagination through movement, and we hope to welcome children typically underserved in NYC to the program,” said Jo Matos, Artistic Director of Joffrey Ballet School.

“We are thrilled to offer this program to children from all backgrounds in our community. We understand the importance of representation in the arts and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where every child can find their voice and express themselves through movement,” said Frank Lee Merwin, Executive Director of Joffrey Ballet School.

About “Dance Me a Story”

“Dance Me a Story” is a multi-disciplinary program designed to introduce young children to dance and literature. Over four weeks, participants will be guided through the journey of The Nutcracker, led by our year round Instructors and Teaching Assistants from the Joffrey Ballet School Trainee Program. Through the use of creative dance movement, children will explore the actions and emotions of the characters in The Nutcracker, bringing the story to life through physical expression.

In each 75-minute session, students will develop an understanding of action verbs and their relation to movement, using the themes of The Nutcracker to enhance their creativity. As a stepping stone to ballet technique, the program will introduce basic concepts of coordination, musicality, and stability, set to live piano music. 

The program will also incorporate prop-making crafts, allowing participants to create items that will be used during their dance explorations, further connecting the themes of the story to their movement. Special care will be taken to ensure that the curriculum is accessible to children with tactile or auditory sensitivities, or other special needs.

How to Register:

To register, participants must be between the ages of 5 and 7. For more information or to secure your child’s spot, please visit: https://www.joffreyballetschool.com/childrens-ballet/dance-me-a-story/ 

About Lower Manhattan Cultural Council:

This project is made possible in part with funds from Creative Learning, a regrant program supported by The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by LMCC. LMCC serves, connects, and makes space for artists and community. For more info please visit: https://lmcc.net

About Joffrey Ballet School:

The Joffrey Ballet School is a renowned dance institution based in New York City. Dance visionaries Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino founded the school in 1953, offering a world-class training program that celebrates boundary-breaking performances and commitment to artistic excellence. The Joffrey Ballet School continues to shape the future of dance through innovative training programs that prepare students to confidently pursue a career in dance throughout the worlds of concert and commercial dance.

Outreach Program Contacts:

Joffrey Ballet School, Artistic Director, Jo Matos, jomatos@joffreyballetschool.com
Joffrey Ballet School, Program Manager, Lana Fuqua, lanaf@joffreyballetcenter.org

Media Contact:

Joffrey Ballet School, Maria Zamri, marketing@joffreyballetschool.com