Community Programs

Connecticut Ballet has a long, robust history of community outreach and engagement through its Center for Dance Education, which encompasses school and community programs alike. With a dual mission to expose youth to excellence in dance performance and to provide opportunities to develop student talent through accelerated training, Connecticut Ballet’s Center for Dance Education has touched 300,000+ children throughout the state since 1991.

CENTER FOR DANCE EDUCATION is Connecticut Ballet’s outreach arm, which encompasses educational programs including:

All of the above services are provided as contracted services or tuition-free with the help of philanthropic dollars.

The following are outcomes we seek amongst all the youth we serve:

Building specific dance vocabulary skills
Encouraging greater self-confidence and creative expression
Encouraging physical fitness to combat childhood obesity
Increased cultural literacy through exposure to professional performances

Our educational programs were established in response to a perceived need for access to instructional opportunities in the target districts of Stamford, Norwalk, and Bridgeport. Since 1991, the geographic range of our programs has developed to include districts and institutions throughout the state of Connecticut. Toward that end, we have developed a strong network of community-based social service partners with whom we work to deliver educational programs throughout Connecticut.

We have conducted programs or residencies with the following community-based organizations or schools:

Cedarhurst School, New Haven
Wakeman-Burroughs Boys & Girls Club, Bridgeport
Children's Center of Hamden
Grassroots Danbury, Danbury
Ellington Public Library, Ellington
International School at Dundee, Greenwich &
Julian Curtiss Elementary School, Greenwich
New Beginnings Academy, Bridgeport
Wequonnoc Magnet School, Taftville

Call 860-293-1039 or 203-964-1211 or email us at ctballet@ix.netcom.com for further information.