Ballet Spartanburg has an exceptionally strong educational outreach program which aid community in a variety of ways. Through community outreach, the beauty of dance and the
joy of participation is brought to all segments of the Spartanburg Community. A few examples of current programs include:
After school partnerships with the Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Weed and Seed, City of Spartanburg, Spartanburg School Districts 1, 6 and 7 to help serve at-risk
youth.
Demonstrations are held in conjunction with our public performances at over two dozen Spartanburg County schools throughout the year.
Peter & the Wolf is offered free of charge to all Spartanburg County school children from kindergarten through fifth grade. Study guides and grade-level appropriate activities that connect to the classroom curriculum are provided.
AIM (Art in Motion) is a ten week program that brings creative ballet, jazz, modern and improvisational dance, as well as drawing, painting, and sculpture to students who are unable to afford arts classes during the summer.
Performances and dance demonstrations to nursing homes, hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. Our Professional Company visits many nursing homes bringing excerpts of The Nutcracker to the elderly.
Pilates in Pink classes for breast cancer survivors.
Classes for children with Autism and Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
Free dance/movement classes for Parkinson’s patients twice a month on the first and third Friday of the month.
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Contact Susan Woodham, Outreach Coordinator if you are interested in any of our outreach programs.
Outreach Coordinator
Susan Woodham
swoodham@spartanarts.org
The SC School for the Deaf and the Blind students, 2016, So You Think You Can Dance, Spartanburg!
"Words could never express our sincerest appreciation for inviting our students from the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind to participate in your Inaugural So You Think You Can Dance Spartanburg Event. We were so honored to be selected as one of the groups to particpate. Though our Dance Team did not win 1st place, our students were winners the moment we were invited to be a part of your event.
Thank you so much for all that you did to make our students feel like Stars!!!! We are truly grateful for all of the partnerships that we have and we treasure you and your love for children.
Thank you again. We hope to have the opportunity to participate in the event again in the future."
Ann Akerman
Chief Executive Officer
The Walker Foundation
Supporting the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind
"There are so many positive things to say about attending this class. First, I want to say thank you to those who put together this class and selected Kristina as our instructor. I think it is a beautiful idea to have a class that focuses on the very things that cancer tries to take form us.
Being told that you have cancer hits you at the very core of your being and makes you feel weak, powerless, and like you no longer have control over your body or your future. The focus of Pilates exercise is the exact opposite. Pilates focuses on empowering the student by strengthening the core muscle groups while practicing controlled movement and breathing.
Kristina helped each one of us feel welcome, learning all of our names and always giving us positive feedback. She instructs us that with each movement we may increase our reach and flexibility by the smallest amount and that it is okay to modify the moves as needed or by using a chair or the bar to help us. She reminds us that with time, although the improvement may seem small, each repetition is making us stronger. This is how survivorship is too.
Each of us has our own journey, our own starting point. We may take a little longer, or we many lean on the help of others and the programs offered by the Gibbs Cancer Center and Chapman Cultural Center. But it is all going to be okay, because it is with the small opportunities like this class we are reminded that we are strong, we are powerful, and we are also humbled by the generosity and kindness of others."
Amy Austin- Pilates in Pink Breast Cancer Survivor