The Sacramento Ballet’s Leaps and Bounds Program has expanded greatly since its inception in 2007.  The program, which offers free ballet classes to Sacramento public school students, free dance uniforms, and tickets to attend the annual performance of the Nutcracker, began at William Land Elementary with beginning ballet classes. This year an intermediate ballet class was added allowing returning students to advance their ballet technique.  A performance componant was added to the curriculum, which allowed students to learn and rehearse choreography, experience the performing side of the dance arts on a large stage.  This successful model will now reach three times as many Sacramento City Unified students, with partnerships formed with Washington Elementary and the Language Academy of Sacramento. Students will participate in weekly ballet classes, attend Sacramento Ballet company rehearsals at their downtown studios, participate in dance education curriculum sessions incorporating art, music, history and culutre, attend the Nutcracker ballet and other performances in the company repertoire, perform at the end of the school year for their community, and finally take part in summer ballet classes with financial aid through Sacramento Ballet’s Dance Education Training Program.  The Leaps and Bounds Program allows the community to come together around dance, and for students to learn about themselves and their world while honing and perfecting their dance and performance skills. 

Bringing Dance to Hiram Johnson High School Students
Last fall, the Sacramento Ballet and Hiram Johnson High School joined forces to create a program to bring the art of dance directly on campus through a series of master classes and workshops over an 8 month period.  Designed by Carinne Binda of the Sacramento Ballet, and Cyndy Borcich of Hiram Johnson High School, this partnership created a pilot program prior to the school launching its new School of the Arts (SOTA) in the fall of 2010.  The collaboration between high school students and working professionals in the field of dance has been an incredible success.

From September to May, the Ballet presented 28 master classes on campus with artists specializing in a variety of dance forms.  The students received training in Flamenco, Musical Theatre, Social Dance, Choreography, Contact Improvisation and more. Additionally, the school’s dance students were invited to attend three performances of the Sacramento Ballet at the Community Center Theater, including The Nutcracker and Carmina Burana.  With both the goal to inspire creativity and strengthen the relationship between the Sacramento Ballet and the community, the program was a tremendous success from start to finish.  The dance students were introduced to the rigors, athleticism, beauty and power of dance and the year-end, joint performance was a fulfilling outlet for self expression.

The program culminated on May 19th with a joint performance in the campus’ beautiful Chappell Theater. The mid-day performance featured the artists of the Sacramento Ballet alternating works performed by the high school’s dance students.  The 1300 seat theater was packed.  Both professional and student dancers received numerous ovations from the enthusiastic high school audience. City Councilmember, Rob Fong, along with representatives from the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission and Bank of America were among the attendees at this inspiring performance.

Bringing Dance into the Community
CK McClatchy High School Gets Excited about Dance

The Sacramento Ballet continued its Dance Education and Community Outreach efforts during March with a special program for the students at C.K. McClatchy High School; and with a number of community groups attending performances of Carmina Burana at the Sacramento Community Center Theater. 

At McClatchy, the Company did two assembly programs for students from the Humanities and International Studies classes, as well as those from Dance and Physical Education classes.  The program opened with Roberto Cisneros performing his hilarious “Miguel & Miguelita” solo from Michael Smuin’s Frankie & Johnny – the one where he portrays BOTH partners in a Tango.  THAT definitely got the students’ attention. 

Joining Roberto were dancers Nikki and Ethan White, who performed their own untitled pas de deux; Alex Cunningham and Sunchai Muy.  With narration from Co-Artistic Director Carinne Binda, the students were then invited to learn part of the opening choreography from Carmina Burana.  This led to a discussion of creativity and the creative process.  As with most of our educational programs, the students were raptly attentive. 

Partnership with William Land Elementary School

Kids who think ballet is not for them should see William Land Elementary School’s dance class taught by the Sacramento Ballet.

“Certainly no one could make that comment about ballet as it’s being taught at William Land right now,” said Phil Stohr, a volunteer with Westminster Presbyterian Church, which supports the program.

While the class includes formal ballet instruction, Sacramento Ballet teaching artist Vanessa Bautista has also rolled in other dance forms, including jazz and contemporary dance, but still with a strong ballet base.

The dance class for third-graders began in the 2007-2008 school year after Stohr and his church began tutoring at the school but wanted to see more art enrichment programs. Now in its third year, it has expanded to build on the basics for past students now in fourth and fifth grades. The class has an average of 15-20 kids each week.

“After they started dancing, the students wanted to learn harder steps and some even said they want to be dancers when they grow up,” Bautista said. “They really enjoy it and are applying themselves.”

To prepare the students for a traditional ballet class setting and to give them a sense of their commitment, each dancer is given dance clothes.

“When you put on dance attire, you have a role to play,” Bautista said. “You’re ready to work hard and apply yourself to this art form.”

In addition to classroom instruction, students also visit the Sacramento Ballet studio, watching company dancers rehearse. All the school’s third-graders also receive complimentary tickets to The Nutcracker along with a backstage tour.

“The program gives them exposure to the visual and performing arts,” said Ellen Lee Carlson, William Land principal. “When they get to middle school and high school, I want them to have at least one passion so when it comes time to choose electives, they have options.”

With several of the students now returning, the group will perform its first recital, involving parents in a variety of ways, including sewing costumes and hosting refreshments.

“We asked parents to tell us what talents they have that could contribute to this performance,” Bautista said. “ Now it’s not just my daughter or son does ballet over there, it’s the whole family, the whole school, the Sacramento Ballet—it’s a whole community of people supporting children, the arts and dance.”