Archive for February, 2011
Little Ballerinas
I was fortunate to share “The Merry Widow” ballet at the Joffrey with a few special first and second graders. These were girls who had just started a community partnership program where The Joffrey Ballet holds after school ballet lessons for students at eight Chicago Public Schools. In addition, certain shining stars are chosen as scholarship dancers. These little dancers then attend Saturday ballet lessons (for free) to continue their dance studies.
Not only am I writing to applaud the Joffrey, but to share with you the excitement these little ballerinas were exhibiting in the theatre during intermission. It was inspiring to see them not only demonstrate their knowledge of dance by showing me their positions of the feet and ballet vocabulary, but to retell the story of the ballet they were witnessing on this day.
How can we bring more dance into our communities? How can we invite more children to be exposed to the art of dance? I believe a.r.t can help! Why is a.r.t. important? My visit to Chicago yesterday was a shining example of why we need a.r.t. … why our children need a.r.t.!
Dance and love,
Christina M. Ratatori
