Outreach and Education

The Joffrey Ballet of
Chicago’s Middle School Dance Clubs program in the Chicago Public
Schools is a two year program  to
help create and support dance clubs in the middle schools (Grades 5-8) and
to give students experiences in and exposure to the exciting world of
dance. Artistic Director Gerald Arpino’s goal is to create dance clubs
throughout the city of Chicago as a way to insure younger, better informed
audiences for dance while at the same time developing self-discipline and
self-esteem in our youth.

Each year five new
schools are chosen for a two-year project. Our first schools began in
January of 1996. Our fourth group entered the program in January of 1999.
We plan to choose our next group of schools in the spring of 2000.

The centerpiece of the
Middle School Dance Clubs is a two week intensive program when dancers
from The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago come to the schools to teach actual
(though simplified) JBC ballets to the students. The first week consists
of rehearsals at each school. The second is a week of performances by the
students at each of the participating schools. The same dancers visit each
year of the program often creating warm bonds between the dancers,
students and contact teachers.

In addition to the
intensive program, participating schools have the opportunity to watch The
Joffrey Ballet of Chicago at rehearsal and to attend performances, free of
charge, throughout the two years. In addition, members of the company’s
artistic staff visit each school to teach movement classes to the
students. We invite the entire faculty of all participating schools to The
Joffrey Ballet of Chicago Studios to experience movement classes specially
designed for teachers so that they may develop comfort with dance.

Written material has
been created for all parts of the program. Each school is provided with a
music cassette made for the Middle School Dance Clubs.

The Joffrey Ballet of
Chicago Middle School Dance Club program is free to participating schools. 

Eligibility:

• Limited to Chicago Public
  Schools–Grades 5-8

• Two teachers 
  (one to be an alternate) to act as Dance Club coordinators and
  participate in planning meetings. The coordinators should also be
  present and participating at all dance club classes, rehearsals and
  performances

• Commitment and support of 
  both the coordinators and the principal for the two years

• Commitment to two consecutive
  weeks for the Intensive program

Each participating
school should be able to provide a classroom or gymnasium large enough to
accommodate 20 freely moving bodies and a performance space (auditorium or
gymnasium) when needed.

Application:

Send a letter stating
your interest in the program and your ability to commit to the two years.
The two teacher coordinators and the principal should sign the letter and
send it to:

Carla
Graham-White

For additional information: (312) 739-0120
[email protected]