NCDT Reach

About the Program

Category: Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

In partnership with Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation, North Carolina Dance Theatre’s Community Outreach Dance Program entitled NCDT Reach makes quality dance training accessible to students with evidenced financial need who demonstrate a natural gift for dance and the potential to be trained. The program affords students the opportunity to enrich their lives through dance classes and performances, promoting a strong work ethic, discipline, self-esteem, and an appreciation of the art form. Through this dance scholarship program, dance training is accessible to many who could not otherwise participate. Minority male and female students who are between 7 and 10 years old and who may be from low-income households, or who qualify for the North Carolina Free or Reduced Breakfast/Lunch program, are eligible to audition for year-round scholarships. The program provides two dance classes per week, for twenty-nine consecutive weeks, at no cost to families. All classes are taught by experienced, professional teaching artists. Students may have little or no previous dance training to audition, but should have a desire and commitment to study dance in a disciplined environment, and should exhibit the potential to learn ballet as well as other dance forms.