Boys & Girls Clubs Ballet Outreach Program

Since its first lesson in March of 2003, the Springfield Ballet Company’s Boys & Girls Clubs Ballet Outreach program has been very successful. Through this partnership, children who otherwise may not have the opportunity to experience dance are learning about and appreciating the fine arts – all while boosting self-esteem, individual strength and creativity.

The partnership between the Springfield Ballet Company and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield offers members a unique opportunity to learn classical ballet technique at no cost to the participants. Ballet provides children with poise, grace, discipline, coordination, confidence and a strong sense of self-worth. These qualities will positively affect all aspects of their lives and their future educational pursuits.

Classes are held at the Boys & Girls Clubs facility on Fridays, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Our season begins with an eight-week session in the fall, which concludes with an opportunity to attend our annual production of The Nutcracker free of charge. We then have an eight-week session in the spring, which concludes with a recital performance at the Hoogland Center for the Arts.

SBC Ballet Mistress Gina DeCroix Russell oversees the Boys & Girls Clubs Ballet Outreach Program; SBC dancer Tiffany Riech serves as the program's lead instructor; and Company dancers Alana Aragon, Olivia Carey, Jaclyn Conway, Kaitlin Fear, Jaelin Heavisides, Kendall Heuman, Taylor Krech, Genie Melamed, Caragan Phillips, Emily Standley, Danielle Swinford and Rachel Woerner serve as assistant ballet instructors for the 2011-2012 season.

Our 2012-2013 Boys & Girls Clubs Ballet Outreach Program is proudly sponsored by Marine Bank. Through this sponsorship, the SBC is able to provide leotards, tights, ballet shoes, dance bags and "dancer" t-shirts to all of our Boys & Girls Clubs Ballet Outreach Program participants free of charge.

Photos: Jim Mrosko