About ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Nashville Ballet brings innovative educational dance programming to elementary schools across Middle Tennessee. Working to achieve our mission to develop and cultivate audiences with a lifelong appreciation for the essential and inspiring art of dance, we offer a variety of educational programming that uniquely integrates arts education with core academic subjects including language arts, math, science, and social studies.
Utilizing standards-based dance education workbooks, interactive teacher resources, movement exercises, and activities taught by our professional teaching artists, we assist educators in helping students of all ages strengthen their academic performance while increasing their awareness, knowledge, and utilization of dance and the arts.
All Community Engagement programs can offer an arts integration experience and feature an engaging interactive demonstration component that is tailored to the age of the scheduled audience.
Bring nashville ballet to your school!
dance me a story: Carnival of the Animals
The audience follows the Lion as he journeys through this wild jungle full of whimsical characters. It’s a joyous celebration when the Lion learns that we are basically all the same on the inside, but it’s our differences that make life interesting.
Recommended for ages 5+.
Performed by NB2 Trainees, Nashville Ballet’s official 2nd company.
Utilizing classical and contemporary dance, drama, music, literature, and visual arts, our Dance Me A Story performances feature narrative children’s ballets based on diverse cultural folk tales, fairy tales, and literary classics. By stimulating creativity and curiosity, these engaging performances encourage children to seek the arts as a positive means for their social, physical and mental growth.
PERFORMANCES
Touring February 26-March 1 — Contact Briona Richardson at brichardson@nashvilleballet.com to book your performance.
Cost $750
Financial assistance is available, click here to learn more.
FIELD TRIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE 2023/24 SCHOOL YEAR
NASHVILLE NUTCRACKER MATINEE
Students will see Act I of the holiday classic, Nashville’s Nutcracker, inspired by the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Through this experience, students learn all about the Tennessee history that makes this classic story unique to Nashville. This performance is accompanied by an Educator’s Guide, with pre and post-activities that meet Tennessee State Academic Standards.
Contact us to see if your school qualifies to attend this performance for FREE.
rehearsal viewing, tour, and masterclass
Expand your classroom by stepping into ours! Watch a rehearsal and tour the Martin Center for Nashville Ballet to see our studios, costume shop, and production warehouse to learn how a professional ballet company operates. Or take a masterclass in ballet or contemporary, led by a School of Nashville Ballet faculty member.
Recommended for grades 5th-12th.
teaching artist experiences
dance and resiliency now!
Bring Nashville Ballet Teaching Artists to your school, classroom, or educational program to teach participants and students about artistic expression and self-confidence. Available virtually or in person. Click here to learn more about Teaching Artist visits.
Cost: Financial assistance is available.
Recommended for ages 5+.
arts integration experiences
Activate your lesson plan with Arts Integration! Partner with a Nashville Ballet Teaching Artist to turn your lesson into a unique, kinesthetic learning experience that will engage and invigorate your students. Click here to learn more about Arts Integration experiences. Available virtually or in person.
Cost: Starting at $150.
Recommended for Grades 1-5.
Residency School Partnerships
Now accepting applications for the 23/24 academic year, click here to request details.
Nashville Ballet partners with pre-selected area Title 1 MNPS elementary schools to provide live dance performance experiences at no cost to the school or students. Students ages 6 to 10 are also eligible to audition to receive annual full scholarships to train with the internationally recognized faculty and staff of the School of Nashville Ballet.
literacy Celebrations
Appearances at Local Schools to Celebrate Literacy
Dancers, instructors, and staff members of Nashville Ballet will travel to local schools during Literacy Celebrations to read stories and hold interactive learning adventures for students. Contact your school to inquire about our participation or book an appearance with Senior Manager of Community Engagement Briona Richardson at brichardson@nashvilleballet.com or 615-297-2966 x111.
For more info on Teaching Artists and Arts Integration, click here.