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About Raising the Barre
Since 2002, Ballet Theatre Company has created classes for children to participate in in-studio, after-school dance education and workshops free of charge. In 2018, these free youth-enrichment classes and workshops were formalized and rebranded as Raising the Barre (RTB). The pandemic forced the RTB program into a hiatus, but it is now reborn, refreshed and expanding for future years.

Each RTB session offers least three different dance forms; jazz, hip-hop, jazz and/or European-style ballet. The children in this after-school program enjoy performing arts without parents having to worry about the hefty expense of traditional dance classes. Throughout the school year, the participants may also be exposed to professional ballet costuming and sets that are used by the company for performances; this is a way of immersing children into the life of performing artists.

BTC's current community partners are The Boys and Girls Clubs of Hartford and Hillcrest Area Neighborhood Outreach Center.

The mission of Raising the Barre (RTB) is to provide accessible dance-based performing arts experiences in Hartford and West Hartford in communities that lack funding. To achieve this mission, the RTB program provides bi-annual, dynamic, after-school dance classes for middle-school aged children at partner locations and adds ballet-forward performing arts education.

The Impact
BTC’s RTB supports positive outcomes in student progress that transcend the boundaries of the studio. Students who have participated have shown an increase in coordination, strength, creative problem-solving skills, and self-confidence. Additionally, students enrolled in RTB have demonstrated better overall teamwork skills, self-discipline, motivation, and self-expression. While these traits developed in the studio atmosphere are beneficial for student success in all dance forms, they will additionally provide increased success in other academic and personal endeavors. Past participant organizations have reported improved behavior and increased student satisfaction in outside activities following participation in RTB.  

Each BTC Community Enrichment Program is evaluated throughout the course of the session through instructor evaluations. Each instructor is responsible for submitting an evaluation form following each class that is assessed by the program director and area partner director. The evaluation form analyzes class participation, and tracks student progress in cognitive development, confidence, fitness, and artistry. These forms additionally provide an opportunity for the instructor to reflect on the successes and challenges of each lesson and encourage self-evaluation for continued improvement. The directors use this feedback to recommend modifications or alterations to such programs to ensure progression and/or success. 
HILLCREST AREA NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH CENTER (HANOC)

 The Hillcrest Area Neighborhood Outreach Center (HANOC), serves the area of West Hartford, CT, which is home to the town’s largest concentration of low-income and ethnically diverse population. About 400 families reside in neighborhoods that are part of the city of Hartford’s urban area, but they are outside of the Hartford boundary line. HANOC offers life-skills programs to its residents, as well as an after school homework program from which our workshop participants are chosen.


BTC and HANOC have partnered since 2002.

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF HARTFORD 

In Spring 2019, BTC’s RTB expanded to include an additional partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford. BTC provided its RTB program at the organization’s Asylum Hill location for 10 weeks. Each week, BTC taught three, one-hour dance class to three separate age groups. Like BTC’s partnership with HANOC, these children learned a series of dance techniques including ballet, jazz, and hip hop. The program reached over 50 children ages 5-16 and was financially supported by BTC. BTC is currently expanding its partnership with the Boys and Girls Club.

Raising the Barre is Sponsored by Virtus Investment Partners

As of 2022, Virtus Investment Partners is a proud sponsor of the Raising the Barre program. Thank you!



In 2023, The William and Alice Mortensen Foundation joined as the newest supporter of Raising the Barre. Thank you!

PARTNER WITH US!

Ballet Theatre Company is always seeking new organizations and groups to participate in Raising the Barre. If you are interested in partnering with BTC in the Raising the Barre program, please fill out the contact form below!

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