Since 1999, IBE has provided highly successful residency programs to schools in the Philadelphia School District, including Simon Gratz High School, Girls High, University City High School, Northeast High School, Kenderton Elementary School, Anna B. Pratt Elementary and George Washington High School.

Residencies consist of a full year of ballet training, twice weekly, which culminates in a collaborative ballet performance with other local ballet students who study privately. The performance is free for elementary school children in the Philadelphia School District and is performed in the spring during the daytime hours.

Residency students also are provided with free tickets and transportation to the Donetsk Ballet's production of The Nutcracker.

“Ballet has helped my students to communicate feelings, images and thoughts that would never have been revealed had it not been for their experience with IBE.
Students entering the school anticipate the opportunity to be part of the residency, and many graduates of the program have been inspired to become dance educators and teachers of the performing arts, and are currently enrolled in various universities and colleges.
Without IBE, many students would lose the opportunity for such a meaningful, motivating experience.” - Dr. Delores Williams, Principal, Simon Gratz High School