IBE BRINGS BALLET TO PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Since 1999 IBE has brought its unique 30-week ballet course to schools in the Philadelphia School District.

The students study ballet with IBE’s master teaching artists in residence, learning about body awareness, focus, choreography, and the vocabulary and mathematics of dance and music.

Along with artists from IBE, the students perform for their school community and families. The benefit of performing is that along with ballet fundamentals, the students experience teamwork, work towards a long-term goal, and gain confidence. Recent performances have included excerpts from IBE’s A Winter’s Dream and Cinderella/Cenicienta and original pieces choreographed for the class.

IBE provides ballet slippers, dance attire, and costumes for the performances.

Current residency site

John B. Kelly Elementary School

Samuel Pennypacker Elementary School (pilot in 2023-2024)

Frances E. Willard Elementary School

Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts