In addition to a strong artistic mission, Connecticut Ballet has a social mission involving outreach to youngsters in the communities of Bridgeport, Stamford, Waterbury, Danbury, Hartford and Norwalk. The Dance Exposure Project provides tuition-free dance instruction and in-school assembly programs which expose youngsters to various dance styles and movement themes. Wholly funded by corporate, foundation, and individual grants, the program has provided dance training to more than 2,150 students since its inception in 1991. The program provides satellite instruction for host schools and accelerated tuition-free training for third, fourth, and fifth graders at Connecticut Ballet Center, the official school of Connecticut Ballet.

DANBURY DANCE INITIATIVE: For info about the Danbury program initiative in the 2007-08 school year, please read the recent article in the  Danbury News Times about our ballroom and drumming classes for middle-school students (http://neighbors.newstimeslive.com/story.php?id=76047). Participants in the Danbury Dance Initiative include leading educators, social service agencies, funders, and dance professionals. The program receives support from the Fairfield County Community Foundation, Savings Bank of Danbury, and the Danbury Cultural Commission. For a list of Danbury Task Force members, click here. Connecticut Ballet made its first self-presented appearance at Danbury High School on  Oct. 26, 2007, featuring the full-length 'Sleeping Beauty.'

WATERBURY DANCE INITIATIVE: Begun in the Spring of 2007, the focus has been on expanding available dance resources and performance opportunities for Waterbury youth and the interested general public. Support has been received from the White Charitable Fund and additional support is being solicited from the Connecticut Community Foundation and others. Programs have included partnerships with Waterbury Housing Authority and the Waterbury Public Schools. For a list Waterbury Task Force participants, click here.

Auditions are open to incoming third and fourth graders attending public schools in Stamford and Norwalk.   No previous experience is necessary. Students should be acompanied by a parent/guardian and should be in dance clothes or loose clothing..

To arrange an audition, please call Dana Rodriguez, Director of Education for details at 203-964-1211.

Click aqui for details (en espanol). Talent-based scholarships are available to students in third and fourth grades. The accelerated after-school program thus provides a valuable training and career track to students without regard to their socio-economic or cultural background.

For further information, please contact Dana Rodriguez, Director of Education, at 203-964-1211 or E-mail to: ctballet@ix.netcom.com.

Special thanks to the following Dance Exposure Project funders:

Bank of America

Citicorp Travelers

Barbara Benton Davis Fund of the Fairfield County Community Foundation

Ensworth Charitable Trust

Estate of Ruth Krauss

Fairfield County Community Foundation Donor-Advised Funds

Hans Hopf Fund

MBI, Inc.

Meserve Memorial Fund

NewAlliance Foundation

People's United Bank

Pepperidge Farm

Perrin Family Foundation

Savings Bank of Danbury

The Tow Foundation

UBS

White Charitable Fund

Xerox Foundation