Project Success recently brought to life a first-of-its-kind dance residency program to Mankato Middle school students in partnership with Mankato Ballet Company. Over the course of four days, more than 1,700 students at Dakota Meadows and Prairie Winds Middle Schools had the opportunity to experience ballet – many for the first time.
During their regularly scheduled gym classes, 6el, 7el, and 8el grade students gathered to stretch, learn fun facts about ballet, and practice the five fundamental ballet positions. They mastered a three-step ballet turn and then put everything they had learned together to perform a one-minute dance sequence from The Nutcracker and then performed it for their peers.
The residency encouraged students to learn about a type of dance they might not have much direct experience with and to see ballet not only as an art form, but also as a physically demanding sport that requires precision, coordination, and strength. Laughter filled the room as students experienced the joy of nailing a tricky part in the dance sequence, or were able to see who was able to spin the most times without falling down. Students supported each other through the surprising challenges that ballet brought and they expressed excitement and admiration when their classmates who currently study with Mankato Ballet Company were able to demonstrate their skills. One student even took the lead, guiding the entire class through the Nutcracker dance without instructor support!
Each class brought excitement and enthusiasm with comments like “I want to be that flexible someday!” and “That was so cool, when can we do ballet again?”. Many also asked how they could continue learning dance outside of school.
The residency not only introduced a new form of dance and creative physical expression, but also expanded students’ understanding of athleticism, discipline, and self-expression. For some, it even sparked a dream of one day becoming professional dancers. We are so grateful for our partnership with Mankato Ballet Company for sharing their time, talents, and passion with our middle school students!
