Latin Ballet of Virginia

Results: Results of BPS pre- and post-residency surveys, coupled with observations by the academic teachers and LBV dance teachers, revealed that there was a need for more emphasis on literacy skill-building through dance. Consequently, we rewrote the curriculum for the literacy component of BPY, called Everybody Reads! and gave it a more central place in the program. The result was an increase in SOL reading scores among BPY participants. Partly on the basis of this result, we have since received funding especially for Everybody Reads! from the E. Rhodes and Leona Carpenter Foundation and the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Our award winning programs have proven to be effective in teaching language skills, educating on cultural history and customs, and exposing children to the arts.

Target demographics: At-Risk Youth, Educate on Culture and History, Exposure to the Arts

Direct beneficiaries per year: 75,000

Geographic areas served: Virginia

Programs: The Be Proud of Yourself Program Tailored to the specific needs of a school program or students with which it is associated. In most cases the Be Proud of Yourself residency culminates in a performance in which the students showcase what they have learned for the entire school year and a general audience. This component impacts both the students and the community as it creates an environment of sharing culture with the community and imparting the knowledge obtained to a larger audience. Each element of the Be Proud of Yourself program is described in detail below: Spanish Through Dance Program Concentrates on the practical use of Spanish in relationship to the body, to movement and to music. Classes focus towards Spanish colonization of South America and its affect on music and dance – how the blending of cultures has not only shaped the performing arts but, has given birth to new forms of expression. Dance as Therapy Program Introduces children with a variety of special needs to the joy of movement and the cultures of Spain and Latin America. The groups served by this program may include children facing physical challenges such as Cerebral Palsy or Rhett’s Syndrome, or cognitive/emotional challenges including Autism, ADD/ADHD, learning delays, or Mental Retardation. Often, children facing these challenges experience low self-esteem and self-worth. The Dance as Therapy program develops imagination, memory, social skills, positive body image, and problem solving while building confidence and promoting self- respect through artistic expression. English as a Second Language through Dance (ESL) Program Eases the transition for students who have immigrated to the United States and are not necessarily proficient in English or comfortable in their new surroundings. Students connect dance to language, culture and history, while improving their ability to understand and appreciate their new environment and move comfortably into their educational setting as a whole. EveryBody Reads! Program Designed to supplement all of the above programs. Through music and movements, relationships are made to language and vocalizations, which reinforce pre-literacy and literacy skills. Arts Education Summer Day Camp As a continuation of the Be Proud of Yourself program at the schools the Latin Ballet has created the intensive BPY Arts Education Summer Day Camp to provide the opportunity for children who participated during the school year to be able to continue their development in arts-education.