Greetings, Dance eXchange community!
Reflecting on this incredible first month of the 2023-2024 school year, we’re filled with gratitude for the energy and enthusiasm of our 3rd and 4th grade dancers at our five partner schools. Welcoming them into our 10th year of Dance eXchange has been a heartwarming journey, and their learning spirit is truly inspiring.
Our dancers have already achieved remarkable milestones in their journey. They’ve mastered fundamental routines such as the “Warm Up,” “Runs and Leaps,” “The Numbers Dance,” and our signature Dance eXchange “Goodbye.” Now, they are diving into the world of choreography. With choreographed letters as their guide, each class is in the process of crafting their own unique classroom dances. These pieces will take center stage at the Mandell Theater in March 2024, where dancers will dazzle family and friends with their talent and hard work at our Dance eXchange final performances.
In October, four of our five partner schools embarked on fantastic field trips to the Wilma Theater to experience BalletX’sFall Series. The show left them completely amazed as BalletX’s company dancers wowed everyone with their incredible talent and artistry. Now, our fifth partner school is eagerly anticipating their turn to witness the magic. They’re in for a treat as BalletX gears up to perform at the Wilma Theater again, this time during Spring Series in March 2024.
We’re excited about our upcoming midway performances in December! These special events are a chance for parents to join us and witness firsthand all the hard work we’ve been putting in. We’re eager to share our progress with the amazing parents who make these moments even more special for us.
Once we’re back from the holiday break in January, our awesome teaching artists, musicians, and our young dancers are gearing up to add those final magical touches to their classroom dances! Every school gets their own performance at Drexel University’s Mandell Theater, and it’s such a heartwarming scene with 300 of their closest friends, families, and teachers cheering them on as each class shows off their own choreographed dance. It’s truly a fantastic night, and we feel so honored to create an unforgettable experience for them. The dancers are super pumped about their performances, and let’s not forget, we kick things off with the ultimate pizza party – it’s a blast!
Every year, we invite students to illustrate what our annual theme means to them in our T-Shirt Design Contest. The winning design from each school will be featured on all the final performance t-shirts for that school! These students are not just great dancers – their creativity shines in their artwork. It’s always exciting to receive and go through all the submissions. I can’t wait to see what the submissions look like this year’s theme, “We Are All Stars.”
Lastly, we’re kicking off the exciting process of putting together our Dance eXchange Dream Team! The Dream Team is open to all students enrolled in Dance eXchange who have a passion for dancing beyond their regular classroom hours. These enthusiastic dancers are invited to join us at BalletX once a week after school, where they’ll have the fantastic opportunity to work closely with our Teaching Artists.
Being part of the Dream Team comes with special perks, including the honor of performing alongside BalletX at various pop ups around the city. The ultimate highlight? A grand performance at The Mann Center on Friday, April 26th during BalletX’s Festival at the Mann! It’s a chance for our dedicated Dream Team to showcase their talents and spread the joy of dance to a wider audience.
As you can see, we’ve been keeping busy, and we’re gearing up to keep the momentum going in the upcoming weeks!
Here’s to the continued joy, growth, and creativity that make Dance eXchange truly amazing. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for our talented dancers and the amazing community that surrounds them. Cheers to the magic of dance and the incredible spirit of the Dance eXchange family! Keep dancing and shining bright.
-Alisa Moore | Education & Outreach Associate
