This past week, BalletX held its National Dance Institute (NDI) Training Residency ahead of the start of the 2026-2027 Dance eXchange school year. Keep reading to learn more about Dance eXchange and the exciting year ahead!
Dance eXchange Returns to Philadelphia Classrooms
A new school year means a new year of Dance eXchange, and this one is all about finding the courage to take the first step. BalletX’s Dance eXchange is heading back into Philadelphia public schools for the 2026–2027 school year, bringing dance, live music, creativity, and plenty of movement to third and fourth grade classrooms across the city.
This year’s theme, We Are All Trailblazers, will introduce students to people who dared to imagine something different and found the courage, curiosity, and determination to pursue it. Students will learn about many of the world’s greatest trailblazers, including Neil Armstrong, Amelia Earhart, and Misty Copeland. Each dance tells a story, with the cohesive NDI curriculum incorporated in every movement. Our musicians will also shine bright in the spotlight by adding a learning element to each class, as they fill our classrooms with music that inspires students to move, explore, and express themselves.
And along the way, students will discover that trailblazers aren’t only people we read about in history books. They can be found in our classrooms, our communities, and sometimes right in the mirror.
Taking a Look Back at the Dance eXchange Training Residency
Throughout the week, our group of Teaching Artists lit up the BalletX Studio with laughter, fist bumps, high fives, and electrifying energy. With a few new team members, including our very first Director of Education & Dance eXchange, Jennifer Tierney, the group united to build new relationships, establish common goals, and prepare to bring Dance eXchange into classrooms across Philadelphia. During our training residency, the NDI method encouraged our Teaching Artists to keep their students moving, engaged in each class, and continuously learning something new.
For Jennifer, one highlight was seeing each teacher make meaningful one-on-one connections with their students and finding ways to uplift them. She shared how important the NDI Method is in creating an engaging and accessible learning format for all students. The energy in the studio was undeniable, with each Teaching Artist radiating pride and excitement for the work they had made together.
Thanks to the NDI method, each Teaching Artist has the tools to involve students in meaningful ways, weaving a theme-based education component into every class.
This approach aligns with BalletX’s mission to make dance more accessible to students and communities. Jennifer shared:
“BalletX is so incredibly supportive in every way they can be: to the community through Dance eXchange, to their dancers, and to their staff. NDI training is BalletX’s way of directly supporting their staff by giving them what they need to be successful, providing them with one-on-one training, and giving them the space to work this week”.
At the heart of BalletX, our studios became a space for this talented and dedicated group of Teaching Artists to learn, connect, and prepare for the year ahead. By investing in their training and creating opportunities to work together, BalletX is helping ensure that every Teaching Artist feels supported throughout their journey, and every student is engaged during each class.
Welcoming Our New Teaching Artists
We can’t wait to welcome our new Dance eXchange Teaching Artists into the 2026-2027 school year, and look forward to seeing all of the incredible impact they will make on our students.
This is just the beginning! In December, our Teaching Artists will unite to begin preparing for the end of year shows at Drexel University’s Mandell Theater. Stay tuned for more information on Dance eXchange’s performances.
We Can’t Wait To See Where This Year’s Trailblazers Take Us!
Interested in making a difference? Make a gift to Dance eXchange today, and help support these incredible artists and students as we work to make dance more accessible across Philadelphia.
