Springfield City School District’s Clark Early Learning Center recently began a new program for their Specialized Learning Community students, in conjunction with BalletMet, a professional ballet company and dance academy in Columbus.
The dance residency program is happening now and will conclude in March. Two dance instructors from BalletMet visit Clark once a week to work with each child in the school’s four Specialized Learning Community classes.
The idea for this program was inspired by a partnership formed between Clark and the Springfield Museum of Art last school year, in which preschool classes visited the museum and artists also taught art lessons at Clark. Clark applied for the dance residency program grant at the end of last year, and it was approved at the beginning of this year.
"Clark ELC is very proud of this partnership because it enables us to offer experiential learning to all of our students, regardless of where they happen to be on the learning spectrum,” said Clark Principal Caitlin Smith. “We pride ourselves on letting students lead their learning, and this partnership with BalletMet will allow us to provide yet another opportunity for our Specialized Learning Community students to do so. Through movement, stretching and rhythmic exercises from a professional ballet company, our students’ educational experience will undoubtedly be greatly enriched."