Learning through dance moves

Once a week, 1,092 third- and fourth-graders at 23 metro area schools in four districts are being taught language arts, math, science and social studies content in an arts integrated curriculum. It’s called Reach Out and Dance, or ROAD, a 12- or 24-week program offered in select schools by the Kansas City Ballet.

“It’s based on the premise that high-quality integrated arts education strengthens academic, cognitive and social development in students,” says April Berry, the Kansas City Ballet’s director of community education and engagement.

The 45-to-60-minute movement/dance classes are taught in the schools by ROAD teaching artists with live piano accompaniment. As the students learn movement exercises and dance games and routines, they’re also learning about team work and music and how to follow directions, focus and concentrate, use multiple methods to solve problems and ask better questions.

“We’ve seen that it increased student engagement in schools that are facing challenges,” Berry says.

ROAD started with the 1999-2000 season to connect youngsters to dance, with special focus on under-served and at-risk youth. The KC Ballet’s “flagship community program” is offered at 16 Title I schools (those with a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals).

Primitivo Garcia Elementary in KCMO is a longtime ROAD residency school, which also boasts ROAD scholars. To students in Title I schools interested in continuing dance, the KC Ballet has awarded 178 merit scholarships since 2017. The ROAD scholars attend 12 weeks of dance classes at the Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity. Talented scholars with potential may be considered for another merit-based scholarship.

Two Primitivo Garcia fourth-grade ROAD scholars auditioned to dance in the KC Ballet’s 2018 production of The Nutcracker. The brothers, Gabriel and Sebastian Redondo Villalobos danced in the line of party boys.

Siblings, Ethanel and Sophia Avalos are ROAD scholars attending Primitivo Garcia. Fourth-grader Ethanel is a second-year ROAD scholar; his sister, Sophia, a third-grader is a first-year dance scholarship recipient. They’re sharing their enthusiasm for the performing art with little sister, Anayah and mom, Cecilia Del Ochoa.

“They come home and teach Anayah and me what they’re doing,” Del Ochoa says. “They’re preparing their little sister on the ballet; she really likes it. Whatever (the dance instructors) are doing with my kids, they’re doing an excellent job. ”

Starting April 11, students in the ROAD program will perform at their respective schools for their families. The end-of-the year “ROAD Rallies” run through April 29. On May 6, ROAD scholars will take part in a showcase recital for their families at the Bolender Center.

The ROAD program was created to enhance cultural awareness, foster creativity, strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving skills and cultivate an appreciation for dance. It accomplishes the mission, Berry says, judging by the admiring feedback from students, parents, principals and teachers. She believes in the merits of the program.

“We go into Title I schools that don’t have a lot of money for arts programs,” she says. “It’s very important for those families who can’t afford dance classes. We have a lot of talent in our community schools. ROAD makes dance accessible to those students.”

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