Metropolitan Ballet Company

The pre-professional performing Company imparts boys and girls ages 11-18 with valuable life and performance skills, and nurtures those students who wish to pursue a career in dance. Young dancers are exposed to technique and teaching by some of the dance world's most illustrious artists through master classes and workshops, and practice the art of performance in an annual season that presents both traditional and contemporary dance. Metropolitan also commissions new choreography from acclaimed and emerging artists, directly involving our young dancers in the creative process, and introducing new audiences to a developing art form. Students in the pre-professional program regularly earn scholarships to prestigious summer and year-round dance programs across america and abroad, and many of our alumni are performing professionally, including at san francisco Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, cincinnati Ballet, Colorado Ballet, charlotte Ballet, on broadway, and more. Their rigorous classical training and many performance opportunities provide a framework for success, whether pursuing a career in the performing arts, college or other careers.

The kinetic literacy program (klp), in partnership with the school district of philadelphia since 2008, is a standards based, integrated academic program which combines visual, auditory, and kinesthetic methodologies to enhance and invigorate the math and english /language arts skills building for district students in kindergarten through 2nd grade. Given as on-site classroom instruction, during the school day, the program serves more than 450 k- 2nd grade elementary school students with 88 classes annually in three public schools. Curriculum for its two innovative components, reading moves me and m3 = math x music x movement is aligned with Pennsylvania core standards and grounded in standards for mathematical practice. Klp students also attend a free, fully produced dance performance especially created for children each year, which incorporates literature that the children study in their classrooms.

The boys' scholarship program provides tuition-free dance training in all-male classes designed to enhance athleticism, flexibility and strength. The training also develops valuable life skills of teamwork, tenacity, and time management. Approximately 55 boys ages 7-18 enroll each year to study beginning, intermediate, and advanced Ballet with distinguished male dancers, who serve as teachers and role models, while addressing boys' unique learning styles. Since 1999, Metropolitan has provided more than $1 million in scholarship funds to boys, many of whom would not otherwise be able to afford classes.