Ballet Bridges is a program to improve equity and access to dance training. OBT’s Education and Community Engagement team dances with Title 1 schools and low-access populations in hopes of building meaningful, sustained relationships while increasing equity in the arts. Selected students who shine in showing potential, interest, and focus during the course of a residency are invited to train at Oregon Ballet Theatre School. OBT aims to meet the needs of these selected students and help them succeed in their training. Students are provided tuition-free spring and summer classes in a co-hort model, and qualifying families receive financial assistance as they matriculate into OBT School. We provide support with class attire, transportation, performance viewing opportunities, and check-ins to help ensure student success. Our hope is that students stay with us for many years and are empowered to cultivate self-expression and technique. OBT, in turn, is revitalized with the powerful, dynamic, and diverse young artists that come from our own local community.
As Ballet Bridges students matriculate into OBT School entering Level 1 and beyond, they are provided with performance opportunities including our Annual School Performance, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, as well as other company productions.
We love seeing our Bridge students at OBT School and are so excited to update you about Ballet Bridges as it grows!
