Outreach

At NOBT, we believe that access to excellent art transforms individuals, families, and communities. In keeping with this vision, our School to Stage program aims to use dance as a tool for improving outcomes for students who lack access to quality arts education in New Orleans by:

  1. Exposing students to excellent dance performances

    Free Tickets sponsored in part by Entergy and the Helis Foundation

  2. Providing students with Opportunities to Perform in a Professional Production and further their dance education

 

Program Development

“Exposure is one of the ways we are closing the achievement gap.”

—Amanda Aiken, Principal of Lawrence D. Crocker College Prep.


NOBT seeks to build on the successes of its outreach projects in upcoming years by replicating its School to Stage dance program in additional institutions throughout the Greater New Orleans area and the surrounding region.

In order to achieve this, NOBT looks to partner with area schools and other institutions and will pursue grants, sponsorships and other fundraising activities through its development operations to cover the cost of presenting these additional School to Stage programs in its partner institutions.

Program Objectives

  • Increase in exposure the beauty of ballet and opportunities in the arts for underserved children in the New Orleans area.

  • Increase the number of children from the GNO area who have the opportunity to attend live performances free of charge

  • Increase the number of children from the GNO to have the opportunity to perform in a professional production- an invaluable learning experience for young dancers aspiring to professional careers. Achieved through open community auditions, performance opportunities with no participation fees, and fee waivers for would-be participants for productions that require a participation fee for youth supplemental dancers.

Select students showing talent and a commitment to their training have been offered scholarships to attend Schramel Conservatory of Dance (the official school of New Orleans Ballet Theatre) to further their training in the highest-quality training program

Recent Achievements

Donated Tickets to performances of the 2024-2025 Season:

  • 813 Tickets Donated with support from Entergy and the Helis Foundation

Free Community Outdoor Performances:

  • October 13th & 14th 2023 at the UNO Amphitheater

Nutcracker School Show for scholars of New Orleans Public Schools:

  • 767 students attended a dedicated school production at the Orpheum Theater December 14th, 2023.