What?
BE BOLD is a new approach to afterschool dance education that aims to make ballet accessible, affordable and fun, especially for young children of color. BE BOLD emphasizes a comprehensive approach to learning: children explore the basics of ballet, including movement technique, vocabulary, and etiquette, while also gaining essential life skills and understanding to nurture overall development. BE BOLD intends to create a strong sense of belonging.
Under Misty Copeland’s direction, the BE BOLD program was developed with a diverse set of leaders from ballet, dance education, DEI training, and child development. The framework includes ballet basics as well as age-appropriate health and wellness content and instruction about music for ballet; mentoring and tutoring will be provided by the community partner sites. You can learn more about the evaluation and measurement of the BE BOLD program on our Evaluation page.
When/Where?
BE BOLD launches in fall 2022 as a twice-weekly, twelve-week program in partnership with the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club and the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club in New York City.
Who?
BE BOLD is led by exceptional Teaching Artists who share a deep devotion to child development through dance and complete a specialized professional development training.
BE BOLD was designed especially for young children of color who do not have access to formal dance instruction, in general, and ballet, in particular. At the outset, BE BOLD will primarily serve Black and brown girls and boys ages 8-10. Their family members and other attentive adults are valued and crucial supports for BE BOLD participants. The participants will become empowered by an unmistakable understanding that I BELONG, and their caregivers will be acknowledged through an I BELONG TOO recognition.
Why?
In creating BE BOLD, Copeland aims to build upon her own formative experience at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club and to advance young children and meet their developmental needs. There is immense unmet need for quality afterschool programs in the United States, and the unmet demand disproportionately impacts communities of color. Further, current access to formal dance instruction, in general, and ballet, in particular, is a matter of chance for children in under-resourced communities. To learn more about the need for BE BOLD, please visit our Facts & Figures page.
More questions?
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions or email info@mistycopelandfoundation.org.
