In partnership with Communities in Schools (CIS), Ballet Lubbock provides free weekly in-school and after-school dance instruction. Through Dance Connect, Ballet Lubbock reaches 750 boys and girls in 3-5th grade in 26 (and counting) area schools each week for the entire school year. Dance Connect students are invited to audition for a free weekly ballet class, Community Youth Ballet, at Ballet Lubbock studios.

Register For Dance Connect

How to Register for Dance Connect at Your School

Click Here to Register
Ballet Lubbock currently offers Dance Connect at the following locations:
In-School Dance Connect Program Sites: Anita Carmona Harrison, Capitol, Catheleen Thomas 4th & 5th, Cooper Central, Ervin 3rd, 4th & 5th, Ramirez 3rd
Shallowater 3rd, 4th & 5th, South 3rd & 4th, Westwind 3rd, 4th & 5th, Williams 3rd, 4th & 5th
After School Dance Connect Programs Sites: Bean, Brown, Centennial, Cooper East 4th & 5th, Cooper South, Hardwick, Legacy, Maedgen, McWhorter, Miller,
Northridge, Parsons, Ramirez 4th & 5th, Roberts, Rush, Smith, Willowbend

Frequently Asked Questions

DANCE CONNECT FAQS WHAT DO WE WEAR?

  • Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes you can move in.
  • Must be in compliance with school dress code
  • Leggings, athletic shorts, and sweats are recommended.
  • Skirts and dresses with shorts are ok.

    WHAT DO WE LEARN?

  • Ballet, Modern, Jazz and Creative Movement
  • Teamwork, Resilience, Confidence

    WHEN ARE CLASSES?

    Depending on your school, classes will either be during the school day or after school. This 25-class residency starts in late August/early September and ends in April. Find out your school’s schedule by contacting the school’s Dance Connect Site Coordinator or Ballet Lubbock’s Director of Community Engagement at Katrina@balletlubbock.org. We won’t have class on school holidays, teacher workdays, or early dismissal days.

    DOES MY CHILD HAVE ANY PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
    THROUGH DANCE CONNECT?

    Yes! All Dance Connect Schools perform at Buddy Holly Hall in April! This year’s performance is on Saturday April 25 OR Sunday April 26. Your dancer will perform in either the early afternoon or early evening performance. Time is TBA. Winter Showcase School Performance and/or End of the Year School Dance Performance will be on a school-by-school basis.

    DO I NEED TO BUY ANYTHING FOR DANCE CONNECT/IS THERE ANY COST TO PARTICIPATE?

  • No! This program is 100% free!
  • Dance Connect Students will be provided with free Ballet Shoes and aDance Connect T-shirt.

DOES MY CHILD NEED ANY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE/TAKEN DANCE
CLASS BEFORE?

Dance Connect is open to new dancers and those who have taken dance class before. No experience required.

CAN BOYS TAKE DANCE CONNECT?

ABSOLUTELY! We have lots of boys taking Dance Connect in all of our schools. Dance Connect provides strength, agility, coordination, self-expression and confidence inside and outside the classroom. Just ask these professional athletes – Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant. Herschel Walker, Evander Holyfield, the 2015 Dallas Cowboys (made a staple in their training schedule), Alex Collins (Seattle Seahawks), Tom Brady, Stephen Curry, Willie Gault, Barry Sanders, Muhammad Ali, and Sugar Ray Robinson. Source: Professional Athletes Taking Dance Class

WHAT IF MY DANCER IS ALREADY TAKING DANCE CLASSES AT A STUDIO? ARE THEY STILL ALLOWED TO ENROLL?

Yes! More dance all the time!

IS THERE AN ATTENDANCE POLICY?

We understand that life happens! Students are allowed to miss 3 classes in Fall and 3 in Spring. If they miss more, they are at risk of being dropped from the program or from the performance. This helps to make sure students are safe in their bodies and they can feel confident to perform with their class.

WHAT IF WE MOVE AND CHANGE SCHOOLS?

If there is a Dance Connect present at your new school, your dancer can transfer as soon as they feel comfortable. The Dance Connect Curriculum is consistent throughout all locations for make transfers comfortable and welcoming.

WHEN IS THE FREE COMMUNITY YOUTH BALLET AUDITION FOR DANCE CONNECT STUDENTS?

This audition is held on the 3rd Friday of January from 4:30-6:00pm. Details will be sent to your Registration Form Email and Dance Studio Pro email on file.

HOW DO I GET MY FREE NUTCRACKER TICKETS FOR MY DANCE CONNECT STUDENT?

In the last 3 years, Dance Connect has tripled! While it is amazing that we are able to provide free dance classes to so many more students, the theatre still remains the same size. To accommodate for this growth and continue to access for as many as possible to the magical Nutcracker experience, we have adjusted how tickets will be provided.

DANCE CONNECT 3rd GRADE – You will receive a sign-up link for the Sunday Sensory Friendly Daytime Performance through the email address provided on your dancer’s Registration Form or account through Dance Studio Pro. Responses need to be submitted by Halloween. These tickets are for Community Night only. Date and Time will be provided in the email.

DANCE CONNECT 4th GRADE – Ballet Lubbock has an annual partnership with a local area school districts brings more than 2,400 fourth graders to a free performance of The Nutcracker during their regular school day. Your 4th Grade Dance Connect students will still have this experience. Permission slip forms will be provided through the school.

DANCE CONNECT 5th GRADE – You will receive a sign-up link for the Community Night Performance through the email address provided on your dancer’s Registration Form or account through Dance Studio Pro. Responses need to be submitted by Halloween. These tickets are for Community Night only. Date and Time will be provided in the email.

If you would like to purchase tickets for another night, that link will be provided in an email. Please only purchase tickets through the Buddy Holly Hall official site to avoid scammers.

Important Dates

Community Youth Ballet Audition
January 16, 2026
4:30-6 p.m.
Dance Connect Performance at Buddy Holly Hall
April 25 & April 26, 2026
Time TBA

Parent Testimonials

“I love how excited my child was about the performance, she talked about it non-stop the whole week before and was proud of herself for dancing. She was confident and ready!”

“I loved the confidence my daughter gained it helps her express her emotions and she so desperately needed that. It has been a way for her to learn to control her emotions.”

“Seeing all the families come together to support their kids that wouldn't usually be able to provide those experiences for them and the children having an outlet to gain confidence and just have fun and be a part of something.”

“I loved how much it makes my child happy. To express herself through dance. Her smile and how her eyes shine. Makes me happy. will always support my child in anything that she shows interest in.”

“I love that my child was able to take these dance classes and experience it. I loved being able to see her on stage and light up while she dances!”

“The diversity of dancers. I absolutely loved that any child who wanted to be there and dance could be there. It was joyful and uplifting. The best of humanity of display.”

“I love watching my son flourish on stage.”

“I loved seeing my child exude confidence on stage. Something I've only seen from her through the Dance Connect program”

“I loved how confident all of the students seemed, and how much fun some of them were having. It also nice to see how supportive the audience was.”

“I loved the outreach aspect for the community. Giving kids an opportunity that wouldn't otherwise necessarily be exposed to because of finances or cultural barriers.”

“She always wanted to take ballet classes but do to my work schedule I was unable to take and having it at the school was amazing she finally got to learn about ballet and it helped her be confident in dancing and not to give up because you mess up on something it showed her to keep practicing and retrying and she'll get better.”

“She absolutely loved the teachers and the different things they learned. Sometimes things were hard and she was tough on herself about how much harder she could have worked.”

“She liked another school did the same dance and was competitive about who made better moves. Each time she went, she came home talking about what they did that day. Always excited.”

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