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

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 & sweats are recommended. Skirts with shorts are ok.
  • Free Ballet Shoes Provided in the Spring

WHAT DO WE LEARN?

Ballet, Modern, Jazz and Creative Movement.

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 your schools Communities in Schools (CIS) 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 Sunday April 21. 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!

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

Dance Connect is open to new dancers and experienced. 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

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.

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 Dance Studio Pro email on file.

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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