Thank you to those who have already donated to support Project Plié in Oklahoma!  Help us reach our funding goal before May 22, 2014 by donating at the Allied Arts Power2Give campaign page here. YOU have the power to give! #p2g 

Oklahoma City Ballet is proud to introduce training scholarships to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County through a partnership with American Ballet Theatre’s Project Plié program. This program is focused on increasing ethnic diversity in ballet dancers and actively supporting interested kids who might not have access to training.

Boys and Girls Club members are mentored and taught free of charge by Oklahoma City Ballet’s professional dancers on their campus from January to May. Each year, five students from those classes from the Boys & Girls Clubs will be awarded 1 year scholarships to Oklahoma City Ballet’s professional training program. Shoes and uniforms are provided by Oklahoma City Ballet.

“We strive to inspire our Club members to reach their full potential by offering as many enrichment experiences as possible,” said Boys & Girls Clubs President and CEO Jane Sutter. “Obviously, introduction to ballet will be an amazing opportunity for our members that they would not have without the generous support of the Oklahoma City Ballet.”

Oklahoma City Ballet is one of the founding charter members of Project Plié, American Ballet Theatre’s national program to introduce underserved youth to the art and discipline of ballet. American Ballet Theatre’s partnership with Oklahoma City Ballet and Boys and Girls Clubs across the country is a movement to change the landscape of the professional dance world and give opportunities to talented youngsters from all backgrounds and cultures. American Ballet Theatre has established partnerships to develop the Project Plié goals with Ballet San Jose, Orlando Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Ballet Memphis, Richmond Ballet and Ballet Austin.

Ballet is a rigorous art form that gives young people many skills to help them achieve success in their lives. Foremost, they learn about discipline and the importance of commitment. Ballet training also reinforces the students’ patience, perseverance, physical precision, and coordination. Through the Project Plié program, more students will be enabled to audition for major companies.

View a video introduction to Project Plié here.

Listen to the NPR story, “Project Plié: Bringing Color to Ballet’s Corps online here.

For more media inquiries, please call Oklahoma City Ballet at 405-843-9898 or direct emails to rachel@okcballet.com.