Not every hopeful dancer will land a lead role in The Nutcracker or grace the stage in a Broadway show. While dancing professionally is the path for some, the goal of the Kansas City Ballet School is not for everyone to reach this pinnacle, but simply, to give everyone the opportunity to dance.
“Dance is about storytelling and expression, and everyone has a unique story to share,” partnership specialist Kim Trudell said. “By being inclusive, we enrich the dance community, challenge stereotypes, and create an environment where everyone feels safe, seen, valued, and a sense of belongingness. It’s essential to lower the barriers to access and demonstrate that dance is not just for a select few, but for all.”
Since its inception in 1981 by Artistic Director Todd Bolender, the Kansas City Ballet School has seen tremendous growth in both the academy and recreational program enrollment. For the last ten years, adaptive dance classes have been a fundamental part of the school, supporting its vision of “Outstanding Dance Experiences Accessible to All.”
Trudell led the way in establishing the adaptive program. By consulting with different therapists and community leaders and using her background in early childhood education, she built a team of teaching artists and developed a curriculum for the program. Ensuring smaller class sizes and individualized attention in a studio was important to Trudell, and the feedback she has received is overwhelmingly positive.
“Families often share how the classes have boosted confidence, physical ability, cognition, emotional well-being, given their children a sense of belonging, and have allowed them to explore their potential through dance which had previously not been possible,” she said. “The success of the classes led to the inception of our Sensory-Friendly Nutcracker at the Kauffman in 2018.”
The classes are specially designed to infuse learning with movement. The students have an opportunity to explore and develop skills, with ambulatory and non-ambulatory options. Music plays a key role in setting the tone and inspiring expression. The teaching artists use clear, positive language and offer visual and verbal cues, demonstrations, and tactile guidance when appropriate. The emphasis is on creativity and fostering the joy of dance.
“It’s incredibly fulfilling to see the joy and community that has blossomed from this program,” Trudell said. “Watching students discover and express themselves through dance is a reminder of why I started this journey. Knowing that I’ve played a part in creating a dancing space where we feel accepted and celebrated is deeply meaningful.”
Upon completing renovations in Prairie Village last year, the school’s director Oliver Till is eager for almost all classes to be offered at their two accommodating locations, the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity in Kansas City and the South Campus location, to serve even more students in the adaptive community who want to experience the joy of dance.
“The hope is that we continue to develop our programs, culture and environment so that anyone who comes to any class at the school encounters excellence in their instruction and an accepting space to learn in,” he said.
Fulfill a Dream. Learn Something New. Have the Time of Your Life!
Kansas City Ballet School offers a variety of Open Division classes for children and adults of all interest levels and abilities. Gain the health and fitness benefits of ballet and dance training through one of their recreational dance classes.
All class schedules are available online: kcballet.org/kc-ballet-school/