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Taking Steps

• Overview
• In the schools
• Summer Session

• Taking Steps engages middle school girls in self development through the art of dance. Established in 2000, Taking Steps reaches over 130 young girls each year, introducing them to movement as a means of expression and encouraging and inspiring them to take an active role in their physical, emotional and social well being. As an extension of the school year program, Taking Healthy Steps brings girls from all over Boston together during the summer to explore dance and music while equipping them with the skills necessary for a healthy and rewarding life.     Lead Sponsor of Taking Steps

• Boston Ballet Center for Dance Education and lead sponsor Loomis, Sayles & Company are pleased to offer this free program in the Boston Public Schools. Taking Steps is an exciting Extended Learning Time program that provides dance training and performance opportunities for girls ages 11 to 14. Taking Steps offers participants the opportunity to experience the arts first-hand with two afternoons of dance instruction each week. The girls experience a wide variety of dance forms such as ballet, modern, hip hop, jazz, salsa, African, Indian, flamenco, and folk. Students explore their creativity and develop leadership skills and confidence as they learn from arts professionals. Current Partners: Clarence R. Edwards Middle School Mario Umana Middle School Academy

• Taking Healthy Steps is one week of intensive dance instruction, theatre arts and special workshops during which girls ages 11 – 14 explore a range of performing arts including Ballet, Modern Dance, Musical Theatre and Theatre Arts daily with special guests leading classes in strength training, flexibility, nutrition, gyrokinesis and yoga. Taking Healthy Steps provides a supportive environment where students are encouraged to express themselves freely and forge new friendships with girls from all over Boston. By gaining greater physical awareness through movement and discovering different ways to share their own voices, Taking Healthy Steps participants develop healthy self-image, leadership skills, and confidence that remain long after the end of the program. 2009 PROGRAM DATES Session I: August 17 – 21, 2009 Session II: August 24 – 28, 2009 PROGRAM HOURS Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Registration for the Summer 2009 program is now closed.  Check back next spring for registration materials for Summer 2010!  For more information or to be placed on the mailing list, click here: bwartman@bostonballet.org