San Pedro City Ballet’s DancEd Steps Up after school program is one of the ways that they are helping serve their community. More about San Pedro City Ballet here.
“The goal of the DanceEd Steps Up Afterschool Program is to identify talented students and provide the intensive instruction and support, free of charge, that will allow them to pursue a professional career in dance.
The program is audition-based, and a limited number of students are selected to participate each year. Students must be committed to the program and desire to train for a number of years at San Pedro Ballet School to accomplish a professional level. The program is free to participants.”
Meet Carlos, Age 9
“I found out about the DancEd Steps Up program at career day when Mrs. Cindy came over and got me to think about it. It made me feel a little more confident to start dancing because she told me I had a lot of potential. When Mrs. Cindy told me that the program wasn’t just for girls it was also for boys, I was convinced to do the audition.
I’ve enjoyed being able to dance in an artistic way and to be able to dance with other people. I like to be artistic, and I like to create new moves at home, but I’m shy to do it in front of a lot of people. I took YMCA hip hop, but only once a month. I even practiced at home with my own moves. I felt blessed when Mrs. Cindy told me I could take any class I was interested in. I’ve always wanted to learn how to jump high like ballet dancers, and now I have a chance.
I didn’t think I was going to be able to do any type of dance because of the money. So when I found out I was accepted, I was super excited! I felt special, like I was famous because I would get to dance and get to be on stage. I feel exotic because I get to dance, and not everyone gets a chance to take classes like this. I didn’t really think this could happen to me—it is like a dream come true.”