Elevate
About Elevate
Brooklyn Ballet’s Elevate program is a dance residency that encourages children to move easily and gracefully among others, to maintain focus and pay attention to detail, and to enjoy the poise and grandeur of classical ballet.
Inspiring students through the language of dance.
Elevate is Brooklyn Ballet’s signature in-school residency program, designed to introduce public school students across New York City to the fundamentals of ballet through movement, language, and expression. Developed by Lynn Parkerson and Oona Haaranen, Elevate is rooted in Dr. Ann Hutchinson Guest’s Language of Dance (LOD) system—an innovative approach that helps students build both a physical and intellectual understanding of dance.
More than just dance instruction, Elevate is a holistic educational experience. Through movement-based problem solving, verbal expression, comparison, and analysis, students explore key concepts in a fun yet structured environment. Elevate nurtures essential life skills—patience, focus, self-reliance, discipline, and cooperation—while showing students that mastery comes through dedication and repetition.
Brooklyn Ballet’s Elevate program offers:
In-school and afterschool dance classes (ranging from 6-16 weeks)
Custom workshop series (dance styles include ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, streetdance, and latin cultural dances
Lecture demonstrations and live performances, including our introductory “What is Ballet?” experience
Professional development for educators
Opportunities for extended residencies, culminating in performances and/ or scholarship pathways to the BB school for students
During the 2024–2025 school year, Elevate reached
18
Brooklyn schools
6,795
Students through performances
742
Students through in-depth ballet classes
Elevate is currently available to K–12 students throughout NYC, offering a transformative introduction to dance that builds confidence, discipline, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
For Elevate inquiries and to learn about how Elevate can be of value to your students, please email:
Elevate+
Building on Elevate’s mission of creating access to the art form of dance, Elevate+ expands Brooklyn Ballet’s community programming to serve older adults.
Through partnerships such as SU-CASA and senior living communities, the program brings creative movement workshops to older adults in accessible, supportive settings. Elevate+ emphasizes both the joy and health benefits of dance, offering workshops that are warm, inclusive, and thoughtfully designed. Recent partnerships, include Peconic Landing Senior Living and St. Charles Jubilee Senior Center, highlight the program’s impact, with feedback praising teaching artists for being “creative and caring in finding the best ways for our members to fully participate.”
For inquiries and to learn about how Elevate+ please email tristan@brooklynballet.org
What is Ballet?
Each residency begins with a dynamic lecture-demonstration titled What is Ballet?, performed by Brooklyn Ballet’s professional dancers. Students then participate in 6–8 weeks of ballet instruction, with extended residencies offering the chance to perform in our Take Ballet to the Streets series. Promising young dancers identified through the program may also receive scholarships to continue their training at Brooklyn Ballet School.
