Week of July 13-17, 2020

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ABTKids Daily Celebrates Disability Pride

In Partnership with Lincoln Center’s Passport to the Arts!

This week, ABTKids Daily celebrates New York City Disability Pride Month, which focuses on “accepting and honoring each person’s uniqueness and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity.” As a diverse community with diverse voices, we take pride in holding our own beliefs and perceptions. What does disability pride mean to you?

We are very excited to partner this week with our friends at Lincoln Center’s Passport to the Arts, a program for people with disabilities and their families. We invite you join us on Saturday, July 18 at 11:00am for a Virtual Adapted Dance Workshop featuring American Ballet Theatre Dance and Design Teaching Artists. This free workshop is designed for participants with disabilities ages 5-15, and focuses on movement, creativity, and sensory awareness. People of any ability level are welcome to participate. To register, please visit Lincoln Center registration here.

For more activities to do at home, visit Lincoln Center Passport at Home.

Learn more about Lincoln Center’s Passport to the Arts!

This week we are proud to celebrate stories from within the American Ballet Theatre community, as well as spotlight a few organizations that are doing tremendous work with children with disabilities.

Meet a Dancer Monday

Soloist Thomas Forster

While many people consider ballet dancers to be their personal heroes, have you ever stopped to wonder who inspires them? Let’s ask ABT Soloist Thomas Forster about his favorite dancer!

Magpie Dance

Teaching Artist Tuesday

Join one of ABT’s Teaching Artists as they introduce you to one of ABT’s fabulous ballets. Learn a dance, stop and sketch, and don’t forget to have fun!

Up this week: Ms. Linda!

Swan Lake: The Birthday Party

We hope that you can join us for this Saturday’s Virtual Adapted Dance Workshop in partnership with Lincoln Center’s Passport to the Arts Program. The workshop will explore ABT’s most popular ballet, Swan Lake. Today, we will prepare for Saturday’s workshop and meet Ms. Linda who will be leading the workshop alongside Mr. Richard and Ms. Virginia.

Party like a prince and learn a few steps from Prince Siegfried’s birthday party, a scene from Swan Lake that unifies aristocrats and villagers through the collective pride of their kingdom!

What's Up Wednesday

Each year, American Ballet Theatre’s Engagement Programs reach over 12,000 students in New York City. One of our favorite residencies is with LearningSpring School in Manhattan for children on the autism spectrum in grades K-8. As part of the students’ residency they take a trip to American Ballet Theatre’s studios where they meet dancers from ABT Studio Company and watch a rehearsal.

During this year’s visit, we met a fifth grade student named James, who asked very politely if he could please play on the piano in the dance studio. As a general rule, we have to say “No” to protect the instruments.

James asked again and he then treated us to an original composition on the piano that was breathtaking. Following the visit, we received a thank you note with a spectacular cityscape drawing also from a “James”.

We later found out that that piano James and artist James are the same person and today we are in for a special treat as we have invited him to takeover “What’s up Wednesday” with his creativity and artistry!

Enjoy James’ world of Cat City Ballet!

Cat City Ballet Coloring Pages

Click on an image to download a coloring page!

LearningSpring School

Throwback Thursday

ABT Dancer Virginia Lensi and Candlelighters NYC

This week we spotlight ABT dancer Virginia Lensi, who truly embodies the spirit of Disability Pride Week. Virginia has volunteered with a wonderful foundation called Candlelighters NYC that provides support for children battling cancer and for their families. In addition to volunteering in person, Virginia has created many events for the Candlelighters, including opportunities to see ABT perform at Lincoln Center. Currently, she is working on developing a virtual workshop series for 15-20 young dancers later this summer.

Meet Virginia and take a sneak peak into her first private dance class with Kaia, a five-year old cancer survivor. Feel free to dance along!

Funtime Friday

Design Your Own Crown

Pride comes in all shapes and forms. Sometimes it’s an accomplishment, like a medal, trophy, award or even a well-deserved “A” on a test. Sometimes it comes from something you celebrate, like your nationality, religion, heritage, school or community! Pride is unique to the individual. What are things you take pride in?

In Swan Lake, the Swan Queen Odette showcases her pride and beauty through her delicately crafted crown. Join us today in decorating your very own Swan Lake Pride Crown.

Choose your design and decorate your crown to bring to tomorrow’s workshop, along with any other object that makes you feel pride!