Statements

Mission

Motivated by Christ's love, Rejoice School of Ballet empowers youth to realize their potential by training, nurturing, and celebrating dancers from diverse, racial, socioeconomic, developmental, and cultural backgrounds.

Background

Rejoice School of Ballet empowers youth to realize their potential by training, nurturing and celebrating dancers from diverse racial, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Since 2000, Rejoice School of Ballet has used dance to teach leadership skills, teamwork, discipline, and self-worth to over 2,000 at-risk young people in disadvantaged Nashville neighborhoods. In September 2022 our enrollment soared to 148 students and counting. Representing an increase of over 70% from the previous year. Students ages 4 - 18 study at either our main location in East Nashville, Dalewood United Methodist Church, Hadley Park Community Center, or Smith Springs Community Center. Multiple locations provide easier access for families. Finances should never dictate whether a young person can pursue arts education. Our sliding scale tuition provides affordable quality dance training. 51% of our families have a household income below 50k with 31% of those under 30k. Additionally, all necessary dancewear is provided free of charge and performance opportunities are offered at no cost, in order to create equity. Our intentional diversity brings together students from varied cultural, racial and economic backgrounds which leads to true understanding and authentic friendship. Our demographic breakdown reflects our diversity: 31% Caucasian, 50% African American, 2% Hispanic, 8.5% Biracial, 7% chose not to disclose. Every dancer is provided with tights and shoes that match their unique skin tone. Rejoice artists/instructors/mentors are also diverse and reflect the students that we serve. Rejoice provides students with an exceptional dance education--a gift that is unusual in a city where research proves that at-risk children lack opportunities to pursue quality after-school and summer enrichment activities. If not for Rejoice, these children would never have an opportunity to formally study dance or be exposed to the mentoring and encouragement of seasoned professional dancers.

Impact

Rejoice's overarching programmatic goal is to ensure that any young person interested in classical ballet has an opportunity to try classes, regardless of ability to pay and that these youth are supported and mentored through positive youth development programming designed to increase self-efficacy, leadership ability, educational achievement, and college/career readiness.

The Rejoice Youth Ensemble will take the stage in March 2023 with live accompaniment for the first time in Rejoice history. This will provide additional artistic collaboration between dancers and musicians as well as impact our audience, many seeing ballet for the first time. Our Youth Ensemble performance offer the opportunity for other community youth unique mentor experiences by local professionals in areas of costuming, lighting design, production, and performance.

Rejoice also impacts the whole family by providing fellowship, learning opportunities through guest speakers, and local resources through our collaborations. Our new interactive family program, "Read to Me, Dance with Me" set to launch in 2023 will bring families together and encourage reading and creative play for preschoolers.

Needs

Rejoice School of Ballet seeks to identify engaged community members with youth development as a top priority. With opportunities for these individuals to become volunteers, donors, board members and/or committee members. We are actively developing new collaborative partnerships with other local nonprofits and area artists.

CEO Statement

I first became acquainted with Rejoice School of Ballet when I taught a workshop class for their students during a visit to Nashville Ballet. At the time I served as Director of Artistic Operations for Nashville Ballet. I was immediately struck by the comradery, support, and genuine care the group of dancers showed for each other. All from completely different backgrounds, cultures, and income levels. It was a beautiful reflection of our community and an even bigger example of how we should uplift each other. Additionally, their training was exceptional and I created a partnership between our organizations. Statistically out of one hundred children that study ballet, only 3 will achieve a professional career. Rejoice School of Ballet seeks to focus on the other 97, meanwhile our quality training and partnership with Nashville Ballet provide professional opportunities for those committed to a career in the arts. Success for Rejoice means our students reap all the benefits of studying classical ballet and use what they learn to reach their highest potential in whatever path they choose. Success ultimately means that these young people return to their community to mentor the next generation.

Board Chair Statement

Our Board's goal of excellent and careful governance enables Rejoice to do its work and fulfill its mission to serve Nashville's at-risk youth through high quality dance education and positive youth development activities. As a Board we addressed all aspects of governance through completing a thoughtful Strategic Plan, and implementing an action plan that will carry us forward successfully throughout 2021 and 2022. Good governance results in organizational effectiveness. If we do our job, the daily work will run smoothly because we have seen to the activities that are ours to perform, such as financial sustainability, guidance, outreach, and representing Rejoice to the community. We will enable the daily operation and, through accountability to our donors and community, our ministry will flourish.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Arts, Culture & Humanities  - Dance
Secondary Category:	Religion- Related  - Christianity
Tertiary Category:	Youth Development  - Youth Development Programs

Areas Served

There are few after-school and summer enrichment programs for children from low-income families in North and East Nashville. Rejoice is filling in the gap by offering professional dance training and positive youth development with a Christian focus. Our teaching partnerships include: Metro Parks and Dalewood Methodist Church. Our intentional diversity which is created by charging tuition on a sliding scale.

TN - Davidson