Ballet Jump-Start!
Bringing ballet to every community, one step at a time.
In 2022, the Draper Center took an exciting step toward making ballet accessible to every child by offering free Creative Movement classes for young dancers. Recognizing the joy and confidence these classes brought, the following year the school expanded beyond its studio walls, bringing dance into local libraries and community spaces—and Ballet Jump-Start! was born. Today, the Draper Center continues to grow this outreach program, reaching even more children in neighborhoods across the community, sharing the wonder of ballet, inspiring creativity, and breaking down barriers so every child has the chance to move, explore, and shine.
Ballet Jump-Start: Studio vs. Satellite Classes
Ballet Jump-Start offers two ways for children to experience the joy of dance. At the Draper Center for Dance Education, classes run from September through June and provide a traditional studio experience with professional faculty, a structured curriculum, and an immersive year-long training environment. These 1-hour classes require a leotard, tights, ballet shoes and a registration fee. For more information on studio classes
Satellite classes take place in local libraries and community spaces—including Pittsford, Parma, Gates, Winton, Central, Penfield, and the Strong Museum. These 1-hour sessions are completely free and are also led by professional faculty. Children are encouraged to wear clothing they can move in; ballet shoes are welcome but not required. These playful classes are perfect for first-time dancers or families looking for a low-barrier introduction to ballet.
Both options aim to inspire a love of movement, build confidence, and teach foundational ballet skills, giving children the chance to explore dance either in a full studio environment or a community setting.
If you are interested in bringing Ballet Jump-Start! to your library or if you have any additional questions about the program please contact: baileyfantauzzo@gmail.com .
Click library link below to register for satellite
Satellite Library & Museum Sessions
- Pittsford Community Library — Wednesdays, 10/8–10/22 at 9:30 am
- Parma Public Library — Thursdays, 10/23–11/3 at 10:15 am
- Winton Branch Library (Rochester Public Library) — Mondays, 10/20–11/16 at 10:30 am
- Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County — Saturdays, 10/11–11/8 at 2:00 pm
- The Strong National Museum of Play — 3rd Monday of every month (starting October) at 10:30 am & 11:30 am
- Gates Public Library — 10/2, 11/7, 12/5, 1/9, 2/6, 3/6, 4/3, 5/1, 6/5 at 10:15 am
- Winton Branch Library (Winter Session) — Mondays, 1/12–2/9 at 10:30 am
- Central Library (Winter Session) — Saturdays, 1/10–2/7 at 2:00 pm
- Penfield Public Library (Winter Session) — Mondays, 1/5–2/2 at 11:00 am
Library & Museum Links
- Pittsford Community Library – Pittsford, NY https://www.townofpittsford.org/library
- Parma Public Library – Hilton/Parma, part of Monroe County Library System parmapubliclibrary.org+1
- Gates Public Library – Gates, NY Gates Public Library+1
- Winton Branch (Rochester Public Library) – Rochester, NY Rochester Public Library+1
- Central Library (Rochester & Monroe County) – Rochester, NY Rochester Public Library+1
- Penfield Public Library – Penfield, NY (part of Monroe County system) Penfieldlibraryweb.org
- The Strong National Museum of Play – Rochester, NY The Strong National Museum of Play+1