Each year New Bedford Ballet provides scholarships based on financial need for children and adolescents in the SouthCoast area who are interested in studying classical ballet.

Each spring, the New Bedford Youth Ballet performs for over 3,000 South Coast area elementary school students. Original ballets created by Artistic Director Rebecca Waskiel Marchesseault pair children’s literary classics or some aspect of local history with the performing arts. NBB is especially proud of its collaborations with the New Bedford Historical Society for “Esther’s Journey” about the Underground Railroad and the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship Society for “The Manjiro Story.” The pairing of the arts and humanities resulted in expanded opportunities for students to learn about New Bedford’s abolitionist movement and Fairhaven’s historic ties to Japan.

Initially funded by a Cultural Diversity Grant from the South Coast Community Foundation, the “Building Healthy Communities Through Dance” program offers students from the Gomes and Hayden/McFadden Schools an opportunity to dance at New Bedford Ballet. The program consists of (1) After-school ballet classes for a year for 2nd and 3rd graders at their schools followed by (2) Summer classes at our studio and (3) An opportunity to apply for NBB scholarships for the fall. Parental involvement is encouraged. Currently these programs are supported by the New Bedford Cultural Council, the Harry Chapin Foundation, and the Henry H. Crapo Foundation Fund of the SouthCoast Community Foundation.

New Bedford Ballet hosts special in-studio performances for children and adults who, otherwise, may not be able to enjoy the beauty of ballet. Participating organizations have included P.A.C.E Head Start, the Kennedy Donovan Center, the Schwartz School, the Early Learning Center, Project Independence, and others. Additionally, NBB provides complimentary tickets to its June performance at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center to a myriad of South Coast social service agencies.

In keeping with its mission of “Fostering the artistry of ballet throughout the Soutch Coast,” New Bedford Ballet performs at various community events. Each year our dancers participate in Ten Tiny Dances at the Zeiterion as a part of September’s AHA night. Other opportunities have included performing “The Manjiro Story” at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, dancing for DATMA during the “Summer Winds” art festival, performing at New Bedford First Nights and Christmas Strolls, with the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, and at Boston and Providence children’s hospitals.

New Bedford Ballet offers a week-long summer dance and arts and crafts camp to introduce young children to classical ballet. Depending on funding availability, NBB also offers a similar camp to young children from P.A.C.E. Head Start.