Richmond Ballet

In 1993, Richmond Ballet began to search for a new educational initiative to deepen the Ballet's impact on the community. The Ballet wanted to create an educational initiative that would provide interaction with groups of students and professional dancers on a long-term basis. From this search, Minds In Motion was created. Modeled after the renowned National Dance Institute, which was founded by former principal dancer with New York City Ballet, Jacques d'Amboise, Minds In Motion is now in its 17th year.

Minds In Motion is a year-long program that teaches fourth-grade students discipline, dedication and self-awareness by leading them through a series of choreographic movements which must be memorized and expanded upon in each class session. This is not a ballet class, but a way to teach students the benefits of applying themselves to a task involving both mental and physical challenges. It requires no special clothing, shoes or equipment.

Minds In Motion in rehearsal

A pianist accompanies all of the classes, adding another enriching dimension to the experience. The students must count the beats and measures of the music and learn the elements of rhythm in order to be successful in the program.

Minds In Motion focuses on fourth-grade students because they have both the physical coordination and the concentration skills necessary to benefit each week from the forty-five minute classes. This age group is generally uninhibited and willing to try new things with enthusiasm. The program enhances memorization skills as the students repeat choreographic patterns in different combinations throughout each class. They are required to remember this choreography and expand upon it during subsequent classes. The development of these skills can help strengthen mathematical abilities, as well as provide a physical fitness component to a student's life. It also requires each student to develop focus, discipline and self-control.

TEAM XL/XXL
Team XL/XXL are successful after-school scholarship classes for selected Minds In Motion students from each of the participating schools in Richmond and all satellite locations. These programs are offered free-of-charge. In Richmond's Minds In Motion program, selected Team XXL students will also have the opportunity to participate in the Ballet's magical production of The Nutcracker.

SATELLITE LOCATIONS
Charlottesville, VA ~ Martinsville, VA ~ Roanoke, VA

Richmond Minds In Motion

2011-12 RICHMOND Minds In Motion's Theme: Banking On A Dream: The Maggie Walker Story
More info to come soon!

RICHMOND Participating Minds In Motion Schools 2011-12
Richmond Ballet works with fourth-grade students at 17 area elementary schools including nine Richmond City Public Schools: Chimborazo Elementary, JB Fisher Elementary, John B. Cary Elementary, Linwood Holton Elementary, Mary Munford Elementary, Oak Grove Elementary, Swansboro Elementary, Westover Hills Elementary and William Fox Model Elementary; two Chesterfield County Schools: Bon Air Elementary and Hopkins Elementary; three Hopewell City Schools: Dupont Elementary, Harry E. James Elementary and Patrick Copeland Elementary; one Hanover County School: South Anna Elementary; two Independent Schools: St. Benedict Catholic School and The Steward School.

RICHMOND END-OF-THE-YEAR PERFORMANCE DATES AND LOCATION
Come see all 1,300 Minds In Motion students on stage at the Arthur Ashe Center on Saturday, May 5, 2012 & Sunday, May 6, 2012.
Please call 804-344-0904, ext. 323 for more information or to reserve tickets. Admission is free of charge.

STONER WINSLETT SCHOLARSHIP
27 dancers were selected this year to participate in the Stoner Winslett Scholarship class, a beginning level ballet class at Richmond Ballet. A scholarship fund was established in October 1999 in honor of Ms. Winslett’s twentieth anniversary as Artistic Director of Richmond Ballet. The specific purpose of this fund is to provide basic ballet training for talented young students identified through the Minds In Motion program.

Charlottesville Minds In Motion

2011-12 CHARLOTTESVILLE Minds In Motion's Theme: Financial Literacy
This year Charlottesville’s 2012 Minds In Motion dancers will gain an appreciation for financial literacy by exploring their relationship with economics. All participating students will study Virginia’s regions and resources, learn how they relate to producing goods and services, and develop an appreciation for how businesses make choices to reach their goals. Our final performance will showcase dances that explore such topics as developing a business plan, balancing a budget, and how money moves within a bank. Through dance, students will better their understanding of the mechanics, and the athletics, of economics!

CHARLOTTESVILLE Participating Minds In Motion Schools 2011-12
Burnley-Moran Elementary, Clark Elementary, Greenbrier Elementary, Johnson Elementary, Jackson-Via Elementary, and Venable Elementary School

CHARLOTTESVILLE END-OF-THE-YEAR PERFORMANCE DATES AND LOCATION
Come see all 300 Minds In Motion students on stage at the Martin Luther King Jr. Performing Arts Center in a public performance on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 7pm & and a youth performance on Thursday, March 29, 2012. Please email Cherish Horton at chorton@richmondballet.com for more information. Admission is free of charge.

Martinsville Area Minds In Motion

2011-12 MARTINSVILLE AREA Minds In Motion's Theme: Financial Literacy
Martinsville’s 2012 Minds In Motion dancers will gain will gain an appreciation for financial literacy by exploring their relationship with economics. All participating students will study Virginia’s regions and resources, learn how they relate to producing goods and services, and develop an appreciation for how businesses make choices to reach their goals. Our final performance will showcase dances that explore such topics as developing a business plan, balancing a budget, and how money moves within a bank. Through dance, students will better their understanding of the mechanics, and the athletics, of economics!

MARTINSVILLE AREA Participating Minds In Motion Schools 2011-12
Albert Harris Elementary, Patrick Henry Elementary, Sanville Elementary, and Mt. Olivet Elementary

MARTINSVILLE AREA END-OF-THE-YEAR PERFORMANCE DATES AND LOCATION
Come see all 300 Minds In Motion students on stage at Martinsville High School in a public performance on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 7pm & and a youth performance on Friday, April 20, 2012. Please email Heidi Pinkston at hpinkston@piedmontarts.org for more information. Admission is free of charge.

Roanoke Valley Minds In Motion

2011-12 ROANOKE VALLEY Minds In Motion's Theme: Financial Literacy
Roanoke's 2012 Minds In Motion dancers will gain an appreciation for financial literacy by exploring their relationship with economics. All participating students will study Virginia’s regions and resources, learn how they relate to producing goods and services, and develop an appreciation for how businesses make choices to reach their goals. Our final performance will showcase dances that explore such topics as developing a business plan, balancing a budget, and how money moves within a bank. Through dance, students will better their understanding of the mechanics, and the athletics, of economics!

ROANOKE VALLEY Participating Minds In Motion Schools 2011-12
Highland Park Elementary, Lincoln Terrace Elementary, Morningside Elementary, Wasena Elementary

ROANOKE VALLEY END-OF-THE-YEAR PERFORMANCE DATES AND LOCATION
Come see all 300 Minds In Motion students on stage at the Roanoke Civic Center in a public performance on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 in the evening & and a morning youth performance for schools on Thursday, March 15, 2012. Please email rweger@richmondballet.com for more information. Admission is free of charge.

Recent Awards

In May 2001, the City of Richmond presented Minds In Motion with two awards: a certificate of recognition for the outstanding service Minds In Motion provides to the community, and a certificate of appreciation to Brett Bonda, the director of the Minds In Motion program, for his efforts in the Richmond City Schools with the Minds In Motion project. Brett Bonda also received the 2002 Richmond Magazine's Teresa Pollack Award for Excellence in the Arts for his contributions to dance.